The Long Run: Control the Division
by FishNFinz on Nov 3, 2009 3:02 AM EST
17 comments
Well everyone seems to be creating their own personalized weekly post. Since there are many recaps of games, I stopped doing those. Instead, with 8 weeks of football having been played we can say we are at the halfway point. So what better time to start looking at the long run. The playoff picture.
AFC EAST STANDINGS
| East | W | L | T | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Streak |
| New England Patriots | 5 | 2 | 0 | - | 198 | 98 | 4-0-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 3-2-0 | Won 2 |
| New York Jets | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | 177 | 134 | 2-2-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-3-0 | 4-3-0 | Lost 1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 176 | 177 | 2-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 3-0-0 | 3-2-0 | Won 1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2.5 | 123 | 169 | 1-3-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-4-0 | Lost 1 |
Well with 9 games left to play, I'm happy to say the Dolphins control their own playoff destiny. Hopefully it will remain that way throughout the rest of the season. I wont even bother to mention the Jets remaining in the playoff picture for long. As i said when they started 0-3, one bad game and Sanchez and the Jets will collapse.
At 2 games behind NE, this week is HUGE. Especially when you look at the schedule for the weeks to come.
MIA NEXT 5
| Sun 11/8 | at New England | 1:00 pm |
| Sun 11/15 | Tampa Bay | 1:00 pm |
| Thu 11/19 | at Carolina | 8:20 pm |
| Sun 11/29 | at Buffalo | 1:00 pm |
| Sun 12/6 | New England | 8:20 pm |
NE NEXT 5
| Sun 11/8 | Miami | 1:00 pm |
| Sun 11/15 | at Indianapolis | 8:20 pm |
| Sun 11/22 | NY Jets | 4:15 pm |
| Mon 11/30 | at New Orleans | 8:30 pm |
| Sun 12/6 | at Miami | 8:20 pm |
I'm getting sick of people just assuming this is going to be a loss. Guess what? You expected the Saints game to be a blowout, and the Dolphins were ahead by 3 TD's at one point. I'm not going as far to say this is a must win but it is vital to the Dolphins playoff chances. As you can see, with a win on Sunday the Dolphins have a strong chance to move into 1st place in the division the following week.
A loss would give the team 5 losses. The team would have to go undefeated the rest of the year to go 11-5 but as you remember the Patriots had 5 losses the entire season last year and still didn't make the playoffs.
With a loss at the Pats, we are 3 games back. But with a win, only 1 game back. Then with a win against the poor Bucs, the Pats will be forced to go INTO INDY on primetime and come out with a win. If they cant, both teams will be 5-4 but the DOLPHINS will have the division lead based on the head-to head tiebreaker!
TIE-BREAKING RULES WITHIN DIVISION
- Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
- Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
WILD-CARD
As I'm sure you know the 4 division leaders made the playoffs with 2 wild-card teams with the best records. If the season ended today the Steelers and Texans would have the spots. At this point in the season the teams that are in the Wild-card race are as follows:
|
Steelers 5-2 (3-1 CONF) Texans 5-3 (4-2 CONF) Ravens 4-3 (4-2 CONF) Chargers 4-3 (4-3 CONF) Jets 4-4 (4-3 CONF) Dolphins 3-4 (3-2 CONF) Jags 3-4 (2-2 CONF) WILD-CARD TIE BREAKING RULES
While we are 2 games back in both the division and the wild-card, we should have our sights set for the division. The Chargers hold the tie-breaker over us and I'm sure they are going to be fighting at the end. Lets face it 5 teams have better records than us that are fighting for the wildcard. I'd think it would be much more logical to beat out 1 team than 5. That's why Sundays game against the Patriots is so important. |
This fanpost was written by one of The Phinsider's registered users.
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Good post
I like it it’s very neat, orderly and well thought out, i’ll say if you put one out every week I’ll read it.
