Drive Time with Travis Wingfield begins.
Now, let me check your pulse if you're not of them?
What is up? Dolphins? And welcome to the Drift Time Podcast, part of the Miami Dolphins podcast network covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. How's it going everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield And on today's show, the Man on the Call for Sunday's game in Baltimore on CBS, the Great Charles Davis joins us to break down the Dolphins and
this massive, massive game in the AFC. Really fun chat, plus Mike McDaniel's Friday media as well as a look at the AFC playoff picture and my attempt to confuse the crap out of every single one of you from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Drive Time Podcast. Ye Daffy, let's kick it off here with my interview with the Great Charles Davis.
Joining me today is the manual here on the call for Sunday's massive, massive Dolphins and Ravens till Charles Davis CD. Good to see you again, man. How was your holiday season? Or I guess how is it going so far?
It's going great, Travis. I appreciate you asking. I trust the same for you and everyone who can see us and hear us doing this. So yeah, it's it's been wonderful, and I guess if I were a dolphin, it'd be really wonderful. Big win last week going into it, have a position, in a position now to possibly be the number one seed in the AFC, win the AFC East. All their goals are still out there in front of them, and it's really pretty cool to watch.
I don't recall a Christmas that was more fun than this one. I think fifteen years ago the last time the team won the division. They beat the Jets in the Meadowlands with Chad Pennington to win the AFC East three days after Christmas. That might be the last time
we had this much fun around the holiday. Let's go ahead and get into this game that's on New Year's Eve and start with kind of the ten thousand foot view of this game, because what a fun matchup, both teams coming off their biggest wins of the season, and I have to imagine as a play by player or rather a color commentator, this matchup here is one you dream of when the schedule comes out right.
Yeah, there's no doubt about it.
And we saw it, you know, on the schedule, that looked like it was one for us and our team. And then as things kept going, as the Dolphins kept winning, as Baltimore kept winning, this game got bigger and bigger and bigger, and you know, let's not get ourselves, we thought there's a good chance that it might be flexed become the Sunday night game.
There's a possibility of it flipping from four.
To fifteen to one, you know, to the one o'clock game, I mean from one o'clock to four fifteen, and you know, then that would be in the prime spot, and that'd be Jim and Tony for our crew, our number one team taking the game, and understandably so, but somehow we were able to keep it.
So we're thrilled about it.
I think anyone who's watching it doesn't matter who's broadcasting it, they're just thrilled at the game's on. I mean, you're talking about number one and two in the AFC right now, and either one of them can be number one when it's all said and done, and both of them with really impressive wins against really recognizable teams. So if you're just a fan of the NFL and you're not a fan of the Dolphins or a fan of Baltimore or
who did they beat last week? A ball groun went to San Francisco and jumped on him on Monday night on Christmas Night?
Who did Miami just be?
Other's being the Dallas Cowboys who people keep talking about, and maybe Dak Prescott maybe is the MVP of the league.
Oh, now you have everyone's attention, right.
Where is that we do all the time? I'm listening. Yeah, everyone's listening and watching at this point. So that's the big one.
Obviously. The quarterbacks are a feature the way too.
Of Tugovaloa took the challenge last year to find a way to stay healthy and deliver.
He's done that.
And then some two thousand yard receivers and Tybreek Kill and Jalen Waddle thousand yard running back and Raheem Moster who is four hundred and thirty seven years old getting it done.
It is the coolest thing. But you flip it over to Lamar Jackson.
He doesn't have a thousand yard receiver, he doesn't have a thousand yard runner. The ball gets spread a little bit more. He's still the pocal point. His legs are still a factor, and we'll see how it gets done, both of them getting it done at a really high level in a little bit different fashion.
That was my follow up question was the way the styles make the fights, right. But I want to go back to this because you talked about the emotional I guess investment into big victories and how teams have to find a way to recreate that every single week. It kind of fascinates me because to me, that's why there's so many upsets across the NFL, where maybe some teams you can't have the same average level for all seventeen games, right, Like,
it's just not possible. So I'm curious how you think that impacts both these teams coming off these huge wins, but also how these big games down the stretch for Miami, Dallas, Baltimore, Buffalo. Is that a good thing to go into the playoffs playing against the best teams in the league to kind of prepare you for the schedule it's going to come up in the playoffs.
I'll start with Baltimore very quickly on that, because of where they've been in the last fifteen to sixteen years under John Harball. This is kind of standard operating procedure for them.
They expect to be in the playoffs. When they're not, it's a surprise.
I think this will be the eleventh time in the playoffs and his sixteen years as a head coach, so.
You get the whole idea.
