For the first time since 2001, the Miami Dolphins hold a 9-3 record after a 45-15 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Post Thanksgiving, the Dolphins are 2-0, outscoring their opponents 79-28. As we head into the final month of the year and start looking into the new year, it’s also time to start looking at the playoffs picture for the AFC East’s first place team.
Miami Dolphins Pushing Through for Playoffs Appearance
When you look at the AFC as a whole, it’s a real bloodbath. After a loss against the Green Bay Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs allowed the Dolphins to slip into first place while the Baltimore Ravens climbed to second. It’s really been the case of who’s winning and who’s losing when it comes to the top four teams in the division. Jacksonville could easily take that No. 1 spot away from Miami with a win over the Bengals on Monday night.
With a team that’s historically struggled in the beginning of December, head coach Mike McDaniel said to the media on Sunday that this team has been getting better at their craft, and there’s been a lot of growth since last season.
“I think we talk about it a lot, but talk is just talk,” McDaniel said. “What I’ve seen is coaches and players fully commit to the idea of getting better and it says a lot about the team because you everything you see last week, this week, is an accumulation of deliberate intent and guys are getting better at their craft.
“Really in all three phases there’s a lot of growth and I think that is imperative if you’re trying to win games down the stretch and when you have the choice of winning or the season being over in that area of the season, that comes regardless of what team you are. It gives you the chance to really utilize the entire season of growth and do something special that everyone wants to do.”
As we near the end of the season and start talking playoffs, the Dolphins are very close to snatching up the AFC East title for the first time since 2008, with the earliest chance to clinch a playoff berth being in Week 15. Per ESPN, heading into Week 13, the Dolphins had a 98.6% chance to make the playoffs. They’re the favorites to win the AFC East, so they don’t really need to think about Wild Card scenarios, and ESPN also said that they have a 93.6% chance of winning the division championship.
However, if Miami even wants to think about that division championship, they have to hold heir lead over Buffalo (6-6), and win their week 18 matchup. The Bills have already defeated the Dolphins once this season, and if they fall to a one game lead or less, the Bills could easily sweep up the AFC East.
It’s all about winning games and continuing to be the best team they can be as we near the end of the regular season. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said to media that everyone is locked in.
“I think everyone has started to handle their jobs. Not more seriously, but everyone’s starting to do a little more,” Tagovailoa said. “I think that’s what Mike [McDaniel] is seeing is everyone knows that we can do something special this year and no one on our team is trying to waste that opportunity.”
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