The Miami Dolphins are not dead yet, but, even if they are telling you they are getting better, they soon will be. The AFC Playoff picture has 16 teams still technically in the hunt, meaning not a single team has been eliminated yet. That does not mean the path to the Playoffs is one the Dolphins will be following.
Miami is one loss away from their 7th straight non-winning record. They are 12th in the conference Playoff standings. They are 0-5 in the AFC East. And, they do not really have tie breaks over just about anyone in the conference (except the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans).
The Playoffs are nothing more that something the Dolphins, and Dolphins fans, will be watching this January - just like they have been for nearly the entire century. That said, we will take a look at the full standings for the AFC Playoff picture, as it stands ahead of the AFC North matchup on Monday Night Football featuring the Baltimore Ravens at the Cleveland Browns.
AFC Playoff Standings
1 - New England Patriots (10-1, AFC East Leaders)
2 - Cincinnati Bengals (9-2, AFC North Leaders)
3 - Denver Broncos (9-2, AFC West Leaders)
4 - Indianapolis Colts (6-5, AFC South Leaders)
Tie breaks: Cincinnati (0.875) beats Denver (0.714) based on AFC winning percentage. Indianapolis beats Houston based on head-to-head results.
5 - Kansas City Chiefs (6-5, Wildcard 1)
6 - Houston Texans (6-5, Wildcard 2)
Tie breaks: Kansas City (0.714) beats Houston (0.571), New York (0.556), and Pittsburgh (0.429) based on AFC winning percentage. Houston beats New York and Pittsburgh based on AFC winning percentage.
New York Jets (6-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
Tie breaks: New York beats Pittsburgh based on AFC winning percentage.
Oakland Raiders (5-6)
Buffalo Bills (5-6)
Tie breaks: Oakland (0.625) beats Buffalo (0.500) based on AFC winning percentage.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7)
Miami Dolphins (4-7)
Tie breaks: Jacksonville beats Miami based on head-to-head results.
Baltimore Ravens (3-7)*
San Diego Chargers (3-8)
Cleveland Browns (2-8)*
Tennessee Titans (2-9)
* Teams to meet on Monday Night Football.