The Miami Dolphins were quietly hoping that the Detroit Lions would eventually topple to Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
After all, if the Ravens lost that would have bolstered their chances of securing the last AFC wild card spot.
When second year pro Justin Tucker’s dramatic 61-yard field goal in the dying stages sailed through the uprights to secure the two point victory in Detroit, both the Dolphins and Ravens now sit at 8-6.
Tucker will be very handy for the Ravens should they make the playoffs as he currently holds the NFL active streak for most consecutive field goals made with 33.
No one needs to be reminded about Billy Cundiff’s 2011 AFC Championship cringe worthy missed field goal attempt to send the game into overtime against the Patriots.
However, Baltimore currently hold the second AFC wild card spot because of their Week five 26-23 win against Miami at Sun Life Stadium.
Momentum is being carried through both the Dolphins and Ravens franchises as they are on three and four game win streaks respectively – Baltimore being aided by a three game home stand.
The Patriots received a wakeup call by Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins last Sunday being defeated 24-20 after a superb second half performance by Dolphins cornerback Michael Thomas.
Thomas came up huge in the fourth quarter breaking up a potential touchdown pass from Brady and intercepting the Patriots quarterback on fourth down to ultimately ice the game.
In their last seven games both Miami and Baltimore are 5-2.
But the two teams’ last couple of games to close out the regular season couldn’t be further apart.
Miami finishes their season against the struggling Buffalo Bills (5-9) this Sunday at Ralph Winston Stadium and then return home to the Sunshine State and face the dysfunctional New York Jets (6-8) in Week 17.
In Week 7 they had a tough home loss to Buffalo 23-21 and trounced the Jets at Met Life Stadium up in New York 23-3 three weeks ago.
This relatively easy schedule could see the Dolphins finish with a 10-6 record and be in the best possible position to head to the playoffs for the first time since they finished 11-5 in 2008.
Since the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin scandal broke, the Dolphins have pushed forward amid intense criticism being led by head coach Joe Philbin and the constant improvement of second year quarterback Tannehill.
In their last three wins Tannehill has thrown eight touchdown passes to two interceptions.
Heading over the Maryland and Baltimore’s final two regular season matches sees them face a much tougher schedule.
This Sunday the Ravens welcome New England to M and T Bank Stadium which has massive implications for both teams.
The Ravens desperately need to win and the Patriots were shocked last week in Miami – who will be looking to bounce back against last year’s Super Bowl champions.
The final week of the regular season Baltimore travels to Ohio to square off against Andy Dalton and the inconsistent Bengals.
There is a scenario where if the Ravens win their last two games and the Bengals lose their last two (including the season finale against the Ravens) Baltimore will win the AFC North leapfrogging Cincinnati.
After their last three unpredictable and turbulent games against the Steelers, Vikings and Lions who knows what these last two weeks will hold for the reigning Lombardi trophy holders.
Both teams will be fighting it out to get themselves into the playoffs and as it sits right now, Miami has the biggest advantage considering they are facing two teams who both hold losing records.
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