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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Stites

How Broncos vs. Chargers affects Dolphins’ long shot playoff scenarios

After losing in Week 15, the Miami Dolphins’ postseason hopes are circling the drain. It’s possible that the team will be officially eliminated Sunday.

For now, though, there’s still a long shot scenario that would see the Dolphins earn a wild card spot. That path will be affected by a Thursday night matchup between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

Heading into the primetime game, the 6-8 Dolphins are three games behind the 9-5 Baltimore Ravens and 9-5 Broncos, and two games behind the 8-6 Chargers. To make an unlikely run into the playoffs, Miami needs to win its last three to finish 9-8. Then the team would hope the Ravens, Broncos, and/or Chargers are unable to reach 10 wins, and the 6-8 Indianapolis Colts don’t win out to finish 9-8 as well.

That means the scenarios after Thursday will look like this:

If the Broncos win

Dolphins make the playoffs if:

  • Dolphins win out (vs. 49ers, Browns, Jets)
  • Colts lose at least once (vs. Titans, Giants, Jaguars)
  • Ravens lose out (vs. Steelers, Texans, Browns) AND/OR Chargers lose at least once (vs. Patriots, Raiders)

If the Chargers win

Dolphins make the playoffs if:

  • Dolphins win out (vs. 49ers, Browns, Jets)
  • Colts lose at least once (vs. Titans, Giants, Jaguars)
  • Ravens lose out (vs. Steelers, Texans, Browns), AND/OR Chargers lose out (vs. Patriots, Raiders), AND/OR Broncos lose out (vs. Bengals, Chiefs)
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