The Miami Dolphins pulled off the upset in Week 17 when they defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 20-17. The game featured a lot of firsts for young Dolphins players.
Quinn Ewers threw his first touchdown pass — while on the same play, Theo Wease Jr. had his first touchdown reception. Andrew Meyer saw his first action as a professional — filling in at center for the injured Aaron Brewer. Jason Marshall Jr. intercepted his first pass as a member of the Dolphins — and his first since his second season at the University of Florida in 2022. Zeek Biggers blocked his first field goal since being drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the big defensive tackle had four such blocks in college at Georgia Tech.
While many youngsters earned their stripes on Sunday, it was one veteran who took home my Most Valuable ‘Phin (MVP) award for the first time this season.
Miami Dolphins Week Sixteen MVP – EDGE Bradley Chubb
Bradley Chubb took a massive pay cut ahead of the 2025 season in order to stay with the Dolphins after missing the entirety of the 2024 season following a torn ACL in December of 2023. While engineering the pay cut, Miami loaded Chubb’s contract with incentives in order to gain back some of the money he was giving up.
Chubb has met many of the incentives in his revised contract — with one caveat.
According to Spotrac.com, if the 29-year-old is to earn the incentives in his contract, the pay bump is contingent on the Dolphins defense finishing in the top 20 NFL defenses in points allowed per game. Currently, Miami is 21st in that category, with a date with the New England Patriots and their high powered offense scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Regardless, his performance against Tampa Bay helped sink the Buccaneers as Chubb finished the game with three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble that was recovered by his teammate Quinton Bell.
MVP TRACKER
Week One – RB De’Von Achane
Week Two – WR/PR Malik Washington
Week Three – RB Ollie Gordon II
Week Four – TE Darren Waller
Week Five – WR Jaylen Waddle
Week Six – RB De’Von Achane
Week Seven – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eight – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Nine – OL Daniel Brunskill
Week Ten – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eleven – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Twelve – BYE
Week Thirteen – SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick
Week Fourteen – CB Rasul Douglas
Week Fifteen – TE Darren Waller
Week Sixteen – RB De’Von Achane
Week Seventeen – EDGE Bradley Chubb
