Despite all of their struggles this season, the Miami Dolphins still have a chance to make the playoffs going into their Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But their chances of accomplishing that feat are slim, to say the least.
According to the New York Times Playoff Simulator, Miami has a less than one-percent chance to make the postseason going into Monday night.
Here's how the Dolphins can do the unthinkable.
AFC East standings
1. New England Patriots (11-3)
2. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
4. New York Jets (3-11)
The division is NOT a viable path to the playoffs for the Dolphins, as they have already been eliminated from contention in the AFC East.
The Dolphins do have an opportunity to play spoiler, though, as they square off with the Patriots in Week 18.
AFC wild-card standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 12-2 |
| 2 | New England Patriots | 11-3 |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10-4 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-6 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | 10-4 |
| 6 | Buffalo Bills | 10-4 |
| 7 | Houston Texans | 9-5 |
| 8 | Indianapolis Colts | 8-6 |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | 7-7 |
| 10 | Miami Dolphins | 6-7 |
The Dolphins enter their Week 15 game sitting in the No. 10 spot in the AFC wild-card standings. We did not include the teams below them because all have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
This is the only path to the playoffs for the Dolphins, but this path will be closed up if Miami loses to the Steelers on Monday night.
Even if Miami emerges victorious over Pittsburgh, the team will remain in the No. 10 spot because the Ravens hold the head-to-head tie-breaker and won't jump the Steelers because Pittsburgh owns the head-to-head advantage over Baltimore.
How Dolphins can make the playoffs
Miami has to win the rest of its games to have a shot, and even then the Dolphins will still need help from the teams in front of them via losses.
While it's nice to have hope, this is the steepest of mountains to climb for the Dolphins.
If only Miami had started this season with a pulse, head coach Mike McDaniel and Co. Would've had a legitimate shot to make the playoffs.
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