Playoff thread

[EDGECRUSHER]

Any one of 4 teams winning gets us into the playoffs.

Dolphins win.
Steelers win.
Jaguars win.
Bengals win.

538's modeling has us at a 74% chance of getting in.

In order of likelihood:

Steelers
Dolphins
Bengals
Jaguars

Don't sleep on the Jaguars though, they clinched the #1 pick. They might actually try next week.

[ArtieChokePhin]

In order of likelihood:

Steelers
Dolphins
Bengals
Jaguars

Don't sleep on the Jaguars though, they clinched the #1 pick. They might actually try next week.

You're right about that last statement.   Especially because in all likelihood, there will be a new coaching staff and new front office in place next season so this current roster will be auditioning for their jobs.

[dolphins4life]

You're right about that last statement.   Especially because in all likelihood, there will be a new coaching staff and new front office in place next season so this current roster will be auditioning for their jobs.

What do we want tomorrow?

The Bills win the head to head tiebreaker over the Steelers.  If they win tomorrow both teams will be 12-3.

The games are at the same time next week. 

If the Dolphins lose, and the Steelers find this out, they may just give up against Cleveland.     

If the Bills lose tomorrow, they will be 11-4, and control their own destiny for the two seed. This means, the Steelers will have to play hard all the way if the Bills win next week. 

Conclusion:  Root for the Bills to lose tomorrow

[Spider-Dan]

The games are at the same time next week.  

If the Dolphins lose, and the Steelers find this out, they may just give up against Cleveland.

You just said it: the games are at the same time.

So if MIA can hypothetically lose in time for PIT to find out and stop trying against CLE, then PIT can also lose in time for BUF to find out and stop trying against MIA.

MIA winning is a better outcome than CLE losing (better seeding), so we should root for BUF to beat NE.

[Sunstroke]

Here's my thin-branch prediction for Cleveland... They win their last 3 games, including Pittsburgh, to finish 12-4... and then they make it to the AFC title game.

That snapping sound you hear is a thin branch breaking under the weight of my idiocy...

 

[hordman]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

Looks like MIA can get in IF they lose to BUF and PIT beats CIN.  Would make them the 7th seed playing back in buffalo the following week

IF MIA can beat them next week, could improve their seed to the 5th and play at TEN (assumes that TEN beats HOU)

I believe HOU has the Top-5 draft pick wrapped up.  So, we as Dolphins fans love that, getting a Top-5 pick AND another 1st round pick.

Will be a helluva next weekend with all the finger-nail biting and channel surfing.  First and foremost, parker needs to suit up next week for the Fins to have a shot against BUF.  It will be all hands on deck.

Win and You're In!!!!!!!!!!

Fins Up!!!!!!!!

[Pappy13]

Just a note that Cleveland is favored by 6 points to beat Pittsburgh so the Dolphins cannot rely on this to make the playoffs. The reason is that Pittsburgh doesn't have much to play for now. There's no line for the Dolphins/Bills game yet at least not that I can find. I imagine they are waiting till it's more clear who the Dolphins/Bills are going to start.

[masterfins]

Just a note that Cleveland is favored by 6 points to beat Pittsburgh so the Dolphins cannot rely on this to make the playoffs. The reason is that Pittsburgh doesn't have much to play for now. There's no line for the Dolphins/Bills game yet at least not that I can find. I imagine they are waiting till it's more clear who the Dolphins/Bills are going to start.

It may come down to what players Cleveland has available for the game. Either way you never want to lose to a division rival.

[masterfins]

In the words of Al Davis, Just Win Baby!

Even if the Dolphins don't make the playoffs it's been a helluva successful season.

[Pappy13]

In the words of Al Davis, Just Win Baby!

Even if the Dolphins don't make the playoffs it's been a helluva successful season.

Agree with you there...but I would love to beat the Bills to get into the playoffs. That would be the icing on the cake.

[masterfins]

Agree with you there...but I would love to beat the Bills to get into the playoffs. That would be the icing on the cake.

As an upstate NY resident I couldn't agree with you more.  I feel like we are heading back to the 80/90's when we battled the Bills every year.

[Spider-Dan]

Just a note that Cleveland is favored by 6 points to beat Pittsburgh so the Dolphins cannot rely on this to make the playoffs. The reason is that Pittsburgh doesn't have much to play for now.

Saying that PIT "doesn't have much to play for" is like saying that IND "doesn't have much to play for." It's pretty silly to think that if you are behind on tiebreakers, you have little motivation to play.

[Dave Gray]

Just a note that Cleveland is favored by 6 points to beat Pittsburgh so the Dolphins cannot rely on this to make the playoffs. The reason is that Pittsburgh doesn't have much to play for now.

I think it's more than that.  Pitt is a fraud. 

They've had to advantage of being in a terrible division in the AFC, while simultaneously playing a terrible division in the NFC.

[masterfins]

I think it's more than that.  Pitt is a fraud. 

They've had to advantage of being in a terrible division in the AFC, while simultaneously playing a terrible division in the NFC.

I have a few friends that are Steelers fans and even they were saying Pitt was not that good (and this was before their three losses); heck they almost lost to Dallas who started the QB from Orlando Apollos.

[dolphins4life]

Well, now the Bills can clinch the number two seed with a win, so they will be playing all out.

Things just got much harder for Miami to make the playoffs.

The NFL should flex Miami's game to four.