Miami Dolphins Are Much Improved, But Still Pretenders
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Sitting at 6-4 in the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins are still very much in the mix for the playoffs. Surely, this team is better than last year, and that has many people talking about a postseason berth. Especially following an impressive 22-9 win over the division rival Buffalo Bills, a lot of people are ready to pencil in the Dolphins for the playoffs in the AFC.
Not so fast.
First of all, take a look at Miami’s remaining schedule. It’s no walk in the park.
Week 12 at Denver Broncos
Week 13 at New York Jets
Week 14 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 15 at New England Patriots
Week 16 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 17 vs. Jets
That’s a rough stretch. Assuming the team needs to win 10 games (and that might not even be enough) to reach the playoffs, they’ll have to go 4-2 the rest of the way. They will be overmatched against the Broncos, Ravens and Patriots. Against a division rival like the Jets, it’s hard to sweep the season series. Also, at 4-5 the Vikings aren’t all that bad.
It’s frankly hard to imagine the team getting through the rest of their schedule with four wins. It’s been the team’s pass rush that has been their strength this season, but they’re playing some quarterbacks that get the ball out quickly.
Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco and Tom Brady all can get the ball out quickly to receivers, negating any pass rush the Dolphins will be able to generate. Against the Jets and Vikings, they will face two mobile quarterbacks in Michael Vick and Teddy Bridgewater. Basically, the Dolphins won’t be able to capitalize on their main strength over the rest of the season.
By no means are the Dolphins a bad team, but they’re truly on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. In one of the harder years to make the playoffs, the up-and-coming Dolphins may be out of luck.
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