The Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens are on a collision course with each other this weekend in a Sunday afternoon match-up that will go a long way in shaping the AFC’s postseason picture.
The Dolphins have locked up a postseason berth after defeating the Dallas Cowboys last weekend 22-20. The Ravens have also punched their ticket to the playoffs with their dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. To win the AFC, the Dolphins need to beat the Ravens then either beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 or have the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Baltimore in Week 18. If Baltimore beats Miami, they win the AFC regardless of what happens during the final week of the season.
While this is playing out, there’s another subplot unfolding – Tyreek Hill’s pursuit of 2,000 receiving yards this season. Hill has racked up yards at a frantic pace – to the point that 2,000 receiving yards seemed all but a given just a few weeks ago.
Then he suffered an ankle injury and missed Miami’s game against the New York Jets. He did return to the field Sunday in the Dolphins’ win over the Cowboys. He caught nine passes for 99 yards against Dallas, which brings his total for the season to 1,641 yards. Hill is leading the league by 217 yards but remains 359 yards away from 2,000 and 323 yards from Calvin Johnson’s single-season NFL record of 1,964 yards. To eclipse the 2,000-yard mark, Hill will have to average 180 receiving yards over Miami’s last two games. In order to break Johnson’s record, he will still have to average 162 yards in weeks 17 and 18.
This year, Hill has surpassed 180 yards in a game twice – October 8 vs. the New York Giants (181) and September 10 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers (215). On October 29 against the New England Patriots, Hill had 163 receiving yards. However, the Giants, Chargers, and Patriots have been eliminated from the playoffs. In order to break either one of the records, Hill is going to have near season bests against playoff-caliber teams. It’s not impossible but it’s not going to be easy.
The Dolphins travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens Sunday at 1 p.m.