The Miami Dolphins are out of the playoff picture and looking to avoid their worst season since 2019. Yet the team still appears to be playing hard in the second half of the season. Following a 20-17 win over Tampa Bay, the Dolphins have now gone 6-3 since their 1-6 start, and will look to close out the season on a high note as they take on the Patriots, who won the AFC East.
Against Tampa Bay, the key to the game was winning the turnover battle as the defense generated three takeaways while the offense did not turn the ball over. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield downplayed the turnovers as the reason Miami won the game, saying, “They don’t seem to have an answer for what we were doing schematically.”
Meanwhile, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is not taking the Dolphins lightly ahead of their matchup, as he said, “[Dolphins] are 5-2 in their last seven games. Have created 13 turnovers in those five wins, have a running back that’s first in the league in YPC, YAC, and explosive runs and some young DL that are really improving and playing well.” A key member of that turnaround has been pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, who received some exciting news.
Miami Dolphins and the NFL Honor Defensive Player
Against Tampa Bay, Bradley Chubb had his best game of the season as he registered two sacks and a forced fumble. The NFL rewarded that performance by announcing him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
The veteran pass-rusher now has a team-leading 8.5 sacks on the season. Despite Miami’s losing record and mathematical elimination, Chubb is highly motivated to remain productive this year as entering Week 17, he had $9.6 million in potential bonus earnings. With his two sacks against the Buccaneers, he earned $900,000 as he surpassed eight sacks on the year. Baker Mayfield alluded to Chubb’s performance after the Tampa Bay loss, as he said, “When you’re playing a team that got nothing to play for besides incentives, when you give them a little juice and momentum, that’s how they’re going to respond.”
According to the Miami Herald’s Omar Kelly, Chubb is on the verge of earning an extra $4.8 million this season if the Dolphins finish with a top-20 defense in points allowed. Miami is currently 21st in the NFL in points allowed. The Dolphins would need to be two points better than the 20th-ranked Falcons defense to earn that incentive for Chubb.
Additionally, Bradley Chubb also received the “good guy” award given out by the members of the Miami sports media.
Dolphins Season Finale
It’s clear that Bradley Chubb will be highly motivated heading into the final game of the season, but he’s not the only member of the Dolphins who has something to play for. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks will look to finish as the NFL’s leader in tackles. He’s currently six tackles ahead of Las Vegas linebacker Devin White. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is 90 yards shy of his fourth 1,000 yard season; he failed to reach that mark last season.
Reaching those marks won’t be an easy feat for the Dolphins as they will take on the 13-3 Patriots, who possess a top-five offense and defense. Miami previously allowed 33 points against them in their Week 2 matchup, which the Dolphins lost 33-27.
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