The Miami Dolphins were playing for pride on Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to town for the penultimate week of the NFL regular season. Many wondered if the team had already waived the white flag on the year after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals by 24 points the week prior and officially being eliminated from playoff contention. However, Mike McDaniel’s squad showed that there is no quit in this bunch, gutting out a 20-17 win in their final home game of the 2025 season.
While it has been a disappointing year overall, wins like the one the Dolphins got on Sunday against a team in the Buccaneers — who were fighting for their playoff lives — can give fans hope that there is a light at the end of this deep, dark tunnel.
With just one week to go until we can finally lay this season to rest, let’s take a look back at the good, bad and ugly from Miami’s three-point victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
GOOD
The Dolphins turned to their youngsters in order to sink the Buccaneers in Week 17. Multiple first-year NFL players had a hand in defeating Tampa Bay, which could bode well for Miami’s prospects moving forward.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers made his second start this season after replacing former starter Tua Tagovailoa last week. Against the Bengals, Ewers had no touchdowns and threw for two interceptions. His statline was reversed against the Buccaneers, throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 14 of 22 pass attempts for 172 yards en route to the victory.
The first Ewers touchdown throw was to undrafted rookie wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. — Ewers’ practice squad compadre for most of the season. Wease Jr. made his regular season debut last week, nabbing just two receptions for 32 yards. Against Tampa Bay, Wease Jr. only had one reception, but it went for the 63-yard score.
On defense, rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. had himself a solid afternoon — reeling in his first interception as a professional. In fact, that interception already gives him half of his college production in that department — as Marshall Jr. only had two interceptions during his four-year college career.
Finally, rookie defensive tackle Zeek Biggers continued his impact play this season — blocking a Buccaneers field goal attempt at the end of the first half of play. Biggers made a habit of swatting down field goal attempts in college — totaling four blocked kicks during his four seasons at Georgia Tech.
BAD
Dolphins still can’t figure out third quarter woes
Last week, we highlighted Miami’s struggles in the third quarter this season. On Sunday, Tampa Bay only scored three points in the third quarter against the Dolphins, but Quinn Ewers and company didn’t put a single point on the board and Miami still entered the final frame with a negative point differential during the first fifteen minutes of the second half.
Yes, it was a major improvement over their 21-0 negative point differential during the third quarter the previous week against the Bengals, but it still boggles the mind to consider how poorly the Dolphins have played coming out of the halftime break this year. When adjustments are needed to propel the team to victory, Mike McDaniel can’t seem to find a way to make them.
With just one week to go this season, Miami sits at a -89 point differential during the third quarter for the entirety of 2025.
UGLY
Miami loses two impact defenders to injury
The Dolphins got the victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday, but it wasn’t without a few casualties along the way.
EDGE defender Chop Robinson left the contest early with a concussion. It is the second time this season that Robinson has been ruled out of a game with a head injury — with Robinson also leaving Miami’s game against Baltimore in Week 9 for the same reason.
In addition to Robinson’s exit, the Dolphins also played most of the final half of action without star inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Brooks exited during the third quarter with a hamstring injury, but remained on the sideline. He would not return to the game after contributing five total tackles, with one tackle for loss and a pass defensed.
We’ll see if the Dolphins risk further injury to either player when they go on the road to face the New England Patriots in Week 18 for their final game of the 2025 season.
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The Dolphins dumped Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in front of the Hard Rock Stadium faithfuls in Week 17. Mike McDaniel may have been coaching for his job on Sunday, as owner Stephen Ross is still contemplating whether or not to go in a different direction regarding the head coaching job in 2026. Do you think McDaniel has earned himself one more year after getting his team to seven wins despite a 1-6 start for Miami this year? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up.