You know, he's a head coach who's won a Super Bowl, used to his teams getting deep, but they haven't in recent years. I think the last four times out they've been one and done, whether it's been a divisional or a wild card game. They want to get that corrected. But they're used to it. Play like a raven.
You know that. You hear it everywhere every week.
They expect to be in those kind of games and they believe the AFC North. Get you prepared for that and how you go about doing it. Flip it over to Miami now all season long, and what has Miami been dealing with?
Who you beat? Yeah, beat anyone that is that good, you know.
So that's been a problem for them in terms of just having to deal with that weekend and week out. Well, no longer. You just beat a team that at one point was vying for the number one seed in the NFC has a quarterback that's mentioned for MVP and Dak Prescott, big time players all across the board, one of the better defenses in the league.
Okay, so that's out the window now. But oh, your schedule has been really soft all along.
Okay, fine, So we finished with Dallas, we finished with Baltimore, we finished with Buffalout which may or may not have a bearing on the AFC East and the playoffs.
That tough enough for you, folks.
I think I I think.
It's a really good thing for Miami because I don't see them shying away from the challenge.
We're very excited about the challenge and the opportunity to come up here and when these big games and put ourselves in position to get a one seed potentially and host every playoff game here because this team is tough to beat across the street over there at Hard Rocks A and one more win on the road will put them in a good position to clinch home field for
the playoffs. Let's go back to the previous thing you mentioned CD about styles and how they make fights, right, Like, we always have heard that for years and years now in football, in any sport, the Dolphins, the fastest team in football, the Ravens. You talked about it a program built over the last two plus decades that's tough, physical, gritty, can beat you up in the trenches. How do these two teams styles make for an even more intriguing matchup?
Because twelve and three and eleven four is pretty great, But when you get these two contrasting styles, it makes it even more fun, doesn't it?
It really does.
And let's just hone in on the way you described it, Travis, because I think you pretty much hit it. I mean, there's there's no other way to really have to go about doing it.
Speed versus muscle.
If we want to just boil it down that way, it's not speed versus toughness because I'm not taking away Miami's toughness because what people miss is that Miami's number four ranked defense, So don't.
Act like that they can't play either.
And ever since Jalen Ramsey's come back boy, things have really accelerated for that defense.
So speed versus muscle? All right?
Patrick Queen talked about this week. I'm pretty sure his quote is up all over.
I was gonna get to that.
That no one else plays the style we play and we just hit you in the mouth and the you know, good luck running past that. That's where it all comes into play. But within all of that, there are other truths that are there. Does Miami have speed, sure, but do they have toughness to run the football? Absolutely? Okay, flip it over to the Baltimore. Do they have the toughness? We know that rite the muscle, we know they want
to hit you and all that. Have you ever watched those two linebackers run and queen and Rokwon Wokan Smith?
Have you seen? You know what you get with the hybrid?
When when when Kyle Hamilton's at his best at free safety? Or is he a slot corner or is he an edge rusher or is he in the boxes a linebacker?
Or is he does it all? So that's just a few examples.
That within all of that, yes, overarching themes, but within those themes, both of these teams have a lot of what the other team has. That's why it's gonna be a lot of fun. Plus, we gotta go back to last year. It's thirty five to fourteen. The thing was done. Like everybody was clicking TVs. Everybody was going to another game. Every boy was checking red zone and the Dolphins came back and got it done. You think that's not being
played into Baltimore dressing room all week. I think it's probably gonna come up once or twice.
Probably the most fun the Dolphins fans have had in a long time at that point. Now, this season probably places a lot of those fun moments from twenty twenty two. But yeah, I'm sure both teams thinking about that game in a lot of ways. Going back to that, and you talked about the Dolphins, you know, ability to run the football and play strong defense. I'm glad you did because I wanted to fall up and say I don't want to sound like I'm calling the Dolphins my own
team here Finesse, because they're not that. When they had to have a game winning drive, they saddled up Jeff Wilson and went back through a power gap scheme to beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday to get those first downs to put them in a field goal range with no tie on the clock. So that's definitely part of their style. And speaking of team styles, we saw the Ravens play both San Francisco and Los Angeles in the last couple of weeks here probably the two offensive systems
that most closely resemble Miami's. I'm curious do you think that that would give either side an advantage in this game? Because the Ravens just shut down San Francisco, Los Angeles had some success. I'm curious do you think it benefits Ravens haven't played it against it, the Dolphins getting film on it, or is it a total wash?
I think ultimately it becomes a wash because what it does is allow you to become familiar with them and then be able to relate what you just saw on tape to something you just did.
Ah.
