Recreation end result: The Dolphins got here into the sport needing a win (plus two extra in subsequent weeks) and some different issues to not be eradicated from the playoffs. The opposite issues are losses by the Colts and Chargers, two issues that didn’t occur however weren’t sufficient on their very own to get rid of Miami. With a slender 29-17 win over the 49ers, although, they’re nonetheless in it. They’ll want extra assist, together with the losses above that they didn’t get, whereas profitable out their remaining two video games.
With a win, Miami nonetheless wants the Chargers to lose out and the Colts to drop at the least one remaining sport, all whereas profitable out themselves. The 49ers had been eradicated from postseason competition within the early window of video games, so that they didn’t have something to play for simply as Sunday’s sport kicked off. They wanted each the Falcons and Rams to lose video games earlier within the day, and neither did.
The San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins face off in a Week 16 matchup of two groups which are hanging across the playoff image by a thread. Each groups face elimination, and if the 49ers win, it’s nonetheless doable each groups are formally eradicated from the playoff race by the top of their sport. The sport kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET and the Dolphins are a 1.5-point favourite at FanDuel Sportsbook.
49ers playoff image
The 49ers are 6-8 and sitting in final place within the NFC West. They’re two video games again of the Rams and Seahawks and one sport again of the Cardinals. They’re in eleventh place general within the NFC, sitting three video games again of the Commanders for the ultimate wild card berth.
San Francisco wants numerous assist to make the playoffs, and could possibly be eradicated earlier than this sport even begins. If the 49ers lose, they’re eradicated from the playoff race. But when the Cardinals (at Panthers) and the Commanders (vs. Eagles) each win within the 1 p.m. ET window, the 49ers will probably be formally eradicated. Moreover, if the Rams beat the Jets within the 1 p.m. window and the Seahawks beat the Vikings within the 4 p.m. window, the 49ers will probably be eradicated.
The 49ers have a highway to the playoffs, but it surely requires an in depth mixture of outcomes exterior of their very own video games. Together with profitable all three of their remaining video games (@ Dolphins, vs. Lions, @ Cardinals), the 49ers want the next:
- WAS loses out (vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, @ Cowboys)
- ATL loses weeks 16 & 18 (vs. Giants, vs. Panthers)
- LAR or SEA loses out (Rams: @ Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks; Seahawks: vs. Vikings, @ Bears, @ Rams)
- ARI loses week 16 or 17 (@ Panthers, @ Rams)
Dolphins playoff image
The Dolphins head into Week 16 with a 6-8 report and sitting in second place within the AFC East. The Payments already clinched the division, so the Dolphins solely probability on the playoffs is thru a wild card berth.
Miami is in ninth place within the general AFC standings, sitting 2.5 video games again of the Broncos and Chargers. LA beat Denver on Thursday Night time Soccer to open Week 16, which didn’t assist Miami. If the Dolphins win their closing three video games (vs. 49ers, @ Browns, @ Jets), they might clinch a wild card berth with the next outcomes:
- IND loses a sport (vs. Titans, @ Giants, vs. Jaguars)
- LAC loses 2 video games (@ Patriots, @ Raiders)
Had the Chargers misplaced to the Broncos on Thursday, the Dolphins would have solely wanted another loss. Given how dangerous the Chargers remaining opponents are, the Dolphins’ window has tightened significantly.
Tiebreaker implications
The one potential affect is additional down while you get to widespread opponents or energy of victory tiebreakers.