Dolphins 2024 Week 11 Rooting Guide

The Miami Dolphins will need help to make an unlikely run to the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown reception against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at SoFi Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Miami Dolphins need to string some victories together, starting against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, if they're going to make a playoff run in 2024. However, they will likely need some help along the way.

The Dolphins are 3-6 heading into their final nine games: at home against Las Vegas and New England, at Green Bay, at home against the New York Jets, at Houston, at home against San Francisco, at Cleveland, and at the Jets.

THE DOLPHINS AND THE AFC STANDINGS

The Dolphins currently rank 10th in the AFC standings, but they're tied with eighth-place Indianapolis and ninth-place Cincinnati in the loss column, with one more loss than the seventh-place Denver Broncos.

Through Week 10, it still appears we're looking at three tiers of AFC teams, with six teams that look like they will likely or almost assuredly make the playoffs: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Chargers.

Five teams — the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns — don't look like they have much of a shot at making the playoffs.

This leaves five teams likely competing for that final AFC playoff spot: the Dolphins, Broncos, Colts, Bengals, and maybe the Jets.

The Dolphins have two games left against the Jets — in Week 14 and Week 18 — so they could hand them two losses right there, but in every other instance, the Dolphins and their fans should be rooting against those last four teams.

The Dolphins got some nice help last weekend when all four of those teams wound up losing.

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THE TEAMS THE DOLPHINS MOST WANT TO SEE WIN IN WEEK 11

Atlanta (at Denver), Sunday, 4:05 PM EDT

• It's an easy choice here: an NFC team faces an AFC team that's among the wild-card contenders. So, let's go, Kirk Cousins.

L.A. Chargers (at home vs. Cincinnati), Sunday, 8:20 PM EDT

• It could be that the Chargers collapse toward the end and miss the playoffs, but it's more likely that Cincinnati is the real bubble team. The Bengals also have the talent to run off a winning streak.

N.Y. Jets (vs. Indianapolis), Sunday, 1:00 PM EDT

• This was supposed to be the Sunday night game, but it got flexed out. The Colts' favorable remaining schedule gives them an edge down the stretch, so they must be monitored. As mentioned, the Dolphins will face the Jets twice so that they can take care of them. One additional reason to root for the Jets is the tiebreaker situation. Due to Indianapolis' 16-10 win against Miami on October 20th, they hold the edge should the two teams finish with identical records.

Kansas City (at Buffalo), Sunday, 4:25 PM EDT

• The Chiefs are locks to make the playoffs, and the Bills are almost there as well, but why not root against Buffalo in the very unlikely event they could collapse down the stretch?

Dallas (at home vs. Houston), Monday, 8:15 PM EDT

• Again, the Texans are making the playoffs, but this is an AFC-NFC matchup, so why not? Even though there's always something enjoyable about watching the Cowboys lose, no?

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FIVE OTHER GAMES WITH A SLIGHT PREFERENCE (BUT NO BIGGIE)

Pittsburgh (vs. Baltimore), Sunday, 1 PM EDT

• Both teams are making the playoffs at 7-2 and 7-3, so we'll go against the team with one more loss.

Minnesota (at Tennessee), Sunday, 1:00 PM EDT

• Even if the Titans were to pull off the upset, we don't see them making a second-half run.

New Orleans (vs. Cleveland), 1:00 PM EDT

• This is like the Titans, plus we want to see former Dolphins assistant Darren Rizzi get another win as the Saints' interim head coach.

Detroit (vs. Jacksonville) 1:00 PM EDT

• The Jaguars are closer to firing the head coach than making a playoff run.

L.A. Rams (at New England), 1:00 PM EDT

• The Dolphins will see the Patriots next week, but this season is about Drake Maye's development for New England.

WEEK 11 GAMES OF NO CONSEQUENCE TO THE DOLPHINS

These are games for Dolphins fans to watch for pure enjoyment or fantasy football because they don't involve AFC teams or have future draft implications.

But here's the rest of the Sunday slate, in the interest of thoroughness:

• Green Bay at Chicago, Sunday, 1:00 PM EDT
• Seattle at San Francisco, Sunday, 4:05 PM EDT