Yeah, didn't that feel a lot like remember third quarter when when San Francisco ran such such? Remember in the third quarter when you know Dallas ran such and such? That looks a lot like that.
So you were.
Quating things right like, you're putting it all there. It's kind of like when we do the draft and we comp guys. He reminds me of and then you tell why, and so people get that fix in their head in their minds. Oh, and that's how you relay in that, whether it's Vic Fangio or Frank Smith or whoever's they're relaying things to their respective units about what they're seeing. The other part is it's still done differently, even though the systems are similar.
The way Brock Purty plays quarterback.
The way that you know Dak Prescott plays quarterback, different than what they're going to get comes Sunday, right, different than what you're gonna get when Lamar does it or when Tua does it. So all that goes into the hopper. And then let's be honest about it. Okay, the Rams, wonderful receivers, Pookah, Cooper Cup, the whole deal, San Francisco, Deebo, Samuel Brandon, Ayuk, all that right, then you flip it.
Over Ceede Lamb Gallop, right, you know, Tony Pollard out to the backfield.
You're getting used to these guys, but do they equate to who you're dealing with on Sunday. I think it's a tougher match for Baltimore because if Jayalen Waddle's able to go Tyreek Hill, that's different than just about anyone else.
You're going to play all year long. That's what changes things a little bit.
And then of course, when you come out of the backfield with moster who may be thirty plus years old but still running.
Like he's eighteen, and a Chan.
Because when a Chan came out of school, Travis I equated him to a bigger d Anthony Thomas black mahamba.
The ability to go from zero to one hundred within about two steps.
That's what I saw with him coming out, and now you're seeing it when he's healthy and playing. So it's gonna be fun to watch because yes, they can equate things, but now these things actually move. Come Sunday, all right, it's not just chalk, it's not just tape that you're watching. Now that movement starts to happen, so you'll have an idea, but now you have to go deal with them for real.
This guy from the Pacific Northwest loves the black mamba comparison there with the Anthony Thomas. He was so much fun to watch at Oregon back in the day. What a great comp that was. I want to kind of follow up there because you talk about some of the
sizzle there. The Dolphins have on offense with all the speed and the weapons, But one thing that I think has really made this offense click and go all year long has been those kind of ancillary pieces, the guys that you don't get a lot of shine in terms of being up on the marquee with all the catches and big rushing totals. I'm talking about durham smyth alec ingold rookie Julian Hill coming across as that true why who motions and split flow and takes out the edge.
What have you seen from those pieces for the Dolphins offense and how critical are they to Mike McDaniel's system.
Yeah, throwing Cedric Wilson, Yeah.
I mean, you've got a number of guys that know that they're not the primary guys. But if we're gonna kick coverages, if we're gonna throw the extra guy in on coverage with those guys, if someone's not available and able to play, other people have to fill the breach and step up. And because Mike McDaniel has so many different people opportunities, he can adjusts himself during game. If
this isn't working, I can go here. If that's not where I can go, there are these guys having a better match up upfront in the blocking, I can go there. The guys on the offensive line have been the unsung heroes because that's a line that's changed and change and change and changed. But guess what, whoever has kind to step up and play has done a pretty darn good job.
And when you're talking about the.
Fact that they can run and be a little grimy and gritty inside running the ball, that's right up Robert Jones's alley. Okay, he's had to come in and play for Robert Hunt. He's done that quite well. He wants to move people in the running game, Eikenberg. I think it's a little more comfortable doing that since he had to go in and fill in at center for Connor Williams. You know, Austin Jackson at right tackle. I do think
that fits what they like to do. And Kendall Lamb's been a real MVP for them his ability to step in and play and not miss a beat because you know, Dallas can bring the heat off the edge of the pass rush.
You mentioned some guys like you talk about grit, Austin Jackson, Kendall Lamb, Robert Jones, those guys have plenty of grit in their back pocket as well. Really good stuff. I have a couple more questions for you here, CD. You want to take a quick break here Draft Time Podcast. My guest today Charles Davis. You'll hear him on the call on CBS on Sunday. We'll come back on the other side here and talk a little bit about this
Dolphins defense. Lamar Jackson to a tongue by LOA. That's all next Draft Time Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation. Back here with my guest, Charles Davis, CBS. You'll hear him on the call with Iron Eagle and Evan Washburn on Sunday on CBS one
o'clock from Baltimore, CDA. Have three more questions for you here, and we're going to go back to the Dolphins win over Dallas because we mentioned that kind of gritty grind it out running the ball screen, game, third down conversion, take what the defense is there drive the Dolphins had
to put away the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. I'm curious what that meant or what you think that might mean for a twenty five year old quarterback who, like you, talk about all these narratives right, can't throw the deep ball, hits deep balls all the time, can't engineer a game winning drive in December, doesn't it against a top defense. Here can't win without Tyreek did that two weeks ago.
