How can the Miami Dolphins make the playoffs? Exploring all scenarios for Mike McDaniel and Co ahead of Week 18

This is Mike McDaniel's third season in charge as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, and he was able to make the playoffs in the first two seasons. With an 8-8 record entering Week 18, McDaniel will attempt to help the Dolphins finish with a winning record for the fifth consecutive season and qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Last weekend, the Denver Broncos had the chance to flush out the Dolphins' chances of qualifying for the playoffs and secure their first postseason trip in eight years, but they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime on the road. That result and Miami's win over the Cleveland Browns have kept Cincinnati and the Dolphins alive in the postseason race.

Below, we will look at how the Fins can make the playoffs.

Dolphins playoff scenarios after going 8-8

The Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos will play at the same time on Sunday, but they will be up against teams with little or nothing to play for.

The Dolphins will square off against the New York Jets, who are 4-12 and now seventh in the next NFL draft order, while the Broncos will play at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have already secured the AFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

For the Dolphins to qualify for the playoffs, they need to defeat the Jets and hope the Broncos lose to Kansas City this weekend. Miami will earn the final AFC Wild Card spot as the seventh seed and go to Orchard Park to face the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills in the first round of the playoffs if these two scenarios play out.

While the Cincinnati Bengals are also riding on an 8-8 record going into Week 18, their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers means nothing for the Dolphins’ playoff hopes.

If both Miami and Cincinnati take care of business in Week 18 and the Broncos lose, the three teams will end with 9-8 records. However, the Dolphins will have the advantage because they hold the tiebreaker edge over the other two teams, having won the most games against division rivals among the three.

The only way the Bengals can still make the postseason is if they win and both the Dolphins and the Broncos lose.

The Chiefs will likely rest quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a number of other starters against Denver on Sunday. The Broncos will enter the Week 18 game as the favorites if that is the case, which is bad news for the Dolphins.