Dolphins playoff hopes now look grim after fifth straight loss, another QB injury

The Miami Dolphins continue to limp toward the end of the season.

The Dolphins fell to the New England Patriots 23-21 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday in what was their fifth straight loss. With Tua Tagovailoa out once again in concussion protocol, the Dolphins are now on the outside looking in in the AFC playoff picture. They will need some serious help next week to make the postseason, something that didn’t seem remotely in doubt just a month or so ago.

The Dolphins were in it for much of the game on Sunday, but things fell apart quickly in the second half.

Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down in the third quarter, after throwing a 39-yard pick-six to Patriots safety Kyle Dugger. As Dugger was about to reach the end zone, he landed a massive stiff arm right to Bridgewater’s face — which sent the quarterback to the ground hard. He must have landed on his finger awkwardly, too, as he was quickly replaced by Skylar Thompson and did not return.

That touchdown gave the Patriots a 16-14 lead, their first since the first quarter when Tyquan Thornton caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones to kick off the game.

The Patriots then all but sealed the win with an 11-play, 89 yard drive in the fourth quarter that Jones capped with a one-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers.

Bridgewater finished 12-of-19 for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception before he went out. Thompson went 12-of-21 for 104 yards with an interception of his own, too. He did mount one last scoring drive in the final minutes of the game, however, when he found Mike Gesicki for a four-yard touchdown to cut the game to just a single possession. That, however, came with just 64 seconds left on the clock. After a failed onside kick, the Patriots just ran out the clock to take the two-point win.

Jones went 20-of-33 for 203 yards with his two touchdowns on the day for the Patriots. Rhamondre Stevenson led them on the ground with 42 yards on eight carries.

With the win, New England now jumps the Dolphins in the standings for the final playoff spot in the AFC. Though both are 8-8, the Patriots hold the tiebreaker. While the Dolphins aren’t out of it yet, they’ll need help next week if they are going to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season.

First and foremost, the Dolphins will have to beat the Jets next Sunday. Even though that’s a doable task, it will be much more difficult if Bridgewater is still sidelined with his finger injury. It’s unclear when Tagovailoa will be able to play, either. After his third concussion of the season, neither the league nor the Dolphins should rush his return.

A Patriots loss is key next week, too — which looks favorable, at least on paper. New England will close out its season on Sunday against the first-place Bills in Buffalo.

But if the Dolphins can't snap their losing skid, whatever happens with the Patriots next week doesn't matter.

This post will be updated with more information shortly.