Dolphins control future: Three more wins and Miami will be in playoffs despite 1-7 start
Win and they’re in.
If the Dolphins win their final three games, starting Monday night in New Orleans, they’ll be in the playoffs for only the second time since 2008.
Sunday’s results around the NFL put the Dolphins’ future in their hands, as improbable as it seemed back when they were 1-7. But Miami is 7-7 entering Monday night’s game.
Baltimore (8-7) currently holds the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC, but if the Dolphins beat the Saints, they'll leap over the Ravens above the cut line for the first time since playoff standings were posted.
More: Can Dolphins really finish season on 9-game win streak? Saints, MNF next challenge
Buffalo went to Foxborough and defeated the Patriots 33-21, leaving both teams 9-6 but putting Buffalo in position to win the AFC East provided the Dolphins continue to take care of business.
The Dolphins have won six consecutive games to become the hottest team in the NFL outside of the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won eight straight.
After the Saints, the Dolphins close out the regular season at Tennessee and vs. the Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium, meaning the Miami-New England game could become a winner-take-all affair. Miami opened the season by winning at Gillette Stadium 17-16.
Sunday wasn’t a good day for several AFC contenders. The Chargers were upset by Houston 41-29 to fall to 8-7. The Ravens were manhandled by Joe Burrow and the Bengals 41-21, dropping both teams to 9-6. The Raiders improved to 8-7 by beating the Broncos 17-13.
According to fivethirtyeight.com’s playoff predictor, the Raiders join the Dolphins in control of their future by winning out.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Win (three more) and Dolphins are in playoffs
