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Dolphins enter Week 14 as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Breaking down playoff picture BY DANIEL OYEFUSI UPDATED DECEMBER 06, 2023 12:54 PM Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) walk off the field to the locker room after warmups in preperation for the game against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on Sunday, December 3, 2023. AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com The Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders, 45-15, to improve to 9-3 for the first time since 2001 and increase their AFC East lead to three games. Miami is thinking bigger, though, and is right in the mix for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage. With the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, the Dolphins enter Week 14 as the conference’s top team. The Dolphins, who host the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football,” have not won their division since 2008 and have not secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs since 1984. “I feel like our goal is bigger than the No. 1 seed,” outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said Tuesday. “Our goal is to hoist the trophy at the end and that comes with handling business each and every week no matter what the position is. We kind of just continue the same approach each and every week — the same mindset, the same intensity, the same focus and it’s been working out for us. We try not to look too far down the line and just take it day by day as we practice, and week by week as we play these games.” The New York Times’ Playoff Simulator gives Miami a greater than 99 percent chance of making the postseason, a 98 percent chance to win the AFC East and a 37 percent chance to get a first-round bye. Just one game separates Miami from the fourth seed in the conference, though. “Call me when it’s a 13-game season and I’ll be excited to talk about the next game,” coach Mike McDaniel said when asked for his reaction to currently being the conference’s top team. He added: “My reaction to it is, ‘Oh.’ But irrelevant and erroneous for what’s the most important thing and that’s a game that will be played this week on national television. It will be the only game that matters to each and every player in that locker room. I can just tell by the way they’ve approached the whole season.” Here’s a look at where the Dolphins stand among the division leaders. MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-3), FIRST SEED The Dolphins have won three straight games and routed the Commanders to start a December slate that ends with a tough three-game stretch against the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. The team has the seventh-toughest remaining schedule, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. With a head-to-head matchup against Baltimore in Week 17, Miami controls its destiny over the final five games of the regular season. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens, vs. Bills NYT Playoff Simulator chance to get No. 1 seed: 37 percent Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) blocks for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) in the first half against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Al Diaz adiaz@miamiherald.com BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-3), SECOND SEED Miami currently has the tiebreaker advantage over Baltimore because of a superior conference record. Their Week 17 matchup looms large over playoff seeding, though. Like the Dolphins, the Ravens control their destiny and capture the No. 1 seed if they win out. Baltimore has the second-toughest remaining schedule, according to ESPN’s FPI. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Jaguars, at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers NYT Playoff Simulator chance to get No. 1 seed: 28 percent Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) faces Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFC North rivalry to open NFL Week 11 Thursday night in Baltimore. Mitch Stringer USA Today Sports KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-4), THIRD SEED The defending Super Bowl champions have appeared in five straight AFC championship games and have hosted the last four conference title games. But the Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory having lost three of their last five games. The Dolphins lost their Week 9 matchup with the Chiefs in Germany, but the head-to-head loss is not currently a factor with Miami a full game above Kansas City in the standings. The Chiefs hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Jaguars because of their head-to-head win in Week 2. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Patriots, vs. Raiders, vs. Bengals, at Chargers NYT Playoff Simulator chance to get No. 1 seed: 24 percent Nov 5, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) carries the ball against Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Kirby Lee Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-4), FOURTH SEED The Jaguars fumbled the opportunity to take possession of the conference’s top spot but have more pressing concerns after quarterback Trevor Lawrence exited Monday night’s game because of a right high ankle sprain and did not return. Lawrence’s status for Jacksonville’s game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday is uncertain. The Jaguars have one of the easiest remaining schedules — ESPN’s FPI rates their slate as the 10th-easiest schedule — but just hold a one-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans in the AFC South. It could be a dicey finish without Lawrence. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Panthers, at Titans NYT Playoff Simulator chance to get No. 1 seed: 10 percent Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) edges the Chargers’ Justin Herbert for the Week12 passing title reacts in the Miami Herald NFL Quarterback Rankings. Mark J. Rebilas USA Today Sports This story was originally published December 4, 2023, 11:48 PM. DANIEL OYEFUSI Daniel Oyefusi covers the Dolphins for the Miami Herald. A native of Towson, Maryland, he graduated from the University of Maryland: College Park. Previously, he covered the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun. Take Us With You Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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