{"id":16739,"date":"2025-01-04T01:24:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-04T01:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=16739"},"modified":"2025-01-04T01:24:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T01:24:40","slug":"dolphins-playoff-hopes-rest-on-quarterbacks-shoulders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=16739","title":{"rendered":"Dolphins&#8217; Playoff Hopes Rest on Quarterback&#8217;s Shoulders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend, all eyes are on the Miami Dolphins as they embark on what could be a season-defining clash against the New York Jets. Coming into Week 18, the Dolphins find themselves on the edge of playoff contention, holding an even 8-8 record.<\/p>\n<p>Miami has fought hard down the stretch, winning three out of their last four games, but their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Facing a road test against the Jets, a team that\u2019s had its share of ups and downs this season, Miami knows there\u2019s no room for complacency.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s break down the scenario for Miami: win, and they keep their playoff dreams alive, but they\u2019re going to need some additional help. The Dolphins have to keep tabs on the action in Kansas City, where the Chiefs face off against the Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s simple \u2013 if Denver manages to upset the Chiefs, Miami\u2019s playoff path is blocked. However, should the Chiefs take care of business against the Broncos and the Dolphins manage to top the Jets, Miami would slide into that coveted final Wild Card spot in the AFC.<\/p>\n<p>As we look at Miami\u2019s challenge, let\u2019s consider what might unfold as they try to secure their playoff entry:<\/p>\n<p>Quarterback concerns are front and center for the Dolphins, with Tua Tagovailoa\u2019s availability hanging in the balance due to a hip injury that sidelined him last week against the Cleveland Browns. While Tua\u2019s health remains a question mark, head coach Mike McDaniel has indicated that they\u2019re preparing for Tyler Huntley to lead the charge once more. It seems the Dolphins are playing it safe, though there\u2019s always a chance they could pivot back to Tua if his condition improves.<\/p>\n<p>Taking a closer look at Huntley\u2019s contributions, he\u2019s split his four starts this season, going 2-2 with a solid completion rate of over 66%. In those games, he\u2019s thrown for 602 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, adding another 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>However, the Dolphins have struggled to light up the scoreboard with Huntley under center, failing to surpass the 20-point mark in his starts. This makes their defense all the more crucial, especially with Tua\u2019s status uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>The stakes are high, and for the Dolphins, it\u2019s all about stepping up to face the challenge. With their playoff future hanging in the balance, Miami fans will be glued to every moment, hoping their team can not only handle their own business but also get the crucial help they need from the Chiefs. NFL fans, get ready for an intense Sunday filled with playoff implications at every turn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend, all eyes are on the Miami Dolphins as they embark on what could be a season-defining clash against the New York Jets. Coming into Week&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dolphins&#039; Playoff Hopes Rest on Quarterback&#039;s Shoulders - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=16739\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dolphins&#039; Playoff Hopes Rest on Quarterback&#039;s Shoulders - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This weekend, all eyes are on the Miami Dolphins as they embark on what could be a season-defining clash against the New York Jets. 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