New England Patriots
The Dolphins enter Sunday’s matchup at 7-9 and appear to be each bit the a part of a group wanting towards subsequent season.
All eyes are on the playoffs in New England, however the Patriots nonetheless have one other sport left of their common season slate.
The Patriots host the Dolphins of their regular-season finale on Sunday. Whereas the Patriots have already clinched the AFC East, they do have one thing to play for towards the Dolphins. New England can nonetheless get the No. 1 seed if it wins on Sunday. Nevertheless, the Patriots may also want the Chargers to beat the Broncos.
So, because the Patriots put a bow on their common season, listed below are 4 issues to know concerning the 7-9 Dolphins forward of Sunday’s matchup.
Quinn Ewers has proven a bit little bit of promise in his first couple of begins, however not a ton.
For the second straight week, the Patriots are taking over a rookie quarterback who wasn’t a excessive draft decide. Quinn Ewers, who the Dolphins took within the seventh spherical within the 2025 NFL Draft, has began the final two video games for Miami after it determined to bench Tua Tagovailoa.
In contrast to Jets rookie quarterback Brady Cook dinner, Ewers has proven some glimpses of NFL expertise in his first style {of professional} soccer. He threw a pair of interceptions in his first begin towards the Bengals, however he was environment friendly in shifting the ball. He accomplished 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards in that sport.
Final week, Ewers was in a position to bounce again and provides the Dolphins some competent quarterback play of their upset victory over the Buccaneers. He accomplished 14 of twenty-two passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 victory, posting a 118 passer ranking.
Ewers has additionally been pushing the ball downfield a bit by means of his first two begins. His common depth of goal (ADOT) is 9.0, which is barely behind Drake Maye’s ADOT (9.4). For reference, Maye’s ADOT is the fourth-best mark amongst quarterbacks who’ve began no less than 10 video games this season.
Ewers is a risk along with his legs, although. He’s put up simply 10 dashing yards up to now. He was in a position to make use of his shiftiness to purchase time within the pocket throughout his school profession at Texas, so possibly the Patriots have some problem there. However the Patriots ought to be capable to restrict him as a runner.
They’ve a number of key playmakers who’ve both already been dominated out or aren’t set to play on Sunday.
If the truth that the Dolphins are beginning a seventh-round rookie at quarterback already wasn’t an indication that they’ve turned the web page to 2026, their damage report additionally means that they’re prepared to maneuver on to subsequent 12 months.
That they had 10 gamers listed on their ultimate damage report of the week on Friday. Most notable was operating again Da’Von Achane, who’s uncertain with a shoulder damage. Achane has been one of many sport’s prime operating backs this season, rating fifth in dashing yards (1,350) and main the league in yards per carry (5.7). He’s additionally a risk within the passing sport, recording 92 receiving yards towards the Patriots in Week 2 and is fifth in yards per scrimmage this 12 months. So, the truth that Achane is unlikely to play on Sunday is actually a sigh of reduction for the Patriots and unwelcomed information for Ewers.
Past Achane, standout tight finish Darren Waller was positioned on injured reserve on Friday. Waller hasn’t had spectacular numbers, however his 283 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 9 video games weren’t dangerous for a participant who got here out of retirement this season.
Vast receiver Jaylen Waddle is questionable for Sunday’s sport. Waddle has been significantly better this season than he was final 12 months, stepping up in Tyreek Hill’s absence. He’s received 100 receptions for 910 and 6 touchdowns in 2025.
There are additionally some notable defensive gamers on the Dolphins’ damage report. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is questionable, doubtlessly leaving the Dolphins with out the league’s main tackler on Sunday. Standout edge rusher Chop Robinson is questionable, too. Robinson recorded three sacks within the Dolphins’ final 5 video games.
So, the Patriots actually gained’t get the very best model of the Dolphins on Sunday.
They aren’t good within the trenches.
On prime of probably having to play with out a few of his prime playmakers on Sunday, Ewers already has to take care of taking part in behind one of many league’s worst offensive strains. The Dolphins’ offensive line ranks twenty fourth in go block win charge and thirtieth in run block win charge. Professional Soccer Focus additionally ranks the unit because the sixth-worst within the NFL.
Second-year left sort out Patrick Paul has been a constructive, giving up simply 4 sacks and 24 pressures this 12 months, per PFF. However the remainder of the Dolphins’ offensive line leaves quite a bit to be desired. Rookie Jonah Savaiinaea, who the Patriots reportedly thought of drafting within the second spherical of the 2025 draft, has the third-worst stress charge amongst guards, whereas former Patriot Cole Unusual has the fifth-worst go block grade amongst guards this season, per PFF.
The Dolphins aren’t sharp within the defensive trenches, both. They’re in the midst of the pack of the league in sacks, tied for 14th with 39. However they’re twenty second in go rush win charge and twentieth in run cease win charge. Edge rusher Bradley Chubb and defensive sort out Zach Sieler may no less than give the Patriots’ offensive line some bother, although, as they’ve 14 sacks between them this 12 months.
It could possibly be the ultimate sport of the Mike McDaniel period.
Bear in mind when Mike McDaniel had the Patriots’ quantity? Properly, after McDaniel gained 5 of his first six video games towards the Patriots, New England may sweep the season sequence towards Miami this 12 months and ship its head coach packing.
McDaniel has been on the recent seat for a lot of the season. He appeared to calm down rumors about his future for a bit, serving to the Dolphins go on a four-game win streak in November by means of the beginning of December. He additionally outlasted common supervisor Chris Grier, who left the group in October.
Nevertheless, rumors about McDaniel’s future in Miami appeared to select up once more this week following the information that “Monday Night time Soccer” analyst Troy Aikman was employed to seek the advice of the group of their common supervisor search. Aikman had some fairly pointed criticism towards McDaniel and the Dolphins throughout their blowout loss to the Steelers in Week 15, questioning their tempo in that sport. He even mentioned the Dolphins’ fourth-quarter displaying was “as ridiculous a fourth quarter as I’ve seen in a very long time.”
Perhaps that causes McDaniel to open up the playbook a bit on Sunday. Even then, which may not be sufficient to save lots of his job because the Dolphins will miss the playoffs for a second-straight season and can usher in new management of their soccer operations in 2026.
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