The Miami Dolphins have Sunday off, as they have to wait until Monday night for their Week 14 battle with the Tennessee Titans. With a 9-3 record, they lead both the division and the conference.
A number of other teams are taking the field before the Dolphins, and the results of their games will certainly affect Miami’s playoff odds and scenarios with less than half of the 2023 campaign remaining.
Below is our rooting guide for this weekend’s slate of games while the Dolphins sit back and prepare for their primetime contest.
Bengals over Colts
A victory for Cincinnati would move both them and the Colts to 7-6. They’d both be still fighting for wild-card spots, but this result keeps one of them from reaching eight wins.
Browns over Jaguars
While this would have a wild-card team hitting their eighth win, it would also keep the Jaguars behind the Dolphins at the top of the AFC. If Miami takes care of business themselves, their lead could grow.
Jets over Texans
Not many Dolphins fans are used to rooting for their division rivals, but they’ll have to do it this week. The Jets are essentially out of it, so them winning wouldn’t mean much, but it would keep the Texans from getting their eighth win in the wild-card hunt.
Rams over Ravens
A victory for an NFC team doesn’t hurt Miami at all. However, a loss for the Ravens would be huge because they have the same record as the Dolphins, with Mike McDaniel’s team currently holding the tiebreaker.
Bills over Chiefs
Rooting for two division opponents in the same week? That’s crazy. However, the Dolphins have a three-game lead over Buffalo with five weeks left. If Miami can take care of business, it would be more beneficial to keep the Chiefs from reaching their ninth win and being in contention for the top spot in the conference.
Chargers over Broncos
The Broncos and Chargers are still in the hunt, but they’re at least a game out of a wild-card spot. Los Angeles’ victory would even their record at 6-7, limiting the chances that a second team from the AFC West would make the postseason.
