Playoff thread

[dolphins4life]

Now I think we can have a realistic playoff discussion.  We want the chiefs tonight

[EDGECRUSHER]

Now I think we can have a realistic playoff discussion.  We want the chiefs tonight

The problem is so many teams are bottle necked in the middle that you root for them one week and need them to lose the next week. In Week 18, you might see teams either win the division or miss the playoffs.

[dolphins4life]

Will 9-8 be enough?  Hard to say.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Will 9-8 be enough?  Hard to say.

That's going to come down to the 9th tiebreaker since I imagine you will see many teams at 9-8 and probably many at 10-7.

[Phishfan]

Now I think we can have a realistic playoff discussion.  We want the chiefs tonight

No we can't.

[EDGECRUSHER]

No we can't.

It's not unrealistic for us to make the playoffs despite being a longshot, but look at this train wreck. Who do we root for? Seems like we have to wait at least 2 more weeks to make sense of it.

8   
Atlanta
   5-7   .417   3.5   .466   Lost 1
9   
Carolina
   5-7   .417   3.5   .502   Lost 2
10   
Minnesota
   5-7   .417   3.5   .512   Lost 2
11   
New Orleans
   5-7   .417   3.5   .522   Lost 5
12   
Miami
PHI
   6-7   .462   4.0   .478   Won 5
13   
Philadelphia
   6-7   .462   4.0   .478   Won 1
14   
Denver
   6-6   .500   4.5   .488   Lost 1
15   
Las Vegas
   6-6   .500   4.5   .534   Lost 1
16   
Cleveland
   6-6   .500   4.5   .537   Lost 1
17   
Indianapolis
PHI
   7-6   .538   5.0   .485   Won 1
18   
Pittsburgh
   6-5-1   .542   5.0   .530   Won 1
WILD CARD ROUND LOSERS
19   
San Francisco
MIA
   6-6   .500   4.5   .488   Lost 1
20   
Washington
   6-6   .500   4.5   .522   Won 4
21   
Cincinnati
   7-5   .583   5.5   .483   Lost 1
22   
LA Chargers
   7-5   .583   5.5   .520   Won 1

[fyo]

No we can't.

I agree. While it's nice that we aren't mathematically eliminated, it'll take the biggest comeback from 7 straight losses in NFL history to even have a chance.

[Dave Gray]

It doesn't even matter if we get into the playoffs.  We run an offense consisting of 4 yard dumpoffs.  You have to make 20 plays to score a TD.  We max out at 20 points a week...there's no playoff run there.

[fyo]

^ I want the team to make the playoffs every year. Always better to make it than not to. Sometimes things just start clicking and you win some games you maybe shouldn't have and suddenly you're in the big game. I also think it would be valuable experience for the players and coaches.

[EDGECRUSHER]

It doesn't even matter if we get into the playoffs.  We run an offense consisting of 4 yard dumpoffs.  You have to make 20 plays to score a TD.  We max out at 20 points a week...there's no playoff run there.

Normally, I would rather us miss the playoffs and get a better draft pick rather than go 9-7 and lose by 60 in the 1st round, but we don't have a draft pick this year and we need to start improving and showing results so I'll take a first round beating.

FWIW, the only way we win is to win 9 in a row and in that case, we really shouldn't be an easy victory for another team. The way the AFC is this year, at 10-7 we might be the 5th seed and play the 4 seed. I don't think we win out but it's nice to still think about after that 1-7 start.

[Tenshot13]

What team would want to play another team that has won 9 in a row?  It doesn't get hotter than that.  Sometimes a team with momentum is better than a team that is all around better.  Ask the Giants.

[EDGECRUSHER]

What team would want to play another team that has won 9 in a row?  It doesn't get hotter than that.  Sometimes a team with momentum is better than a team that is all around better.  Ask the Giants.

Just to reiterate that I don't think we are making the playoffs or a deep playopff run, but 2021 is weird for football. There are truly no powerhouses that I think would steamroll us. Sure, better teams but there are no 14-2 juggernauts this year in the AFC. The top seed looks like they will be 12-5 at best and that will be the Henryless Titans, the Pats led by a rookie QB or the Chiefs who have been as unimpressive as they have been in years. They're all better than us but not 20 point favorites.

[Dolfanalyst]

Just to reiterate that I don't think we are making the playoffs or a deep playopff run, but 2021 is weird for football. There are truly no powerhouses that I think would steamroll us. Sure, better teams but there are no 14-2 juggernauts this year in the AFC. The top seed looks like they will be 12-5 at best and that will be the Henryless Titans, the Pats led by a rookie QB or the Chiefs who have been as unimpressive as they have been in years. They're all better than us but not 20 point favorites.

I have to disagree there.  First, 20-point favorites are extremely rare in the NFL, and in fact there has never been a 20-point favorite in the history of NFL playoff football (dating back to 1978).  Second, this Dolphins team is getting by right now primarily by beating poor competition with poor opposing quarterbacks, the win against Baltimore notwithstanding.  They'd very likely be heavy underdogs against the best teams in the AFC in the playoffs, even Baltimore who they previously beat.  And that's heavy by NFL playoff standards, where an 8 or more point spread for example is large.

Obviously what's happening now for this team is far better than what was happening just six weeks ago, but they remain in no shape to contend with the best teams in the conference, especially on the road.  They may be winning, but they aren't doing it in a way that suggests they can contend with the best teams in the conference.  Win percentage over small samples of games can be deceiving.

[Tenshot13]

I have to disagree there.  First, 20-point favorites are extremely rare in the NFL, and in fact there has never been a 20-point favorite in the history of NFL playoff football (dating back to 1978).  Second, this Dolphins team is getting by right now primarily by beating poor competition with poor opposing quarterbacks, the win against Baltimore notwithstanding.  They'd very likely be heavy underdogs against the best teams in the AFC in the playoffs, even Baltimore who they previously beat.  And that's heavy by NFL playoff standards, where an 8 or more point spread for example is large.

Obviously what's happening now for this team is far better than what was happening just six weeks ago, but they remain in no shape to contend with the best teams in the conference, especially on the road.  They may be winning, but they aren't doing it in a way that suggests they can contend with the best teams in the conference.  Win percentage over small samples of games can be deceiving.

They already beat two of the top 3 teams in the AFC (BAL, NE), and wouldn't be surprised if the they beat the the Titans later this year, thus beating the top 3 teams in the AFC currently.  If they win out, that means they've beaten the best team in the AFC twice, the second best team (TEN) and the third best team (BAL).  IMO they already have contended with the best teams in the conference.

[Dolfanalyst]

They already beat two of the top 3 teams in the AFC (BAL, NE), and wouldn't be surprised if the they beat the the Titans later this year, thus beating the top 3 teams in the AFC currently.  They can hang with just about any AFC team imo.

What does it tell you however that they would be significant underdogs against those teams tomorrow, even at home?