How Week 12 Played Out For the Dolphins

How Week 12 Played Out For the Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins may have been off this week, but that doesn’t mean there was nothing for fans to watch. Their playoff hopes are slim, but I find it difficult to root for them to lose out right. If you’re of a similar mindset, then this will be the blog for you. 

Starting off the week, we had the Buffalo Bills facing off with the Houston Texans; the Texans would go on to win this contest 23-19. The results represent a mixed bag for the Dolphins. On the one hand, the Bills fall further down the playoff rankings, now occupying the 7th seed, but on the other hand, the Texans improve to 6-5, just behind the Steelers in 8th place and one game behind the Bills for the final playoff spot. The Bills have had an uneven season. Without a true number 1 receiver, the offense has struggled to look like the juggernaut it once was. If Josh Allen has a down game, as he did on Thursday night, then they are in trouble any week.

The Texans are in a fascinating spot, with starting QB C. J. Stroud having a down year with a  3-5 record. Backup Davis Mills has been forced into action and won 3 straight. Stroud is set to return this week against the Colts, but that might be a good thing if you’re rooting for them to lose. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Chicago without their starting QB, Aaron Rodgers, who was injured, and lost 31-28. This has pushed Pittsburgh out of playoff contention for the first time this season as the Ravens now hold the lead in their division.

The Steelers looked like they had made the right move signing Rodgers and gearing up for a title push with the trade for Jaelen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith this offseason; however, after a 4-1 start, they have looked beatable and represent about as average a team as you can get in the NFL. With matchups against the Bills and Ravens coming, the December 15th contest against the Dolphins could see both teams at 6-7 battling it out for the final playoff spot. 

Finally, the last matchup of note for Miami’s playoff chances was the Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts have had a stellar season, looking like the team to beat in the AFC for much of it, and the Chiefs have looked like a shell of their former selves.