Can Miami Dolphins still make the playoffs? Where Mike McDaniel and co. stand after win over Niners

The Miami Dolphins recorded a vital win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. The victory eliminated the 49ers from playoff contention and kept Mike McDaniel's team in the postseason hunt.

Let's examine the Dolphins ' chances of making the postseason ahead of their Week 17 game with the Cleveland Browns.

Can Miami Dolphins still make the playoffs? Where Mike McDaniel and co. stand after win over Niners

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What do the Miami Dolphins need to make the playoffs?

The Miami Dolphins are 7-8 and second in the AFC East, behind the Buffalo Bills. They will need to win their upcoming game against the Browns to stay in the playoff race by the time they play their last game of the season.

The Sportskeeda playoff predictor has the Miami Dolphins ending the season with a 9-8 record, which will see them narrowly miss the playoffs as the eighth seed in the stacked AFC. Their sole consolation will be a mid-tier pick in round one of the 2025 draft.

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Miami Dolphins playoff chances in Week 17

The Miami Dolphins are in the playoff picture entering Week 17, but they can't afford more slip-ups in a season filled with inconsistency.

For the Dolphins to qualify for the playoffs, they will need to win their remaining regular-season games, the Denver Broncos or the Los Angeles Chargers to lose both their remaining games, and the Indianapolis Colts to lose one of their final two games.

The Denver Broncos lost in Week 17, so that's a positive for Dolphins fans. However, their hate watch will include hoping the other teams ahead of the Dolphins lose games to close the season.

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Miami Dolphins end their season with a trip to New York

The Miami Dolphins will travel to New York to face off against the Jets in Week 18. However, the Dolphins must win in Week 17 for the game to have any form of relevance.

If Tua Tagovailoa and Co. beat the Browns in Week 17, they will have a must-win game to close out the regular season. They will be up against Aaron Rodgers and Co., who've been eliminated from the playoff picture.

However, it's not going to be easy because the Jets are divisional rivals and will look to close the year with a famous win. Furthermore, the Jets will be out for revenge after losing their Week 14 matchup in overtime.