With Tua Tagovailoa healthy, the Dolphins have recovered from a deficit, going from 2-6 to 7-8 with a chance to salvage their season going into Week 18. Miami still has a long way to go before they can qualify for the playoffs, though.

The Dolphins have opportunities if they desired a simpler route at this stage of the season. After Tagovailoa returned, Miami lost by one and three points, and the Dolphins jumped out to a double-digit lead before losing to the Colts in October.

However, the past cannot be changed, and in Week 17, the Dolphins must first take care of their own affairs while praying for other favorable outcomes.

View the Dolphins’ playoff prospects going into Week 17 and what Miami must accomplish to maintain hope for the season’s last weekend.

A loss versus the 49ers would have meant the Dolphins’ elimination, but a win kept them afloat. Miami’s road to the playoffs remains unusually narrow.

The Dolphins would be out of the running for the playoffs if they lost to the Browns or if the Broncos won. But it’s not out of the question that the Dolphins can have a chance going into Week 18, with Miami favored over Cleveland and the Broncos somewhat underdog against Cincinnati.

Cincinnati, which is also vying for a postseason berth, may assist Miami with a victory over Denver on Sunday as the Dolphins would have the conference record tiebreaker over the Bengals if they prevailed. The Colts’ victory in Week 7 has given them the head-to-head advantage over the Dolphins.

If the Dolphins make the playoffs, should Tua Tagovailoa sit for the rest of the season?#MIAvsCLE #GoFins

— YouWager American Football (@YWGRFootball) December 29, 2024

Dolphins remaining schedule

The Dolphins have a genuine chance to manage their own affairs in the pursuit of a postseason berth as they finish the season against two teams with a combined 7-23 record going into Week 17.

In Week 17, Miami travels to play the Browns before playing the Jets at MetLife Stadium in what might be Aaron Rodgers’ farewell game.

Dolphins updated playoff chances

As of Week 17, the Dolphins’ prospects of making the playoffs are merely 8% according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Due to tiebreaker advantages and a bad season-ending schedule, the Colts (15 percent) have the best odds out of the three 7-8 teams in the AFC wild-card race.

 

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