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The Miami Dolphins are currently enduring a dreadful five-game losing streak. After beating the New York Jets in late-October, it appeared that Miami was a legitimate contender to claim a playoff spot in the AFC. Now with a record of 4-7, those playoff dreams have turned into a nightmare.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked 11 teams that could crash the postseason party, and the Dolphins came in at No. 11 on his list. With Miami’s playoff odds at a paltry 1.1 percent, Barnwell had this to say about the Dolphins:
Last year's sneaky entrant into the playoffs, the 2016 Dolphins rode a rush of narrow victories over middling opponents to a 10-6 record and a wild-card berth. It's tough to see a repeat engagement, given that the Fins were 7-4 this time in 2016, and the 2017 schedule still has another game against the Patriots, a trip to Kansas City and a home-and-home with the Bills to come. Even if the Dolphins win out, The New York Times' playoff simulation says they would still miss the playoffs 22 percent of the time.
A more likely scenario for the Dolphins involves them securing a favorable position in the 2018 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, Miami is currently slated to pick at No. 8.
You can read Barnwell’s full rankings by following this link.