Dolphins’ Playoff Hopes Revived as Bengals Defeat Broncos in Thrilling Week 17 Matchup

 

The Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes have been given a new lease on life, thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals’ thrilling Week 17 victory over the Denver Broncos. The Bengals’ win on Saturday keeps the Dolphins in the mix, but they still have their work cut out for them.

The Bengals and Broncos engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with Cincinnati holding on to their playoff chances by a thread. A late interception by Denver quarterback Bo Nix put the Bengals in position to win, but Nix drove the Broncos down the field to tie the game and send it into overtime.

In overtime, the Bengals missed a field goal, but their defense came up big, giving them another chance to score. This time, quarterback Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins for a touchdown, securing the win for Cincinnati.

The Bengals’ victory puts the Dolphins’ playoff fate in their own hands. To remain alive, Miami needs to win their next two games against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. They also require the Indianapolis Colts to lose one of their final two games and the Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs next week.

Miami Dolphins playoff chances remain alive after Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos in Week 17

The Dolphins’ path to the playoffs is fraught with challenges, but they can take a significant step towards their goal by beating the Browns on Sunday. A loss to Cleveland would eliminate them from postseason contention, regardless of other teams’ results.

The Browns may not have had a stellar season, but they possess a physical defense that could pose problems for the Dolphins. Miami will need to find a way to neutralize the impact of 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. This task could be even more daunting if starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is unable to play due to a hip injury.

If Tagovailoa is sidelined, the Dolphins will have to rely on Tyler Huntley at quarterback. The stakes are high, but Miami can assure themselves of a chance to make the playoffs in Week 18 by securing a win over the Browns on Sunday.