Dolphins clinch final AFC playoff berth over Steelers, Patriots

The Miami Dolphins will go to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the AFC following a 11-6 win over the New York Jets, edging out the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for the final spot.

Miami will travel to Buffalo for a meeting with the division-rival Bills on Wild Card Weekend.

Pittsburgh beat the Cleveland Browns 28-14 but needed the Dolphins and Patriots to lose to make the postseason. Though the Steelers will miss the playoffs, the victory over their divisional rival means Mike Tomlin will record his 16th straight non-losing season after a 9-8 finish in 2022.

The Patriots would have clinched the seventh spot with a win over the Bills, but they fell 35-23. New England entered Week 18 controlling their own destiny, needing to only beat Buffalo in order to qualify for the postseason.

Miami came into the final week of the regular season on the outside looking in after losing to the Patriots in Week 17, their fifth straight loss in a row at the time.

The Dolphins were locked in a 6-6 deadlock with the Jets before Jason Sanders nailed a 50-yard field goal in the final 20 seconds to take a 9-6 lead. Miami then added a late safety on the Jets' final play of regulation.

Seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson drew the start at quarterback for the Dolphins in the must-win game against the Jets following injuries to Teddy Bridgewater and Tua Tagovailoa. Thompson completed 20 of his 31 passes for 152 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's win.