The Miami Dolphins are 2-6 and riding a three-game losing streak. But thanks to a mediocre list of contenders in the AFC, a run to the postseason isn’t that far-fetched for Mike McDaniel and company.
Regardless of the result of the Dolphins’ Monday night matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, there will be just six teams in the AFC above .500 when Week 11 begins.
While keeping up with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East race doesn’t look like a realistic scenario for the Dolphins, catching the Denver Broncos for the last spot in the playoff field isn’t inconceivable. Especially after a nearly perfect day of results for Miami on Sunday.
The Chiefs knocked Denver down to 5-5, the Bills dropped the Colts to 4-6, and neither the Jets nor the Jaguars were able to get a win to climb back into the mix. Couple those scores with the Bengals falling to 4-6 with a Thursday loss to the Ravens, and the Dolphins couldn’t have asked for the table to be set much better.
Perhaps in an absolutely ideal world, the Commanders would’ve kept the Steelers from picking up a seventh win, the Bears would’ve kept the Patriots firmly in last place in the AFC East, and the Titans would’ve dropped the Chargers to 5-4.
Regardless, here’s what the AFC standings look like after Sunday:
- Kansas City Chiefs: 9-0
- Buffalo Bills: 8-2
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-2
- Houston Texans: 6-3
- Baltimore Ravens: 7-3
- Los Angeles Chargers: 6-3
- Denver Broncos: 5-5
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-6
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4-6
- New York Jets: 3-7
- New England Patriots: 3-7
- Miami Dolphins: 2-6
With a victory, Miami would slide up to 10th on the list and sit a game and a half behind the Broncos. Of course, the postseason ramifications will quickly stop mattering if the Dolphins can’t end their losing streak.