Realistically due to our slow start we can only lose 1 maybe 2 games tops to make the playoffs in the tough AFC. This game against NE is very close to a MUST win but if we lose all hope is not lost. We NEED to atleast split the series with them however and beat BUF at Ralph Wilson as well. This will put us either 6-0 or 5-1 in our division which is awesome (and better than last year). We will also need to win games against teams also in the race for head-to-head standings… I’m looking at you Houston, no longer will you bully us around. If we can do this, win the games we’re supposed to (TB, TEN) then we can go into the final week against PIT looking at 10-5 or 9-6 and if we WIN we can possibly expect a wild card or a repeat at the East title.
Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
by BSerious72 on Nov 3, 2009 4:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Good post.
This is very well thought out and I will also read it whenever you put one out.
Some people will have problems with looking too far ahead when we should be focused on next Sunday.
Some people will have problems with looking to the playoffs when we are in the 2nd year of rebuilding.
Personally, I think it is simply amazing that we were 1-15 in 2007, 11-5 and division champs in 2008, and now are holding our own destiny in making the playoffs in 2009 with the preseason #1 schedule. I understand that we are in the 2nd year of rebuilding, but everyone has to be ludicrously happy with what the Trifecta is doing for our team. As a team 18 or 19 games into rebuilding, we were 1 catch or 1 tackle away from beating the undefeated Colts, and a few mistakes away from beating the undefeated Saints – arguably the best team in football right now.
We have a long way to go, but the most exciting thing is we are a damn good football team now. Just imagine what our team will look like after 4 or 5 Trifecta drafts.
Dolphins and Gators baby!
by gatorfin on Nov 3, 2009 8:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
our best bet for the playoffs
is to beat the pats both times giving the top 2 tie-breakers to us
Confidence breeds success, self-doubt breeds failure
by Blaze453 on Nov 3, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well that's the key
The Dolphins only control their own playoff destiny to a point. The Patriots would have to cooperate like the Jets and lose both games. That didn’t even happen last year without Brady.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Nov 3, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
not neccesarily true
if we beat the bills and split the series with the pats we will 5-1 in the divison meaning and have a better divisionalrecord then NE. Then it will all some down to the remainder of the schedule and Losses however. The Pats have a good team and will be tough to beat, we knew this from game 1, however if we can make it close we can sneak into a wildcat and if the pats falter and tie our record at the end of the year (i.e. we are both 10-6) we will win the tiebreaker
Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
by BSerious72 on Nov 3, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
just saying, as important as division games are
wins and losses come first. Pats control their own playoff destiny just as the Dolphins do.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Nov 3, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well considering they have 2 less losses then us then yes
i mean if they finish 13-3 it really doesnt matter what we do even if the fins go 11-5 with a 5-1 div record
Laces out!
-2008 AFC East Champions-
Suck it Pats, Bills and most of all... the god damn jets.
Sean Smith/Vontae Davis= Pat Surtain/Sam Madison
by BSerious72 on Nov 3, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And lets not forget, you still have the Colts, the Saints, and Texans as well as us.
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 3, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And a Jets team that can still put a wrench in somewhere. Even though I seriously doubt they'll make the playoffs.
It’s a matter of discipline, which is something they distinctly lack. Plus champions don’t make excuses for losses.
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 3, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
it's an absolute bear of a schedule coming up
Jets games included, no question.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Nov 3, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We have the Steeler and Texans and you. We finally get our easy games like the Titans, Panthers and Bucs.
You almost HAVE to sweep us, or hope we blow an easy one in order to keep your lead.
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 3, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Steelers and Texans won't be a picnic either
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Nov 3, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wow you actually have 3 haters that
clicked no. i think its a good idea. keep us up to speed on our playoff hopes….realistically of course.
2009 is a year of respect ladies and gentlemen. Lets get it.
"i think we have to look at it through his shoes" tuscanitunr talkin about brett farve.
13 1/2 phinsider fued points!!!
by MrMedic on Nov 3, 2009 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
definitely
2009 is a year of respect ladies and gentlemen. Lets get it.
"i think we have to look at it through his shoes" tuscanitunr talkin about brett farve.
13 1/2 phinsider fued points!!!
by MrMedic on Nov 3, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hate the haters!
"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons
by texascowpunk on Nov 3, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good read
Current Phinsider Feud Points: 23
Sparano: Joey Porter, What is best in life?
Porter: To crush The Jets, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of Mark Sanchez
by Patssuck456 on Nov 6, 2009 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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