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Player who must step up: OL Liam Eichenberg

Eichenberg was one of the most highly touted offensive linemen in the 2021 rookie class, and while he has gained quite a bit of experience starting for the Dolphins this season, he has been the team's worst starter statistically. Since Week 9, the beginning of Miami's win streak, Eichenberg owns a 71.4% pass block win rate -- which ranks 162nd out of 164 qualified linemen. His season-long win rate of 76% ranks dead last among 170 qualified players. He is better than he has played and is not in danger of losing his starting job, but a strong finish would be inspiring before the Dolphins enter an offseason loaded with cash and desperate for improvement. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Tua Tagovailoa throws a good ball. I'm not exactly offering up Baldy's Breakdown-level football discourse here, but you know a talented passer when you see one, and Tua looks the part. The 2020 No. 5 overall pick possesses great touch and accuracy, and his left-handed motion makes him unique in a football world that has moved away from the southpaw QB in recent years. The Dolphins' winning streak is up to five after a 20-9 conquest over the Giants, and Tua's steady hand, combined with Brian Flores' increasingly ferocious defense, is a pairing that could take Miami from 1-7 to the playoffs.

After losing seven straight, they have won five in a row to get back into the playoff chase. The defense has been outstanding the past month. The bye comes at a bad time this week.

Bye week comes at exactly the wrong time for a team that's won five straight. But with Jets on the other side, Fins should continue successful swim against tide.

Best-case scenario: Just keep winning. The Dolphins' hot streak hasn't gotten a ton of attention because they dug themselves such a big hole during their seven-game losing streak in September and October. Three of the five wins also came against teams ranked near the bottom of our poll, including Sunday's victory over the Giants. Miami is finally on the right trajectory, though, and no one would benefit more from a successful December than Tua Tagovailoa. He has a chance to at least quiet the inevitable quarterback acquisition rumors that could once again engulf the Dolphins in the spring.