DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins know the stakes.

They’ve seen the standings, they’re aware of each and every playoff scenario, and the road they travel now is all too familiar.

With six teams in the AFC at 7-5, and with just four games left to play, Miami has little margin for error if it hopes to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Currently in possession of the AFC’s second wild-card spot, Miami remains in control of its own destiny as it hopes to avoid a repeat of last season’s December collapse.

From here on out, the Dolphins will play every game as if it were their last.

"Every game that we play, we treat it as if it’s a make or break, as if it’s a playoff game itself," defensive tackle Jared Odrick said. "I think that’s the way you have to approach it. As soon as you don’t approach a game like it’s not do or die, that’s when you die easy."

For the Dolphins, an easy death was narrowly avoided Monday night, as they struggled to put up points in a 16-13 victory over the hapless New York Jets in prime time on Monday Night Football.

Yet, only days after their season’s unexpected brush with death, the Dolphins are feeling upbeat and alive as they prepare to host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Sun Life Stadium in a battle between two of those 7-5 teams with immense playoff implications.

With a victory, Miami would not only gain a leg up in a tight wild-card race, but also garner an important tiebreaker over a Baltimore team that will likely be in the hunt until the end.

"It’s a huge game," said quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has completed at least 70 percent of his passes in each of the past five games. "I think we all realize at what point we are in the season. Every game has another level of importance. It’s a December game, a conference game, [both teams] fighting to make the playoffs with the same record."

Tannehill, who marched the Dolphins 57 yards downfield in nine plays to hit the game-winning field goal Monday, hopes that even after unnerving performance against the Jets, Miami’s best football is still yet to come.

"As a trend of the year, you should be constantly improving as the year goes along," Tannehill said. "Hopefully we play our best football in December. It comes down to make or break. Every game has a significant importance, but the picture is clear in December of what each game means. For that reason, they’re much more important."

As it was last year, the Dolphins have left themselves no room for mistakes in the final month of the regular season. There are no more moral victories, and another loss may prove to be their undoing.

Admittedly guilty of letting several victories slip away earlier in the season, most notably fourth quarter collapses against Denver, Detroit and Green Bay, the Dolphins know they’ve played themselves into a corner.

Now, starting Sunday against Baltimore, it’s time for them to fight their way out.

"We put ourselves in a position where we feel like we really don’t have any room," said wide receiver Brian Hartline, who had just one reception for 9 yards Monday.

"Every game moving forward, the same question is going to be asked the rest of the way out. We feel like we don’t really have a game to spare, so this one’s the next one."

You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.