Vic Carucci blogs his thoughts on Week 16. Check NFL.com later for his wrap-up column.

Although the Patriots beat the NFC West-champion Cardinals by 40 points, I’m inclined to look at the Dolphins as the team most likely to win the AFC East after their 38-31 triumph at Kansas City.

And I’m not just saying that because they’re only one victory away from doing so. I’m saying it because I can’t imagine another team in the league with greater momentum than a club that won a single game last season and has won 10 this year.

No, the Dolphins didn’t have an easy time against lowly Kansas City, but my sense is that said more about the Chiefs’ ability to find some incentive to play than it did about any shortcoming on Miami’s part.

The Dolphins have steadily and methodically marched their way to this point. The Chiefs game was similar to many that Miami has won this season. The Dolphins made their share of blunders, but they benefited from the fact the Chiefs made more. Chad Pennington is playing well enough to lead this team into the postseason, and the Dolphins continue to distribute the ball to a wide variety of rushers to establish a solid ground game. Their defense had some issues against the Chiefs, but it, too, is mostly solid.

Lastly, the Dolphins are playing better than the Jets, the team they have to beat to wrap up the AFC East next week.

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