As the Miami Dolphins prepare to face the New York Jets in Week 18, their playoff dreams hang in the balance. While they don’t have full control over their playoff fate due to outside factors, notably a game between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, the Dolphins can still make a strong statement with a victory over a struggling Jets team. The question remains: Will the Jets muster enough fight to play spoiler, or will their season-ending slump continue?
Head coach Mike McDaniel stands on the brink of Dolphins history. A win over the Jets would make McDaniel the first Miami coach since the legendary Don Shula in 1972-73 to sweep both the New England Patriots and the Jets in consecutive seasons. That’s no small feat, considering Shula’s Dolphins went on to Super Bowl glory in those storied years.
While fans might raise an eyebrow at the significance of beating two underperforming squads like the Jets and Patriots, McDaniel’s consistent performance against divisional foes is noteworthy. And yes, in the annals of Dolphins lore, achieving such a sweep is as rare as it is commendable.
However, this isn’t a banner season just yet. Miami’s focus must also turn towards enhancing the roster. Both the offense and defense have showcased areas needing improvement if the Dolphins are to match the success of their past legends.
And should the Dolphins punch their ticket to the postseason, a bigger challenge looms: advancing past the first round. With powerhouses like the Buffalo Bills potentially lying in wait, securing a playoff berth is just the first hurdle in what they hope to be a deep playoff run. Sounds like the Dolphins have quite a bit riding on this one game, doesn’t it?