NFL Playoff standings after Week 13: 2018 Dolphins playoff chances increase slightly

Week 13 of the NFL season is compete, leaving us just four weeks until the playoffs are set. Every result from now until then will shake up exactly how the top six teams in each conference will be seeded, as well as potentially shaking up which teams will make the postseason tournament.

The Miami Dolphins came away with a win this past Sunday, beating the Buffalo Bills when tight end Charles Clay could not pull in a last second heave from quarterback Josh Allen. Ryan Tannehill’s three-touchdown day was just enough to beat the Dolphins’ AFC East rivals, keeping slim playoff hopes for Miami alive.

After Week 12’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins’ playoff chances feel to a season-low four percent, according to FiveThirtyEight.com. That is now up to seven percent after the win over the Bills. It is not looking good for Miami to make the post season - in part because their next two games are against the New England Patriots and at the Minnesota Vikings - but the team still could make it, with some help.

Miami’s playoff chances would increase - with no other results added - to 19 percent if they are able to upset the Patriots and even the season series. Miami always plays the Patriots tough in Hard Rock Stadium, so it is not an impossible result.

That numbers increases to 23 percent if Miami wins and the Baltimore Ravens lose at the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.

The Dolphins are still in must-win mode, and likely will be the rest of the season. The playoffs are still not out of reach, but they continue to need wins and some help.

AFC Playoff Standings

1 - AFC West leader - Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
2 - AFC East leader - New England Patriots (9-3)
3 - AFC South leader - Houston Texans (9-3)
4 - AFC North leader - Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)
5 - Wildcard - Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)
6 - Wildcard - Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

7 - Miami Dolphins (6-6)
8 - Indianapolis Colts (6-6)
9 - Denver Broncos (6-6)
10 - Tennessee Titans (6-6)
11 - Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)
12 - Cleveland Browns (5-7)
13 - Buffalo Bills (4-8)
14 - Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)
15 - New York Jets (3-9)
16 - Oakland Raiders (2-10)

NFC Playoff Standings

1 - NFC West champion - Los Angeles Rams (11-1)
2 - NFC South leader - New Orleans Saints (10-2)
3 - NFC North leader - Chicago Bears (8-4)
4 - NFC East leader - Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
5 - Wildcard - Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
6 - Wildcard - Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)

7 - Carolina Panthers (6-6)
8 - Philadelphia Eagles (6-6)
9 - Washington Redskins (6-6)
10 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)
11 - Green Bay Packers (4-7-1)
12 - Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
13 - New York Giants (4-8)
14 - Detroit Lions (4-8)
15 - Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
16 - San Francisco 49ers (2-10)