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          NFL Nation

          Power Rankings: No. 16 Miami Dolphins

          • James Walker, ESPN Staff WriterDec 10, 2013, 02:00 PM ET
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            • A Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Maryland, native who lives in Miami
            • Joined ESPN in 2008
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          A weekly examination of the Dolphins' ESPN.com Power Ranking:

          Preseason: 20 | Last week: 17 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

          The Miami Dolphins are 2-0 in the crucial month of December. Miami has beaten the New York Jets (6-7) and Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) in back-to-back weeks, which has improved the Dolphins' standing in ESPN.com’s Power Rankings.

          Miami jumped up one spot to No. 16 on Tuesday. The Dolphins have moved up five spots in the past two weeks.

          The Dolphins are playing solid in all phases during their push for the playoffs. Miami has a similar record with the Baltimore Ravens (7-6), who hold the final wild card in the AFC due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

          Miami's opponent only gets tougher on Sunday. The Dolphins will host the New England Patriots (10-3), who are going for the season sweep. The Patriots beat the Dolphins 27-17 in October at Gillette Stadium. The Dolphins have a chance to take an even bigger jump if they can upset the defending AFC East champions.