I'm curious what you think this recent success and that game in particular, that drive can do for this team in this quarterback.
It's funny because I think from the outside world, Travis, this is oh wow, they did that. Oh wow, that's amazing. I think internally, whether it's tu or the rest of the team, it's just validation. Oh yeah, we knew we've done things we've done, like you talked about, when you see certain criticisms about to it what he can't do at Someone called me yesterday and say, just not really big on him because I just don't think he, you know,
hits his receivers in the right spots. And I just stared at the person like that's one of the one of the best parts of his game is accuracy to hit a receiver and keep him on his feet in the right spot to make sure that receiver drops down so he doesn't get tagged by the post safety when he throws the skinny post into and it's one of the best part. It's one of the best things he does. And you're telling me, he don't see that. I can't have conversations. Then we're done here right for them, That's
what it comes down too. A couple of weeks ago, I think it was when Tua was talking about he doesn't listen to the critics or whatever, but he keeps receipts.
In other words, you're listening, okay, but you.
Know what you're doing with it, and however you want to deal with it is up to you. It's working for Tua. I think that finally what I saw out of him. I saw a little fire when he talked about, Hey, say whatever it is you want to say, I got two thousand yard receivers, I got a thousand yard running back.
When I thought when I saw that, and you know what, it hit me with Travis name a great quarterback who hasn't had a pretty darn good surrounding cast I best of all time through the two Hall of Fame wide receivers, and the tight end who was probably an all decade tight end in Dallas, Clark Drew Bees.
How many different great receivers did he have running through there? And that joker back that.
Could play, whether it's Reggie Bush or Alvin Kamara or any of those. They build around the talents of that person. Those are just two examples. It's rare that you're talking about a quarterback being great without having that supporting cast that can help. Now, we do have a little bit of a contrast in this one. Tuu's got the two thousand yard receivers, he's got the thousand yard running back.
Lamar Jackson has none of that.
And the last time we had an MVP at quarterback win an award, win that award without a thousand yard receiver or a thousan yard running back. That's twenty two MVPs ago. The last two were Elway and Brett farre It doesn't happen without having those people around you. Okay, So he's doing it a little bit different way in terms of getting people going. But it's not like they're not talented. Go ahead and not cover, or you know,
Odell Beckham Junior, go ahead that don't don't guard. Z A Flowers, right, Isaiah likely the tight end filling in for Mark Andrews. It's just they go about it differently because there's such a heavy run team.
That context is exactly why I wanted to have you on the show this week. Charles. I appreciate you dive into that force. I have one more question here. I'll go ahead and put two together for you here, because you touched Miami's defense and the stout performances they have displayed really all year. They had got off to a slow start, but it really clicked in when Jalen rams returned to the field, and they've been top three in so many key categories since he came back in week eight.
So my two part question is how have you seen Ramsey's impact on this Fangio scheme and how it kind of drives the defense? And then also you talked about him a lot. How the heck do you slow down Lamar Jackson?
Oh, well, with Lamar, let's just start with that because Vic Fangio knows way better than I do.
Obviously he's gonna forget more football between now and the end of the week. I will learn in my entire life. That's just who Vic Fangio is.
But what most people do when I've what I've seen when they have success.
Okay, however you wanted to find success is a.
Lot of people are worried about BLITZI Camp because when you blitz him, if you miss it, he gets out and goes he kills you. This year, he's changed his game a little bit with the blitzing. He's actually beating you throwing the football. So that'll be interesting to see what Vic wants to do with that, because he's not
a heavy blitz guy to begin with. But a lot lot of people will run more more pressures at him to try and hem him in and make him keep him occupied a little bit more looking at them as opposed to looking down field.
That's one way. The other way you just better hope he's off now.
The team that I think has had the most success with him in recent years is Pittsburgh. If there's one tape I'm going to watch, and you know Vick has watched every tape going. I'm watching Pittsburgh to see what they've done over the last three four seasons to have success with him.
And they had it again this year, even though Baltimore should have beaten them the first time.
Out, they had success in not letting him really do do his thing. So we'll see how that part goes. The flip side of all this stuff.
What was this? What was the other part of the coach? Because I got locked in on the.
Manh Yeah, it's how Ramsey has driven this.
Yeah, thank you, but you know, you know, winning the Pooh brain here.
