The Miami Dolphins didn’t find their first win of the season until the second-to-last day of September, but they aren’t as buried in the standings as you make think.
Catching the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East doesn’t feel realistic. The Bills are 4-0 and already have wins over two of the three teams in the division with a chance to make it all three when they face the New England Patriots in Week 5. But thanks to a weak AFC, in general, the Dolphins are very much in the mix despite their 1-3 record.
With September’s games all in the books, only five teams in the AFC have a winning record. Four are division leaders, leaving not many teams between the Dolphins and contention for a wild card berth:
AFC EastBuffalo Bills: 4-0New England Patriots: 2-2Miami Dolphins: 1-3New York Jets: 0-4AFC NorthPittsburgh Steelers: 3-1Cincinnati Bengals: 2-2Baltimore Ravens: 1-3Cleveland Browns: 1-3AFC SouthIndianapolis Colts: 3-1Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-1Houston Texans: 1-3Tennessee Titans: 0-4AFC WestLos Angeles Chargers: 3-1Kansas City Chiefs: 2-2Denver Broncos: 2-2Las Vegas Raiders: 1-3AFC playoff picture
For now, there are four 2-2 teams tied for the final two spots in the AFC’s postseason field. That includes the rudderless Bengals, who lost in the last two weeks by a combined 63 points with Jake Browning at quarterbacks.
Buffalo Bills: 4-0Los Angeles Chargers: 3-1Indianapolis Colts: 3-1Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-1Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-1Cincinnati Bengals: 2-2Kansas City Chiefs: 2-2Denver Broncos: 2-2New England Patriots: 2-2Las Vegas Raiders: 1-3Houston Texans: 1-3Baltimore Ravens: 1-3Miami Dolphins: 1-3Cleveland Browns: 1-3
The Dolphins face the 1-3 Carolina Panthers, 3-1 Chargers, 1-3 Browns, 2-2 Falcons, and 1-3 Ravens in October.