Dolphins' Playoff Chances Increase Against Joe Flacco, How Miami Can Clinch Wild-Card Spot
The Miami Dolphins' playoff chances have increased over the course of Week 18, according to the latest betting odds. For their must-win game against the New York Jets, the line has moved two points in favor of the Dolphins in light of a quarterback change.
The Jets announced Friday that Joe Flacco will start at quarterback over Mike White. Miami is a three-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. Miami was only a one-point favorite at the start of Week 18 when it appeared that White would be under center for New York in the regular-season finale.
The Dolphins' playoff chances don't only depend on their matchup with the Jets. Miami clinches the AFC's final wild-card spot by defeating New York, along with a loss by the New England Patriots in Week 18. The Patriots visit the Buffalo Bills Sunday.
#Jets ruled out three starting OL for Sunday's game vs. Miami: LT Duane Brown, RT George Fant and RG Nate Herbig.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 6, 2023
Joe Flacco will start with Mike White (ribs) also out. HC Robert Saleh said starting Zach Wilson wouldn't do him any good and they're looking ahead to 2023 with him.
Miami is expected to start its third-string quarterback in the most important game of the season. Injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater have thrust rookie Skylar Thompson into the starting role. Thompson is 0-1 as a starter. He's completed 40 of 74 passes for 382 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Thompson took the majority of Miami's snaps in a 40-17 road loss against New York in Week 6. The 25-year-old was sacked twice and limited to 5.0 yards per attempt.
Flacco went 1-2 as the Jets starting quarterback before Zach Wilson returned from injury and became New York's top signal caller in Week 4. Flacco went 26-of-44 for 307 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a 31-30 comeback victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. In losses against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco had one touchdown pass and three interceptions while the Jets scored a combined 21 points.
The Dolphins have fallen out of the playoff picture by losing five straight games. The Jets are also on a five-game losing streak. The Patriots moved ahead of the Dolphins for the final AFC playoff spot by beating Miami 23-21 in Week 17.
New England is a seven-point underdog in Buffalo. The Bills are in contention for the AFC's No.1 seed and a first-round playoff bye. The Kansas City Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 seed Saturday before the Bills play, but Buffalo would still have a chance to turn a potential AFC Championship Game against Kansas City into a neutral-site matchup by defeating the Patriots.
The Patriots, Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars all have a chance to earn the AFC's No. 7 seed in the final playoff picture.

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