The Miami Dolphins are riding high after securing their third consecutive victory, this time dominating the New England Patriots with a convincing 34-15 win. This triumph has catapulted Miami precariously close to the AFC playoff picture, moving them up to eighth place thanks in part to the Detroit Lions’ 24-6 takedown of the Indianapolis Colts. As the Dolphins eye their Thanksgiving matchup with the Green Bay Packers, they could climb even higher if the Las Vegas Raiders manage to topple the Denver Broncos.
As of now, here’s how the AFC standings shake out following the early slate of Sunday games in Week 12:
- The Kansas City Chiefs continue their reign at the top with a 10-1 record, fresh off a narrow 30-27 victory over the Panthers.
- The Buffalo Bills are holding steady at second with a 9-2 record as they enjoy a bye this week.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers sit third at 8-3, though they stumbled recently with a 24-19 loss against the Browns.
- The Houston Texans find themselves at 7-5 after a close 32-27 defeat by the Titans.
- The Los Angeles Chargers are poised at 7-3 with a Monday night showdown against the Ravens.
- Speaking of Baltimore, the Ravens stand at 7-4 as they prepare to face the Chargers.
- The Denver Broncos, currently 6-5, await their clash with the Raiders.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins, at 5-6, are surging with playoff aspirations in sight. The Indianapolis Colts have slid to 5-7 after their loss to Detroit, and the Cincinnati Bengals rest at 4-7, enjoying a bye this week.
For the six AFC teams not mentioned here, a challenging season continues, with each having already notched at least eight losses. As the playoff race heats up, every game matters more than ever, and for the Dolphins, the stakes are only getting higher.