I bet Ramsey coming back now stabilizes your secondary because now when Xavi and Howard is ready to go and he's he's locked in, he's good, Jalen's there, you're not worried about people having to fill in in other spots. It's allowed the safeties to be way more aggressive in coverage because they feel like they're covered underneath with those with those backs, with the corners, and you can play
more games with them. If you have someone you want to do something, you want to do a little bit of a you know, a robber coverage or show one thing and then dive into a hole and all of a sudden they don't they can't believe you're in the post.
You can do a number of things like that with it. And we're seeing Brandon Jones get that done right.
Javon Holland's such a great player, they've missed him, but Brandon Jones's played it tofuably well for him filling in. So I like everything that they're doing back there. But Ramsey also brings with him the swagger, the belief, the confidence, Hey, if we're going to play. I'm going to show you how it is. Guys, just follow me. And he came up of a knee injury and was nails right from the beginning. So the overall aur and essence that he
brings to that defense, we've seen it pay off. And I think it's epitomized truthfully by Zach Sealer because this guy contract extension in the offseason. How many people notice he got a contract extension outside of Miami. Now we're eight plus sacks later, We're getting interceptions in primetime games and take them to the end zone.
We're stuffing to run all the time.
He's given Christian Wilkins a heck of a running mate to go up there with him in Raykwon Davis. It epitomizes it for me because I've seen him make plays in other places before. But to see what he's doing now and now getting his due kind of exemplifies what's going on with this Miami defense. Everyone has a role to fill and they're filling it quite well.
I talked about him in my preview podcasts where I said that he got out of Baltimore, he got waived in December his rookie year and winds up down here and kind of brought some of that mentality of the Ravens defense to Miami with him. Charles, great stuff. Charles Davis on the call Sunday at one o'clock in Baltimore on CBS I and Eagle Evan Washburn.
See do you.
Thank you so much for your time, Enjoy the game, and have a fantastic new year up there in the DMV.
All right, thanks a lot, Traps. Always great to talk with you. Congrats on everything, and I'll see you again soon.
Legitimately one of the nicest human beings you could possibly
find in the world. Let's go ahead and finish up this segment here as we move on from the Dolphins and Ravens talk and talk a little AFC playoff picture, because this thing is muddy as hell as muddy as I can possibly remember it, and it is nice to be on top of the muddy waters in terms of not having to worry about TMX losing one game but not a second game in order for Team Why to do this and for the Dolphins to have this accomplishment like you're already in. You don't have to worry about that.
But I do think there is some value in looking at potential playoff matchups, right, because I think we all have the same feeling for who we would like to see in certain scenarios. We all obviously want the number one seed, but if you get that second seed, what's the best opportunity to advance and get your first playoff win in twenty three years? So we can stop hearing about the failures of the two thousand and nine team and how it impacts the twenty twenty three team because
its the narrative i'm hearing right. My favorite podcast around the NFL, one of my favorite podcast because it's football, but more because of the characters on the show. But one of the characters is a diehard Jets fan who keeps bringing up, if you want your respect, you have to win your first playoff game in twenty three years. I hate that what happened in two thousand and four impacts what the Dolphins have done this season in terms
of outgaining their opponents by more than anybody else. Besides, like seven teams in the history of the National Football League, this team deserves its flowers regardless of what twenty twelve Miami Dolphins football was. So that upsets me. So this idea of how can we shed that and get our first playoff victory. It might come in the wild card round, it might come in the divisional round. It might come at home around the road. There's all kinds of possibilities.
But I wanted to look at the picture in its entirety right now because I thought that we'd get some more crystallization of the picture right now. But the truth is, we don't have any idea what it might look like. We did get a little bit, a little bit of crystallization in the AFC playoff picture, because we know the Browns right now are locked into the five seed unless unless they beat Cincinnati and the Ravens lose to both US and Pittsburgh. I don't think that will happen for us.
