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Miami Must Win vs Indianapolis if They Want to Go To The Playoffs

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Mike Oliva | Last updated Oct 11, 2024 12:27 PM ET

For any chance for the Miami Dolphins to turn around their season and make a run at the playoffs, they must beat the Indianapolis Colts a week from this Sunday.

With Miami at 2-3 on their bye week, it’s not a great place to be, and if they go to 2-4, you can all but kiss a chance of making the playoffs goodbye. But things will look very different if Miami can get to 3-3.

As I type this, before the Week 5 games begin, Miami is 2-3 and only one game out of first place in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills play the NY Jets this upcoming Monday night, with first place on the line. The Jets are also 2-3, while the Bills are 3-2 and hold a head-to-head win over Miami.

If the Jets somehow win at home against Buffalo, the Dolphins will be in the thick of the AFC East race before they play the Colts in Week 6.

After that Colts game, Miami will most likely get back Tua Tagovailoa and possibly safety Jevon Holland (even if he is playing with a cast on his hand, it will help to have him on the field).

With two games against the NY Jets and a matchup with the Bills coming up soon, all hope will not be lost. Despite how badly Miami has played the first five games of the season (and boy, has it been bad), they will still be in the middle of things.

Now, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, there is one thing. Miami must actually beat Indianapolis.

That will be no small task.

It’s a road game

Without your starting quarterback

Without Jaelan Phillips

Without Jevon Holland

Possibly without De’Von Achane

This will be no easy feat for the 2024 Miami Dolphins, a team that has struggled with tackling on defense and has been a mess on offense, and even worse with their special teams. Frank Smith and Anthony Weaver will have to get their units to play at a much higher level than they have in the first month of the season.

The Colts will start either Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco at quarterback, and honestly, it doesn’t matter as each presents a different threat to the Dolphins’ defense. Colts WR Michael Pittman will miss the game with a back injury.

So, the Colts have their issues as well.

But if Miami can win, own a tiebreaker over another AFC Team with a similar record, and get to .500 with their starting quarterback returning to the lineup, there is hope for the rest of the season.

There is hope that Miami will win a few games against bad teams like the Raiders and beat the Patriots again. Maybe it will split with the Jets, find a way to beat a team like the Rams on the road and get the 2024 season back on track.

Sneak into the playoffs, possibly, and from there…anything is possible.

I am not saying Miami is going to win the AFC East or a playoff game or win the Super Bowl. But from a 1-3 start, if we are playing meaningful football games in December, sign me up.

But it all starts with a win in Indianapolis in Week 6.

A loss to Indy, and we can begin to turn our focus to the Trade Deadline, Free Agency, and the 2025 NFL Draft.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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