The Miami Dolphins are on the outside of the AFC playoffs. They need help and a win over the Cleveland Browns to have any chance

The Miami Dolphins need plenty of outside help to make the AFC playoffs. First, however, they must help themselves.

With no margin for error, the Dolphins (7-8) hope to stay in the postseason hunt at least one more week with a win Sunday over the Browns (3-12), whose season disbanded weeks ago and appeared on the brink of another disruptive offseason.

For Miami, this is another must-win situation, no different than a week ago, then Dolphins beat San Francisco. But with just two games remaining, the Dolphins’ bubble is dangerously fragile.

There are several scenarios that could lead them to a playoff spot, but they all begin with wins in Cleveland and at the New York Jets (4-11) next week. They also need various combinations of losses by the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos just to get on the field.

In fact, the Chargers (9-6) and Broncos (9-6) both play on Saturday, and if they win, the Dolphins could be eliminated before they even get to Cleveland.

Miami suffered a pregame blow Saturday when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to questionable with a hip injury that limited him in practice this week. If Tagovailoa can’t play, Tyler Huntley, who spent training camp with the Browns, will get his fourth start this season.

The Dolphins’ playoff odds aren’t great — around 10%, according to various playoff projection sites — but coach Mike McDaniel is convinced his players have a single mindset and purpose.

Focus shouldn’t be a problem.

“This team, what they’ve really gone through and fought for, it’s not a tall order to see how we feel, a season in one game and our chances in the playoffs are on the line,” McDaniel said. “It’s been a driving force – it’s really for our dressing room and our coaching staff, we really want to play the type of football that we felt we fell short of for parts of the season.”

Like any team, the Dolphins have had their share of ups and downs. If they miss the playoffs, a 2-6 start will be among the biggest regrets.

While their odds aren’t great, Tagovailoa said he and his teammates should be thankful for what lies ahead.

“It’s a possibility and I don’t think any of us on our team should take this for granted,” said Tagovailoa, who may have more perspective than others given his history with concussions. “This is something we have worked extremely hard to be in the positions that we are in now to be able to play in the NFL.

“It’s been a dream in itself, so for you to short-circuit yourself and be like, ‘Oh no, we’ll get that next year.’ Well, how do you even know there’s going to be a next year for your career, or there’s a next battle coming your way, you just never know when you’ll weigh these options?

The Browns are closing out a season full of disappointments.

This was supposed to be the year they took another step toward a championship. Instead, they went backwards.

It will be the second straight start for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who threw two interceptions, was sacked five times and held the Browns to just one score in last week’s 24-6 loss at Cincinnati.

In that game, Thompson-Robinson said he saw the last three games as an audition for next season. He’s had another full week to prepare, but the second-year QB said he’s done using his inexperience to explain away mistakes.

“I’m not going to use that as an excuse anymore,” said Thompson-Robinson, who has been dealing with a calf strain. “It’s not my first time playing. I’m not a rookie anymore, so I can’t use that as an excuse. I have to go out there and be able to execute and when things don’t go right, do not a bad game worse.”

Brooks’ boost

Jordyn Brooks is having one of the most productive seasons for a Dolphins defender.

The linebacker’s 128 total tackles are the most in a season for Miami in the last 15 years, and his three sacks make him one of four players in the NFL with at least three sacks and 100 tackles in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Signed as a free agent after four seasons in Seattle, Brooks is also the only player this season with at least 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five passes defensed and three sacks.

“Going through some adversity early in the season as a team, that can always be tough,” Brooks said, “but I feel like over the course of the season it’s been a great first year to get to play with some of those guys , I get to play with and then play in the system, scheme under coach (defensive coordinator Anthony) Weaver, he’s been great for us all year.”

Delicate balance

McDaniel said much of this season has been about dealing with a wrist injury that star receiver Tyreek Hill has been dealing with while making sure he gets enough reps in practice.

Hill had a poor performance against the 49ers, catching just three of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. He had a third-down drop on the Dolphins’ opening drive and later dropped a potential TD.

Hill later said the mistakes were due to a lack of “valuable reps” with Tagovailoa in practice after getting some rest days over the past month.

“Those Wednesday reps are definitely showing,” Hill said. “As a manager, I just need to be able to bite the bullet sometime and practice and get those valuable reps with QB1.”