You know the drill, right, We could wind up with the one seed or the two seed. Those two spots are the most likely, or we could wind up as the sixth seed. The seventh seed is a not possible. It's not possible. The five seed also is not possible because if we lose both, Cleveland would have the tiebreaker even if they lose to the Bengals in Week eighteen. So the purpose of this exercise is to think about potential matchups and who you might want to root for
over the final two weeks of the season. And yes, I know, take care of business nothing else will matter. Sure, but we would not be living up to our entire show mission statement here of being the most comprehensive Dolphins podcast if we did not flesh those things out. Because I like the entire National Football League, even though the
Dolphins don't have to get any help. I like knowing what's going on and who has to win to get certain spots, and it makes me intrigue to think about who that first round matchup could be in the event we wind up as that number two seed. So Baltimore, right, the one, the two, or the five. Like we've mentioned Kansas City. Their magic number in the AFC West is one. It's very very very very very very likely they get
the three seed. There's an outside chance of the four seed. Now, they could fall into the wild card, but I very much doubt that happens. The four belongs most likely to the winner of the AFC South. I think it'll be Jacksonville, but we can't possibly know that it is a three way tie right now. The Jags have the tiebreaker on both Indy and Houston, and they finished with the Panthers and the Titans, two games they should win, but they've
also lost to worst teams over the stretch. So who the hell knows Houston and the Titans or has the Titans rather and the Colts, and the Colts have the Raiders and the Texans. And this is where it all gets so so interesting, because I'm of the belief the worst case scenario for Miami is the two seed, and I know the six is in play, but I don't
think this team will lose back to back game. So to me, the seventh seed is of maximum interest because that could be your first round matchup and your chance to ditch a twenty three year playoffs trout and a bunch of narratives that go along with that. It's almost as attractive to me as the one seed for some reasons,
but also because there are so many permutations. There are scenarios where we're playing at home as the one and in the divisional round against either Cleveland, Jacksonville or Las Vegas. That would be awesome, right, That's ideal, Like that's on the table, But so is getting Las Vegas or Denver or Pittsburgh or Houston or Indy in the wildcard round in the two verse seven game, and who you beat over the final two. Remember, getting the two means you
only win one of the last two games. The two seed would come as a result of a one to one record. If you go too and oho, you get the one seed. If you go zero and two, most likely you're in the sixth seed, because Buffalo would just have to beat the Patriots, and that's the only other thing that has to happen for that to be the case. So that depends on which of the games you win.
If you beat Buffalo but not Baltimore, there's a really good chance that Buffalo is that seventh seed and you see them for a rematch one week later, which I think that's the worst case scenario, right I don't. I'm not fearing Buffalo. I think that we're a much better football team than Buffalo, as evidenced by the fact that they have lost a lot of games to a lot of bad teams and almost lost to the freaking Chargers. If not for a really good third and nine completion
in that game, they probably lose that game. I'm not afraid of that team like this whole Buffalo is gonna come in here and rob Miami get the hell out of here. No, they're not. They're just not Okay, they're not a better team. I don't care what you say. If you lose to Buffalo in Week eighteen, but you beat Baltimore, Buffalo is almost guaranteed to get the sixth seed if they beat the Patriots, that's where they will be.
So if your goal is to not play Buffalo back to back weeks, which I think we can all agree is the worst case scenario, right, it's not afraid of them, but it's the worst case scenario. If your goal is to not play Buffalo back to back week weeks and achieve that top two seed, the key is really just to win in Baltimore because that takes care of any
rematch scenario. For the most part. There is a slight chance, but for the most part, that would be the best way to avoid that two verse seven Miami vers Buffalo game, because if you win in Week eighteen, you would avoid any game in the wildcard round. Right, But if you lose, Buffalo most likely gets to eleven. Yeah, eleven and six, and that sixth seed in the AFC Playoffs. So if your goal is to not play those guys, beat Baltimore
this week and you probably will achieve that goal. But then if Buffalo pulls an upset in round one, you probably see them back here for the divisional round. In that first playoff game four Miami if they're the one seed unless the seventh seed then knocked off Baltimore. It's but if KC were to beat Buffalo in that three verse six game, then you'd host the winner of the AFC South versus Cleveland game. Again, there are many permutations
now getting back into it. So the one to two is Baltimore, maybe Cleveland but I doubt it, and then Miami and Buffalo. Right, that's the options there, with the sixth seed being Miami or Buffalo. The three is most likely KC, and the four is most likely the AFC South winner, and Cleveland is most likely the five seeds. So the entire AFC South is basically in play for
that seven seed. And that's where I want to look at the potential seven seed options in wildcard weekend in the event that we're hosting the game here as the two seed, here's your options. Buffalo is one of them. Right, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Houston, Cincinnati, and Denver. I mean that is seven teams that, if they came to Miami, I'm guessing, are at least touchdown underdogs in that wildcard round.
