Dolphins’ Playoff Hopes Alive Despite Turbulent Season
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Despite a challenging season marked by key injuries and quarterback concerns, the Miami Dolphins still maintain a sliver of hope for a playoff berth. Currently holding a 4-7 record, the team enters their bye week with a path – albeit a narrow one – to sneak into the AFC playoff picture.
From Improbable to Possible
At the start of the 2025 season, a playoff appearance seemed a distant dream for Miami. However, recent momentum, including a decisive victory over the Buffalo Bills and an overtime win against the Washington Commanders in Madrid, has shifted the narrative. These wins represent three victories in their last four games, breathing new life into a once-faltering campaign.
The team’s turnaround is particularly notable on the defensive side of the ball. Considered one of the league’s weakest units earlier in the year, the defense has recently limited opponents to 13 points or fewer in each of those four contests. Offensively, De’Von Achane continues to be a dual-threat weapon, and Jaylen Waddle has demonstrated the ability to function as a primary receiver.
The Dolphins’ season has been far from smooth sailing. A season-ending injury to Tyreek Hill and persistent turnover issues with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have significantly hampered the offense’s explosive potential. These struggles have fueled ongoing debate regarding Tagovailoa’s long-term future as the franchise quarterback, as well as the position of head coach Mike McDaniel, who has been frequently mentioned as a potential coaching candidate for other teams. The team previously parted ways with general manager Chris Grier on Halloween.
Playoff Outlook: A Long Shot
While mathematically possible, a Dolphins playoff berth remains highly improbable. According to The Athletic, if Miami were to win out, finishing with a 10-7 record, they would have a 35% chance of securing a wild-card spot. However, their current probability of reaching the seven-team AFC playoff field is less than 1%.
Tiebreakers present a further obstacle. The Dolphins lost to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens, both currently holding playoff positions. They did manage to split their season series with the Buffalo Bills, another wild-card contender, and have remaining games against the New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Currently, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold the third and final wild-card position at 6-4, followed closely by the Houston Texans (6-5), Baltimore Ravens (5-5), and Kansas City Chiefs (5-5). Fortunately for Miami, they possess the easiest remaining schedule of these teams, excluding Jacksonville, with upcoming matchups against the 2-8 New Orleans Saints and the 2-8 New York Jets immediately following their bye week.
Week 12 NFL Schedule
All games can be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. All times are Eastern:
- Indianapolis at Kansas City | 1 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- Pittsburgh at Chicago | 1 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- New England at Cincinnati | 1 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- NY Jets at Baltimore | 1 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- Minnesota at Green Bay | 1 p.m. Sunday | Fox
- NY Giants at Detroit | 1 p.m. Sunday | Fox
- Seattle at Tennessee | 1 p.m. Sunday | Fox
- Jacksonville at Arizona | 4:05 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- Cleveland at Las Vegas | 4:05 p.m. Sunday | CBS
- Philadelphia at Dallas | 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Fox
- Atlanta at New Orleans | 4:25 p.m. Sunday | Fox
- Tampa Bay at LA Rams | 8:20 p.m. Sunday | NBC
- Carolina at San Francisco | 8:15 p.m. Monday | ESPN
Looking Ahead: Dolphins’ Schedule
Miami will return from their bye week on November 30th with a home game against the New Orleans Saints. The team faces a challenging but not insurmountable path to potentially defy expectations and contend for a playoff spot.
