The San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins face off in a Week 16 matchup of two groups which can be hanging across the playoff image by a thread. Each groups face elimination, and if the 49ers win, it’s nonetheless attainable each groups are formally eradicated from the playoff race by the top of their recreation. 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 recreation again of the Cardinals. They’re in eleventh place total within the NFC, sitting three video games again of the Commanders for the ultimate wild card berth.
San Francisco wants loads of assist to make the playoffs, and may very well be eradicated earlier than this recreation 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, however it 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 total AFC standings, sitting 2.5 video games again of the Broncos and Chargers. LA beat Denver on Thursday Evening Soccer to open Week 16, which didn’t assist Miami. If the Dolphins win their remaining three video games (vs. 49ers, @ Browns, @ Jets), they may clinch a wild card berth with the next outcomes:
- IND loses a recreation (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 yet one more loss. Given how unhealthy the Chargers remaining opponents are, the Dolphins’ window has tightened significantly.
Tiebreaker implications
The one potential affect is additional down once you get to frequent opponents or energy of victory tiebreakers.