So the permutations are again vast. Let's do it this way because there are endless tie breakers that come into play. There are scenarios where you have three or four, maybe even five teams that tie with the same record for that seven and six spot. So rather than sorting it out, let's just do this. The New York Times Playoff machine gives us the playoff odds. Let's see what teams percentages or odds are if they finish ten and seven, because that's most likely what it will take to get in
at the seventh seed in the AFC. So at ten wins, here are the team's chances. Jacksonville, if they went out, one hundred percent chance they are in. If any of the Southern Division teams went out, they are most likely in. But starting with Jacksonville, well, if they don't went out, either Houston or Indie wins out that would get them the division championship. And those schedules, as we mentioned Jacksonville plays Carolina and Tennessee, Houston plays Tennessee and Indy, and
India plays Las Vegas and Houston. So only one of Indianapolis and Houston can went out right, But if they do went out, Houston has a greater than ninety nine percent chance of making the playoffs. Indy has a ninety eight percent chance. So if either of those teams went out, if you get Houston, Houston win this weekend over Tennessee and you get an Indie win over Las Vegas, that Week eighteen game is for a playoff berth essentially between
the Colts and the Texans in Week eighteen. Cincinnati, if they went out, they play the Chiefs and the Browns tough road to HO. If they went out, they have a ninety one percent chance of playoffs, and Pittsburgh has a ninety percent chance against Seattle and Baltimore also a very tough road to HO. So I don't think those teams will be the ones. Then you get a couple of seven and eight teams and the percentages decreased from there.
But Las Vegas, if they went out, has a sixty four percent chance of making the playoffs if they beat Indy and overtake them and just hang on against a Denver team who benched their quarterback in Week eighteen. Most likely Las Vegas is in at nine to eight. Denver has a twenty percent chance, so I'm gonna go ahead and take them out of the conversation altogether, Plus they bench their quarterback. Now we do the picks every week, right,
So what is Travis think will happen? I think if if we were to get the two with Buffalo winning in Week eighteen, I think it comes down to the Houston Indie game, and if Indie wins, it would be the Raiders in that seventh spot unless the Colts beat the Raiders in Week seventeen. I picked the Raiders, but if Houston wins, then it would be Buffalo in that spot. Assuming that Houston beats the Titans this week. Does that
help sort things out for you? I think essentially. The whole idea here is that most likely, if you get the two seed, you're probably not gonna face Buffalo in most scenarios because you can't just project who's gonna win these games. Most likely you run into one of those teams. My picks are Las Vegas or Indy I guess of the most likely teams in those scenarios. I just keep thinking this is gonna crystalize at some point, and I'd say that we'll all have a bet idea after this week.
At least we'll know that some teams will win and that will give us if this happens, then that But this is all to say it's pretty open. But again, win this week and your chances of playing a non Buffalo nine or ten win team in the first round or having a buy altogether is very, very very high. Win this Sunday, you have a nice path lay out for you. Let's go ahead and finish this episode with
the third segment, hearing from head coach Mike McDaniel. Draft Time Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by a donation. Coach McDaniel will bring us home on this edition of the Draft Time Podcast. First, we have some injury updates to a tongue of I Looa will play in the game on Sunday. Coach said that he banged his thumb on a Cowboys helmet in the first quarter of that game. Might explain. In addition to the Cowboys pass rush, some of the throws that were off target
in that game. Jalien Waddell, however, will not play in the game. He has been ruled out. Robert Hunt will see about him. He's gonna be questionable for the game. Optimistic about Javon Holland despite a questionable SATA for him, it sounds like he has a really good chance to play. Austin Jackson was not in the red non contact Jersey Nor was chosen and moster are in a chan Both will go in the game on Sunday as well. So good news on the Dolphins injury front there. For the Ravens,
not so much. They did get Zay Flowers back in practice on Friday, but Odell Beckham did not practice. Kyle Hamilton gonna miss the game on Sunday, most likely. Brendan Stevens likely to miss the game as well. Jalen armor Davis and Arthur Mallett, two players that are kind of the slot replacements for Kyle Hamilton, might not play in the game as well. So Baltimore very very banged up for this game and the Dolphins getting some good news
on the injury front. Let's go ahead and conclude this podcast with a few quotes figure from coach I asked him about managing the emotions because in the NFL, right every week is a test for every team because you're not always the same version of yourself. We talked about the Buffalo Bills. Every damn time they play the Miami Dolphins, they are on twelve out of ten in terms of the effort and the just charge up nature of their
psyche heading into that game. But when they play the Chargers on the road on a short week in a primetime game that they're supposed to win, they can barely muster a victory in that game, and they're one third
down stop away from losing that game. So with the managing of emotions on a week to week basis, how do you approach getting this team right after what was the biggest win of the year in a statement game with the Dallas Cowboys, when you're facing a team in the Baltimore Ravens who also had their biggest win of the year in a win over the forty nine ers. Here's coach.
