The Miami Dolphins can stay in the AFC playoff situation, as well as move into the top five in 2021, if things go well for them this weekend. Keeping the seventh division, Miami can put all doubts away with wins in the next two weekends. They could use a little help if they want to make sure they get to the postseason, however. They also need help with the draft order.
The Dolphins retain the choices of the Houston Texans in the first and second rounds of this year’s draft, which means that Houston’s defeats are useful for Miami.
Below, we take a look at the list of NFL games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and detail the cheering guide for Dolphins fans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions, 1 pm ET Saturday
Discussion: This game really means nothing to Miami, except perhaps Lions getting close to the Houston draft choice. That said, I like the sad Tom Brady too much to not want to see him appear.
Root for: Detroit
note: As I post this, the Buccaneers lead Lions 34-0 just before the break. It looks like there were no sad appearances by Brady today. At least the result didn’t really impact Miami.
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:30 pm ET Saturday
Discussion: Another game that doesn’t really have much impact on Dolphins. Miami beat those two teams this year, which makes the strength of the draw / win draw meaningless. The 49ers are only 5-9 in the year, which means they are just a better game than Houston, so we’ll want to see them win and stay away from Miami’s extra choices in the first round.
Root for: San Francisco.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1pm ET Sunday
Discussion: The Steelers are stuck in the playoffs, even when they are in the middle of a three-game losing streak and open the door for the Browns to take AFC North. The Colts are one point ahead of Miami in the Wildcard photo, which really makes that choice an easy choice. The team that is stuck in the playoffs needs to win, not to take the Wildcard slot, while the team that is in the Wildcard position and a game ahead of Miami losing helps the Dolphins.
Root for: Pittsburgh.
Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 pm ET on Sunday
Discussion: The main rule is to root for the NFC team against the AFC team in this type of confrontation, and it will work here, although that is not the main reason for that choice. The NFC over AFC option is usually for playoff considerations, but Miami at 9-5 isn’t beating Kansas City at 13-1, so the playoff image doesn’t play in this situation. The Draft, however, yes, since the Falcons are one point ahead of Houston. An Atlanta win can help the Dolphins see that pick.
Root for: Atlanta.
Chicago Bears at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 pm ET
Discussion: Another NFC game against AFC, but again, with no playoff implications here, as the Jaguars are only 1-13 in the year. That said, the Jaguars need to keep losing just to make sure the New York Jets don’t return to the top spot in the NFL’s 2021 Draft.
Root for: Chicago.
Cincinnati Bengals at the Houston Texans, 1 pm ET
Discussion: This may have twice the impact for Miami. Obviously, losing Houston is the goal here, but Bengals is only 3-10-1 this year, currently in a position to hold third overall choice next spring. A victory here would leave the Houston team 4-11 in the selection process.
Root for: Cincinnati
New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens, 1pm ET on Sunday
Discussion: An NFC versus AFC showdown with implications for the Dolphins’ playoffs. Very simple and direct, as the Dolphins would love to see the loss of the Ravens.
Root for: New York.
Cleveland Browns on the New York Jets, 1 pm ET
Discussion: It’s happening again and I can’t take it anymore. Wanting victories for the New Jersey green team makes me want to take a shower or fifteen. But, we’re back to it this week. The Browns are a better game than Miami in the qualifiers, so a defeat helps the Dolphins. In addition, a victory for the green team continues to make them lose the chance to reach the first choice in the draft. This is simply hysterical.
Root for: A loss from Cleveland.
Carolina Panthers on Washington Football Team, 4:05 pm ET, Sunday
Discussion: Pathers are in fourth place now in the draft, thanks to a schedule of 0.533 and a record of 4-10. Carolina wins can put them behind Houston in the standings and give Miami a better choice.
Root for: Washington.
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 pm ET on Sunday
Discussion: Denver and Los Angeles were eliminated from the playoffs and both have a 5-9 record, trailing Houston in the selection order. It is really a throw up. The Broncos face the Raiders in Week 17, while the Chargers face the Chiefs. Since Los Angeles is more likely to lose to the Chiefs than the Broncos to the Raiders, we will lean towards the Broncos’ defeat here.
Root for: Los Angeles.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 pm ET on Sunday
Discussion: The NFC East is simply dumb this year. The Minnesota Vikings, in ninth position in the NFC playoff, were eliminated from the postseason. The 11th Cowboys, 13th Giants and 14th Eagles are still in contention because Washington leads the division 6-8. Both the Eagles and the Cowboys are after the Texans in the order of the current draft, so this is really a move up. We will lean over a bit to see the Eagles win because they are 4-9-1, while the Cowboys are 5-9.
Root for: Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 pm ET Sunday.
Discussion: No playoff or draft issues here (though, interestingly, the choice of Rams in the first round was exchanged with the Jaguars, and the choice of the Seahawks was exchanged with the Jets, giving the teams with the first two choices additional selections from this game) Miami lost to the Seahawks and beat the Rams this year, so while the strength of the victory tie-break doesn’t seem to be at stake this season, perhaps a Rams victory will help the Dolphins a little.
Root for: Los Angeles.
Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers, 8:20 pm ET Sunday
Discussion: The Titans are leading AFC South, but the Colts are tied with them at 10-4. We are going to break the NFC versus AFC rule here because someone has to win the division and, as we have the Colts losing above, a Titans victory here keeps them top of the division.
Root for: Tennessee.
Buffalo Bills at the New England Patriots, 8:15 pm ET on Monday
Discussion: Somehow, a Patriots-Bills game at the end of the season is basically a dispute for the Dolphins. Bills won the division this year. The Dolphins eliminated the Patriots from the Wildcard contest last week, but New England is 6-8 in the year, so they are well behind Houston’s draft choice as well. It doesn’t really make much of an impact in Miami, no matter what happens here.
Root for: Play.