Dolphins move one place closer

On By Littum

The Miami Dolphins are now just one spot out of the AFC playoff picture after picking up a third straight win.

Miami cruised to a 34-15 victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday and got some help elsewhere in Week 12. Thanks to a 24-6 victory for the Detroit Lions against the Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins slipped into eighth place in the AFC.

But the Las Vegas Raiders were unable to beat the Denver Broncos, which would have put the Dolphins in even better shape heading into their Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers. The positives for Miami are that the other two wild card teams play Monday night and they can’t both win.

With only primetime games remaining in Week 12, the AFC standings are as follows:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1 (30-27 win vs. Panthers)
  2. Buffalo Bills: 9-2 (goodbye)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3 (24-19 loss against the Browns)
  4. Houston Texans: 7-5 (32-27 loss against the Titans)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-3 (Monday against Ravens)
  6. Baltimore Ravens: 7-4 (Monday vs Chargers)
  7. Denver Broncos: 7-5 (29-19 win vs. Raiders)
  • Miami Dolphins: 5-6 (34-15 win vs. Patriots)
  • Indianapolis Colts: 5-7 (24-6 loss against the Lions)
  • Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7 (goodbye)

The six AFC teams not listed all have at least eight losses.