What results do the Miami Dolphins need to make the playoffs?
Head coach Mike McDaniel is without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the visit of the New York Jets.
The Miami Dolphins struggled in the first half of the 2024 season and looked to be out of playoff contention after going 2-8 through the first ten games. But an impressive late-season showing has ensured that they can still make it to the postseason.
In Week 18 the Dolphins (8-8) are in a shoot-out with two other teams - the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) and the Denver Broncos (9-7) - for the final AFC playoff place. The Broncos came into the weekend in pole position but they have no room for error now.
The Bengals were the first to take to the field on Friday and they duly beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep themselves in contention. The Broncos can secure the lone remaining playoff spot with a win on Saturday, taking them to ten wins on the season.
However if the Broncos lose and the Dolphins beat the Kansas City Chiefs, all three teams in the playoff mix will have a 9-8 record. The Dolphins have the best record against other AFC teams this season, meaning that they would win on tiebreaker and claim the final postseason berth.
When was the last time the Dolphins won the Super Bowl?
They remain one of the biggest draws in the league but fans of the Dolphins have been starved of championship-level success. Miami have made it to the playoffs 25 times since 1970 but the franchise’s glory days came long ago.
The iconic Dolphins team of the early 1970s won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973. Coached by the legendary Don Shula, the Dolphins were also Conference Champions in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982 and 1984. Quarterback Dan Marino led later Dolphins teams to five division titles and a Super Bowl XIX appearance but he was unable to add to add a third championship.
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This year’s team was expected to build on recent progress having tied quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a new contract. However both he and wide receiver Tyreek Hill have not been able to perform with consistency this season and the Dolphins face a real test to make it to the postseason.
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