The Miami Dolphins enter the bye week at 6-3 and still in first place in the AFC East.  That would be thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals, who topped the Buffalo Bills 24-18 on Sunday night.  

Miami fans have had to keep one eye on the Bills throughout the last month, as the Dolphins would currently lose a tiebreaker to Buffalo on account of the Bills' 48-20 win over Miami earlier this year. 

But how do things look ahead for the Dolphins, Bills, and the rest of the division? 

The AFC East: 

1) Miami (6-3)

2) Buffalo (5-4)

3) New York Jets (4-4)

4) New England (2-7)

The AFC:

1) Kansas City (7-2)

2) Baltimore (7-2)

3) Jacksonville (6-2)

4) Miami (6-3)

5) Pittsburgh (5-3)

6) Cleveland (5-3)

7) Cincinnati (5-3)

That's right, the Buffalo Bills are currently not even in the playoff picture as things stand. And the schedule doesn't do the Bills many favors in down the stretch.  After home games against Denver and the Jets, the Bills' next four games are at the Eagles, at the Chiefs, Dallas at home, and then at the Chargers on a short week.  That's a pretty daunting stretch. 

Meanwhile, the Dolphins get their next five games against teams that are .500 or worse, including a pair of games against the Jets.  They do finish with the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills. 

As such, the opportunity is there for the Dolphins to put some distance between themselves and the Bills before the teams meet up for the second time in the regular season finale.  

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