Miami Dolphins Week 13 playoff picture: Putting the Buffalo Bills in the rearview mirror
The Miami Dolphins had a very successful Black Friday, defeating the New York Jets 34-13 at MetLife Stadium. They had just about as good of a Sunday as well, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles, who toppled the Buffalo Bills 37-34 in an overtime thriller. The win by the Dolphins and the loss by the Bills […]
The Miami Dolphins had a very successful Black Friday, defeating the New York Jets 34-13 at MetLife Stadium. They had just about as good of a Sunday as well, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles, who toppled the Buffalo Bills 37-34 in an overtime thriller.
The win by the Dolphins and the loss by the Bills pushed Miami's division lead to two and a half games. Here are the current AFC East standings entering Week 13:
Miami 8-3
Buffalo 6-6
NY Jets 4-7
New England 2-9
The Bills head into their bye week on a sour note and must now watch the Dolphins take on the Washington Commanders in Landover, MD on Sunday. With a win, the Dolphins would stretch their division lead to a full three games. Miami is a 9.5-point favorite as of Tuesday.
The Dolphins could be in prime position to stretch that lead to four games the following week, as they host the 4-7 Titans on Monday, December 11 in Week 14. The Bills must travel to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium.
As far as the rest of the AFC, the conference standings entering Week 13 are as follows:
1) Baltimore 9-3
2) Kansas City 8-3
3) Jacksonville 8-3
4) Miami 8-3
5) Pittsburgh 7-4
6) Cleveland 7-4
7) Indianapolis 6-5
In the hunt: Houston 6-5, Denver 6-5, Buffalo 6-6, Cincinnati 5-6, Las Vegas 5-7
The Chiefs have a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker over both other division leaders outside of the AFC North, having defeated the Jaguars and the Dolphins this season. As such, it'll be difficult for the Dolphins to get above the Chiefs in the standings, as Miami will have to climb to a game better overall in order to surpass them. That's even less likely when you consider the Chiefs don't have a team remaining on their schedule with a winning record. Their only remaining opponent without a losing record is the Bills at 6-6.
That said, the Dolphins still have the chance to prove themselves later in the year as a legitimate playoff threat with games against Baltimore, Dallas, and Buffalo in the final three weeks of the season. Regardless of their seeding, they will have to beat teams like those in order to make any kind of serious run in the playoffs.
Dolphins 34, Jets 13: Instant reaction
Miami had their way with the Jets on Friday at MetLife Stadium
