The Dolphins did not play on Sunday, but they received a thanksgiving present with many of their AFC competitors giving them a chance to take a big step in the playoff picture. Now the Dolphins need to help their own cause and win against the Jets.
On Sunday, there were 4 teams that were 7-4, but all ended the day at 7-5. The Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns all lost. It really could not have gone much better in regards to the Dolphins getting help with AFC teams in the playoff hunt losing. If the Dolphins can win against the Jets, then there would would be a six-way tie in the standings, and since this would make the head-to-head tiebreaker not applicable, then it would come down to conference record. This would put the Steelers and Dolphins in as the two wild card spots.
Now all this means absolutely nothing if Miami can not go out and take care of business against the Jets. The Dolphins can get all the help in the world from the rest of the league, but if they can not win the games that they have left, then it does not really matter what any other teams do. Yes it is good that the teams the Dolphins are fighting with for a playoff spot are losing, but at the end of the day the Dolphins need to win. Plain and simple. Sports gambling fans can say that the Dolphins on paper should bet the Jets, but they still have to go out on the field and physically do it.