Even after Ravens’ win, Fins control their playoff seeding
Even with the Baltimore Ravens beating the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, the Dolphins still control their fate with regard to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But one potential path to claiming the top seed was eliminated by the Ravens’ win.
Miami (11-4) now has two possible paths to claim the top seed:
1. Win Sunday in Baltimore (1 p.m., CBS) and win the Week 18 finale at home against Buffalo.
2. If Miami loses to the Bills after winning Sunday in Baltimore, it would need a Baltimore home loss to Pittsburgh and a Cleveland loss to the visiting Jets or at Cincinnati.
Miami can win the AFC East with a win in Baltimore; or a win against Buffalo; or a New England upset win in Buffalo; or a tie Sunday by the Dolphins or Bills.
Any one of these results would give the Dolphins their first division title since 2008.
HOME EXCELLENCE
The Dolphins have now won 19 of their past 22 games at Hard Rock
Stadium. It is the best 22-game stretch since the stadium opened in 1987.
The last time Miami won 19 of 22 home games was from Oct. 30, 1983, to Nov. 24, 1986, when they went 24-3 in a 27-game stretch at the Orange Bowl.
Miami’s .864 win percentage in its past 22 home games is the best of any NFL team in its past 22 home games. Miami’s seven home wins are its most in a season since 2002.
Nik Needham has played 60 snaps on defense — including six against the Cowboys — since returning in October from a torn Achilles’ tendon 54 weeks earlier. He has been splitting his time between the cornerback and safety room.
He’s “still coming off a major injury; it’s mental, working through those things,” cornerbacks coach Sam Madison said.
“Nik has done phenomenal job; is one of those swing guys. Last year, he was backup safety and starting at corner. We’re trying to work him back in the system and into this scheme.”
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Notes, by position, off Sunday’s game ...
Defensive line: Christian Wilkins played 61 and Zach Sieler 56 of Miami’s 66 defensive snaps against Dallas.
Sieler had a sack and now has 81/2 sacks this season, the most in his career and tied for second-most by an NFL defensive tackle this year.
Linebacker: At inside linebacker, Duke Riley played all 66 defensive snaps and David Long Jr. 61.
At outside linebacker,
Andrew Van Ginkel played 54 and Bradley Chubb 53. Van Ginkel had 11⁄2 sacks and a teamleading 10 tackles, and PFF rated him Miami’s top player on defense Sunday.
Chubb also had 11⁄2 sacks and now has 11 this season; he’s the first Dolphins player since Cameron Wake in 2017 to produce double-digit sacks in a season.
Chubb also has 10 sacks in the past 10 games — tied with Cincinnati’s
Trey Hendrickson for most in the NFL since Week 6.
What’s more, the Dolphins’ 52 sacks are the most in team history and led the league entering Monday’s games.
Also on the edge, practice squad linebacker
Melvin Ingram, playing in his first game for the Dolphins since last season, logged 21 defensive snaps Sunday, and Cameron Goode played four.
Safety: With Jevon Holland missing a fourth consecutive game with sprained MCLs in both knees, Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott each played 65 of 66 defensive snaps.
Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey played all 66 defensive snaps, Xavien Howard 64, Kader Kohou 50 and Needham 6.
Ramsey was targeted only three times, but all three passes were completed for 20 yards, per PFF. That included Brandin Cooks’ go-ahead touchdown late.
Per PFF, Howard permitted 4 of 7 targets to be caught for 77 yards. Kohou allowed 2 of 3 to be caught for 26 yards.
Cowboys Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, but none of his 10 targets came with Ramsey in coverage. Four were against Howard.