Steve Brownlee

It intrigued me during the Monday Night Football game this week when the announcers talked about the Miami Dolphins’ unique season that features both a seven-game losing streak and a seven-game winning streak.

Since the win streak is still going, it means that number could increase to nine by season’s end.

Wouldn’t that be something — in the space of 17 games played, a team first lost seven in a row then won nine in a row.

That only leaves one game out, which was a season-opening 17-16 win at New England.

Back in the 1970s that I referred to in this space last week when teams played a shorter regular season, it would’ve been nearly impossible to have separate seven-game streaks as that would’ve taken up all 14 games.

Still, what would you bet on two seven-game streaks even in a 17-game season?

I took a look at the Dolphins’ results — specifically who they played — to see how much of a transformation this Miami team made at Halloween, the day of their most recent loss.

My overall view is that their schedule had at least as much to do with the streaks as any improvement the team made.

The opening-game, one-point win was against a Patriots team coming off last year’s pedestrian 7-9 season with a raw rookie quarterback, Mac Jones, at the helm.

Then came seven straight losses for Miami. Those six teams — Buffalo came along at both ends of the streak — include five teams currently in the playoffs or tied for the final wild card spot, plus Atlanta at a game out of the NFC playoffs, and finally Jacksonville, which currently has a half-game “lead” on the Detroit Lions for the No. 1 draft pick.

All very losable, even against the 2-13 Jaguars, who came along when the streak was at four in what turned out to be a three-point loss.

Score-wise, Buffalo won its two games by a combined 61-11 (35-0 and 26-11), Tampa Bay 24-17 and Indianapolis 27-17. The others were decided by three points or less — Las Vegas 31-28 in overtime, the Jaguars 23-20 and Atlanta 30-28.

They were competitive part of the time, something you can also say about the Lions despite their 2-12-1 mark.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that when a relative pushover — Houston — showed up at the Dolphins’ door on Nov. 7 that Miami won 17-9. That put the south Floridians still at a less-than-awe-inspiring 2-7.

Then came Baltimore, which has been up and down in the second half, the New York Jets, Carolina, the New York Giants, the Jets again and New Orleans.

Only the Ravens are currently in the playoff hunt (but sinking fast) while the Saints are a game out, thanks in part to the Dolphins.

The other teams are all 4-11 or 5-10.

Score-wise again, Miami has won all seven games in the current streak by at least seven points, four of them by double digits.

So yes, there’s definite improvement, but doesn’t your team always looks better when playing lesser competition?

I heard more than a few ESPN and/or Fox analysts pooh-poohing the Dolphins’ chances earlier this week, but hey, it wasn’t like Miami was barely pulling any of these victories out.

This Sunday, Miami is at Tennessee before the ‘Fins finish at home vs. the Patriots. Right now, Miami is in a four-way tie for the seventh and final spot in the AFC playoffs.

Hey, I say watch the Dolphins and see if they can bust down the door on the playoff party after a 1-7 start. Wouldn’t that be something?

Now onto all of this week’s games:

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Sunday, 1 p.m.

Atlanta at Buffalo — Could easily be a letdown for the Bills following last weekend’s big win vs. New England. But it should help being at home, and besides, Buffalo has seen the downside of falling into complacency earlier this season. Bills, 33-23.

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New York Giants at Chicago — Again, Chicago could let down after a nice win in Seattle, but also, the Seahawks aren’t that great a team to beat, are they? Bears, 20-16.

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Kansas City at Cincinnati — Both teams had blowout, 20-some-point wins last week against decently regarded opponents. But while Cincy may be happy just making the playoffs — even though they haven’t clinched their berth yet — KC knows the real goal is the Super Bowl, and moreover, winning it this year. Chiefs, 24-20.

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Las Vegas at Indianapolis — These squads are only one game apart in the standings, but Indy just seems like a more solid, mature team. Colts, 27-20.

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Jacksonville at New England — You don’t want to make these New Englanders angry. And what can the Jaguars do about it? Patriots, 31-17.

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Tampa Bay at New York Jets — Tom Brady has to be hungry enough to know what the No. 1 playoff seed would mean with a bye and home field leading up to Super Bowl, and analytical enough to know that even the No. 2 seed brings along a second home game that No. 3 or No. 4 seeds wouldn’t. Buccaneers, 34-19.

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Miami at Tennessee — Watching Miami on Monday, I can see its defense putting pressure on Titans QB Ryan Tannehill and causing game-changing turnovers. Dolphins, 17-13.

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Philadelphia at Washington — Philly can put a fork in the WFT’s playoff hopes with a win. Can do. Eagles, 24-19.

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Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore — The Ravens just look gashed, even if QB Lamar Jackson returns, it’s looking like he won’t be 100 percent, a bad thing vs. this Rams’ defense. Rams, 33-23.

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Sunday, 4 p.m.

Arizona at Dallas — Even though the Cardinals consistently win everywhere they play — except Michigan and Arizona — Dallas looks like it’s rounding into form just in time for the playoffs. Cowboys, 37-29.

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Carolina at New Orleans — This is a tough one to judge — basically two teams out of the playoffs, though the Saints are still on life support. I see QB Taysom Hill should be able to return for New Orleans, which is about the best I can figure out about this matchup. Saints, 17-10.

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Denver at Los Angeles Chargers — The Broncos are all defense, while L.A. is no run defense. Zero divided by zero is somewhere around zero, if you listen to my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Shockley and not my college professor Mr. Gopal (true names!). So that must mean the zero Chargers run defense won’t matter against Denver’s zero run offense. Chargers, 21-14.

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Houston at San Francisco — Guess who’s on a two-game win streak? Don’t say the 49ers, you won’t be right. They had a two-game streak until they lost on Sunday at Tennessee.

Meanwhile, the Texans have most recently dumped the Chargers and Jacksonville, each by double digits. Still, I find it hard enough to believe in peanut butter, even with all those Peter Pan TV ads of a generation ago, so how can I believe in this Houston team? 49ers, 23-17.

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Detroit at Seattle — Saving the best for last, eh? Wait, I still have those two other teams from the NFC North to contend with.

OK, time to go with the percentages. Since it’s been a good bet more than 80 percent of the time, I’ll take Detroit — to not win. Seahawks, 24-23.

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Minnesota at Green Bay — This is by far the best of what’s remaining, which you’ll understand when you see who’s playing Monday.

How do you pick against the better team, playing at home, and trying to avenge an earlier loss to the same opponent? I can’t. Packers, 30-24.

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Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh — In the bastion of mediocrity known as the AFC, these third- and fourth-place teams in their division are still alive in the playoffs, including for their division title if I’m not mistaken. My head says take the Browns, but knowing how the Steelers can make something out of nothing, and as they already dominate their division, I’ll take the Steelers, 20-17.

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Last week — 11-5, 69 percent. Season — 148-91-1, 62 percent.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.