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Regular season in five words or fewer: Faltered down the stretch

After losing all four of their games in December and one in January, it's fair to say the Dolphins are playing their worst football at the most critical time of the season -- and it just might cost them a playoff spot. This team has been hit hard by injuries, particularly on defense and to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Miami's offense has sputtered even with Tagovailoa healthy late in the year. The Dolphins are frustrated by five straight losses but could still salvage a playoff spot with a win over the Jets and a Patriots loss this week.

The Dolphins' 2022 season by result: W, W, W, L, L, L, W, W, W, W, W, L, L, L, L, L. The absurd symmetry is hard to look at for Miami fans, who got sucked in by this team twice before a five-game losing skid. The Fins can salvage their season and punch their playoff ticket with a home win over the similarly free-falling Jets on Sunday and a Patriots loss in Buffalo, but quarterback chaos continues to follow the team. Tua Tagovailoa (in the concussion protocol) is unlikely to be an option, and the availability of Teddy Bridgewater is in doubt after he suffered a finger injury Sunday. It is fair to wonder if seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson is ready for this.

Their quarterback situation has put this team in a bad spot. They have lost five straight games and might have to rely on seventh-round rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson to save their season.

A team that was once 8-3 has fallen to .500. Even if Miami manages to secure the AFC's last wild card, they're almost surely one-and-done -- even if QB Tua Tagovailoa is able to return.

Teddy Bridgewater has an injured finger, and if he can't go the Dolphins are relying on rookie Skylar Thompson to beat the Jets in Week 18 to keep their playoff hopes alive. Going from 8-3 and a practical playoff lock to a losing season would be devastating for the franchise.