The Miami Dolphins have the weekend off, as they enjoy a much-need bye week in Week 10. With a 6-3 record, they lead the AFC East, but the Buffalo Bills, who are behind them are just one game back.
A number of other teams are still taking the field this weekend, and the results of their games will certainly affect Miami’s playoff odds and scenarios with just under half of the 2023 campaign remaining.
Below is our rooting guide for this weekend’s slate of games while the Dolphins enjoy their time away from the gridiron.
Patriots over Colts
It might not be in the DNA to support a team in the division, but a Patriots win would only bring them to 3-7, while a Colts win would bring them to an even 5-5, which would have them vying for a wild-card spot.
If Miami were to lose their lead in the division, having other teams in that race continue to lose would be for the best.
Packers over Steelers
Like the Colts, the Steelers have found themselves very much alive in the wild-card race at 5-3 entering Week 10. A loss against a non-conference opponent would be great for Miami.
Buccaneers over Titans
The Titans are just behind the Colts in the AFC South standings at 3-5, so again, a non-conference loss would be great for the Dolphins, as they’d fall behind in the wild-card standings.
49ers over Jaguars
The Jaguars are actually ahead of Miami in the conference standings, and a win would drop them to the same 6-3 record. Jacksonville may still have the tiebreaker, but at least they’d be neck-and-neck with the Dolphins.
Lions over Chargers
The Chargers, like some of the previous teams mentioned, are currently fighting for a wild-card spot, as they’re behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
A loss would drop them to a losing record and would give the Dolphins more separation from another team in the race.
Broncos over Bills
The Bills are just one game behind the Dolphins right now, and with Miami off, Buffalo could take over first place in the AFC East, as they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker due to their win earlier in the season.
Miami has already beaten Denver, so even if they move to 4-5, they do have a head-to-head tiebreaker against them if they were to finish with the same record after Week 18.
Raiders over Jets
Both teams are fighting for wild-card spots at best, but with the Jets being surprisingly 4-4 despite losing their starting quarterback just minutes into Week 1, it would be better to have the AFC East team lose.
There’s a slim chance that Rodgers comes back and helps New York down the stretch, and Miami should want the Jets to be out of contention by the time that decision could possibly be made.
