Alright, just over 24 hours until the Dolphins HUGE kickoff up in Buffalo where the snow will be falling all day long...
But not really. There will be something falling, yes, but it'll be something these Floridians are much more accustomed to:
Rain.
The forecast for tomorrow is calling for a balmy 47 degrees, which, in December, in Buffalo, is an absolute blessing.
HOWEVER, the forecast is also calling for rain. How possible is it?
Well, 100%, apparently.
This will make for an interesting game. Amazingly, Ryan Tannehill really hasn't played much in the rain over the last two years, even though he plays in South Florida.
The ball will be slippery. Depending on how hard it's raining, visibility could be at a minimum.
So yes, conditions will make this a very interesting game.
Just some food for thought.
THE BAD CLINCHING SCENARIO
All the talk this week has been about the Miami Dolphins MAKING the playoffs in the next two weeks, and rightfully so.
However, while Miami COULD clinch a spot tomorrow (a win PLUS losses by Cin and Balt), there is also another scenario the Dolphins could face at the end of the day.
And it's not nearly as much fun to talk about, think about, or discuss.
IF Miami and San Diego lose, and Baltimore and Cincinnati win, then the Dolphins will be eliminated from postseason play for the 5th straight season.
The key here is San Diego. Even if Miami loses, and the other two win, if the Chargers WIN then the Fins will be alive heading into the final week.
Why?
Well, San Diego and Miami would be tied at 8-7, with Baltimore a game up at 9-6 and facing the 10-5 Bengals.
In this scenario, the ONLY way Miami makes the playoffs would be a win, obviously, along with a win from San Diego and a LOSS by Baltimore.
Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore would then all be 9-7, with the Dolphins winning the three way tiebreaker.
WEEK 16 VIEWER GUIDE
Which brings us to our weekly "who to watch and who to root for" section:
Minnesota @ Cincinnati (1:00, FOX): Need the Bengals to lose here, plain, simple, and possible. However, I'd feel a lot better about this game if it were in Minnesota. Did you see the Bengals on the road last week? We'll see, these Vikings play everybody tough.
New England @ Baltimore (4:25, CBS): Bit of a double-edged sword here. IF Miami wins, AND New England loses, then the division will still be up for grabs heading into next week. Heck, the #2 seed will even still be a possibility. HOWEVER, does anyone really think Brady and the Pats lose to the Bills, at home, with the division on the line? Let's not take any chances here. Root for a Baltimore loss, and get us one step closer to January football.
Oakland @ San Diego (4:25, CBS): As I just alluded to, the Chargers could be the only thing keeping Miami alive tomorrow if the Fins can't get the job done in Buffalo. Root for San Diego here, big time.
FINAL INJURY REPORT
Here ya go:
Questionable: RB Daniel Thomas (ankle)
Probable: DT Paul Soliai (ankle), CB Brent Grimes (groin), LS John Denny (ankle), S Chris Clemons (hamstring, knee), CB Nolan Carroll (knee), S Reshad Jones (groin), DE Olivier Vernon (ankle), CB Jamar Taylor (hamstring)
Brent Grimes WILL play tomorrow. Nolan Carroll WILL play tomorrow. Those two were the only question marks this week, as both left Sunday's game with injuries. Having them back in the secondary is HUGE, folks.
I also expect Daniel Thomas to play, barring a setback.
Picks and predictions are on deck.
Stay tuned.
24 hours.
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