Each week's independent of itself. This one was really easy, really easy, just because you know the challenge. You know you have a high regard for the team you're playing, and you you know we've been waiting. The opportunity to play the NFL's best is just that for us. We're excited about that opportunity because that's as competitors, that's what we want to do. We don't we want to go against the best, put our best foot forward and see how it plays out. So, you know, I think that
is a definitely a legitimate question. That's kind of you have to, you know, each there's different types of scenarios and a lot of times after a big win you have to feel you feel as though you have to manage the emotions because we have another big game in front of us. This one was not that way. There was a lot of excitement about the win, but once Wednesday started, the Dallas game could have been two or
three months previous. For all the players concerns, they have been locked in at the task hand.
Two more here, we'll go ahead and go back to the pass rush and coverage marriage together, a theme I've kind of made on the podcast roughout the course of the last two seasons. Here talking about how last year's pass wash, pass rush, past rush was really good, but the coverage didn't hold it's end of the bargain because of injuries on that back end. But now this year you have very good cover guys playing for you all
year long, which helps the pass rush get home. Here's coach on the team nature of the Dolphins pass rush that has set the franchise record in sacks and leaves the NFL in.
QBA the sacks, the quarterback hits. That is a defensive stat team defense. Because to be able to do that, of course, the people that are getting the numbers deserve them. They're executing pass rush with whether it's just straight rush or there's games or blitzes, all those things, you know, they deserve all the credit they get. However, there's a coverage aspect to it that I speak I think speaks to the greater big picture of what the defense is
doing on pass downs. So much of that, you know, what's really happening is the inner play between coverage and pass rush is so tied together that guys are starting to feel how long they typically will have success if they can hold up. You can be aggressive and coverage in certain different ways so that because realistically you know that there's going to be a quarterback off the spot
after a certain amount of time. I think as a defense that's a defensive stat that has to do as much just as much with the pass us as the coverage. If there's blown coverages or leaky coverages, some of those hits or sacks can be avoided. So I think that it really speaks to everyone the amount of players that like That's what I'm really really happy about with the
Miami Dolphins team. Our team is a collection of people and a lot of people contributing, and when one guy goes down and steps in and rises to the challenge, So it's kind of the locker room that the players have built is really strong, and guys are playing well with each other.
One last one here no Jalen Waddle. On Sunday, So coach was asked about Chase Claypool's involvement and he gave a very detailed answer about not only will Claypool see more reps, but how he's earned the right to do so.
In practice, there's been an uptick in involvement, and particularly in this in this game, you know, it's it's for really everyone understands what Wattle brings to our team and then understands that it's an opportunity for playmakers to make plays. In his absence. So yeah, there has been he Chase has done an unbelievable job defining to me who he
truly is. That whatever narratives existed before, all he's done here is chopped wood and gotten better and assimilated into a system that isn't necessarily easy, and he's he's done it with the intent of helping the team through the through selflessness. It's been really cool to watch him define himself with his teammates and and take advantage of whatever
opportunity is given. He also did had a couple of really good plays and special teams last week, and yeah, I expect to see a little bit more of him too.
Just want to do a quick minute on that because I see the complaints all the time. You have a big red zone body, Why don't you throw the fade to Chase Claypool. Why don't you throw some more screens to Chase Claypool. You heard coach talk about there and offense that's difficult for the receivers. They ask so much of the receivers in this offense probably the most difficult
position to come in here and play. And that's why you have guys like Trent Shchfild who knew the offense getting serious reps last year, River Craycraft exact same situation over a guy like Cedrick Wilson, who probably has more talent but was not as well adversed in the Dolphins offensive system. So to expect a guy to come in mid season and pick things up to be able to play a full complement of snaps, it's just not realistic.
So for Chase to have the opportunity to earn more snaps and get the offense down and work his way into that position would speak of how wired he is in the correct way to make that happen and earn that opportunity. So I think if you get more Chase Claypool, it's great, But I think you should understand how difficult this offense is for a receiver to come in and pick up and just the expectation that he's can come in here and play because he's a big body or
has good hands, whatever the case may be. It's not realistic in this offense. So something to keep in mind. That's the podcast, that's the week. The next time I talk to you, guys will either be division champs or will be playing a win and in game for the division in week EIGHTEAM. But either way, we'll talk to you guys on Sunday night following Dolphins and Ravens. Cannot wait for that one. In the meantime, you all please be sure to subscribe, rate review all that fund stuff.
Follow me on social at Winfield, NFL. Follow the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out Seth and oj my postgame radio partners. They have the fish Tank podcast with Lamar Miller out this week. Go back and check that out if you have not done so already, and also the YouTube channel for media availabilities, Dolphins Today and so much more. Last, but not least, Miami Dolphins dot Com. Until next time. Fins up, Caroline Cameron, You're not home, but Doddy's coming home.