Tampa Bay (7-8) at Miami (6-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX
BetMGM NFL odds: Buccaneers by 5 1/2
Against the spread: Buccaneers 5-10; Dolphins 7-8.
Series record: Buccaneers lead 7-5.
Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Dolphins 45-17 on Oct. 10, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.
Last week: Buccaneers lost to Panthers 23-20; Dolphins lost to Bengals 45-21.
Buccaneers offense: overall (23), rush (20), pass (22), scoring (18).
Buccaneers defense: overall (22), rush (7), pass (27), scoring (24).
Dolphins offense: overall (24), rush (13), pass (25), scoring (22).
Dolphins defense: overall (19), rush (26), pass (14t), scoring (22).
Turnover differential: Buccaneers plus-8; Dolphins minus-5.
WR Mike Evans. He has 11 catches for 163 yards and one TD in two games since returning from a broken clavicle. The six-time Pro Bowl wideout's streak of 1,000 yards receiving is going to end at 11 because of injuries that limited him to just six games this season.
QB Quinn Ewers. The rookie is set to make the second start of his career after throwing for 260 yards with two interceptions last week against Cincinnati. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was impressed by Ewers' composure in his first start, even when the team unraveled in the second half, which McDaniel said earned the quarterback another start.
Tampa Bay's receivers vs Dolphins secondary. Miami's defensive backs had trouble covering Cincinnati receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins last week, allowing them to combine for 12 catches, 162 yards and a touchdown. Miami will go against another pair of elite receivers in Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka. When Tampa Bay and Miami last met, Evans caught six passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Buccaneers: Pro Bowl LT Tristan Wirfs (toe) and OLB Anthony Nelson (knee) missed practice time this week.
Dolphins: C Aaron Brewer (neck), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) and LB Tyrel Dodson (chest) missed practice time this week. ... DT Benito Jones (back) and TE Darren Waller (groin) were limited.
Sunday's matchup will be the Bucs' first time playing the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium since 2017. ... They have never met in the postseason.
The Buccaneers have played in seven games decided by three or fewer points this season, tied with the 1979 team for most in a single season in franchise history. They're 5-2 in those games with two straight losses. ... QB Baker Mayfield has thrown six interceptions in the past six games after only two in the first nine. ... WR Emeka Egbuka needs 90 yards to become the third rookie in club history to reach 1,000, joining Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004) and Mike Evans (1,051 in 2014). ... RB Sean Tucker leads the team with seven rushing TDs on 80 carries. ... LB Lavonte David last week became the seventh player to reach 1,700 tackles. ... K Chase McLaughlin has made 16 straight field goals and is 11-for-11 from 50 yards or longer, a record for most kicks from that distance without a miss in a single season. ... With their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, the Dolphins are ensured a losing season for the second straight year after finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs in 2024. ... The Dolphins have been outscored 42-19 the past two weeks. ... RB De'Von Achane was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after a standout third season in which he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the first time. Achane is the first Dolphins player to total 2,000 rushing yards along with 1,000 yards receiving in his first three NFL seasons. He also is the fifth Dolphin to reach 2,000 rushing yards in his first three years in the NFL. ... WR Jaylen Waddle needs 90 yards in the final two games of the season to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth time in his five-year career. ... Ewers became the ninth rookie in Dolphins history to start a game at quarterback, joining Skylar Thompson (2022), Tua Tagovailoa (2020), Ryan Tannehill (2012), John Beck (2007), Dan Marino (1983), David Woodley (1980), Bob Griese (1967) and Rick Norton (1966). His 260 passing yards were the second most by a Dolphins rookie quarterback in their first career start behind Dan Marino, who had 322 in his first start against Buffalo in 1983.
Evans and Egbuka could be in for big games against Miami's defense, which has struggled to slow down dynamic receivers and has been inconsistent this season.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers looks to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The mission for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots as they prepare for the final two games of the regular season is clear.
“It’s as simple as go win the division,” Maye said. “That’s what the goal was. It wasn’t to make the playoffs. It was to win the division, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
The Patriots (12-3) will get that chance Sunday when they face the New York Jets (3-12) at MetLife Stadium. New England, which last week clinched its first postseason berth since 2021, can win the AFC East title for the first time since 2019 with a win and a loss or tie by Buffalo against Philadelphia, or a tie and a Bills loss.
A victory over the Jets also would give the Patriots an 8-0 record on the road, which would mark the third time in franchise history they'd have no losses away from home. Only San Francisco (1984, 1989 and 1990) has gone undefeated on the road in three seasons since 1970.
“We’ve got to focus on this week and going on the road to a great environment, going to New York City, play the Jets — and unfinished business,” said coach Mike Vrabel, who has turned the franchise around in his first season. “We want to be undefeated on the road. ... That’s something that I think is special.
"Still want to play for the division. We want to win the division. Haven’t done it in a long time.”
The Bills have won the last five AFC East titles, ending the Patriots' long reign over the division under Bill Belichick.
That's nothing, though, compared with the drought the Jets are dealing with. New York last won the division title in 2002. The Jets haven't made the playoffs since the 2010 season, the NFL's longest active skid.
First-year coach Aaron Glenn has focused continuously on building a foundation, insisting through his team's struggles that things will change. Jets fans, however, have little patience — especially after seeing the Patriots go 4-13 the last two years, only to bounce right back and again be one of the league's top teams.
“I think when you look at any team in that situation,” Glenn said, “you try to look and see what they’ve done, take a really good look at yourself and evaluate the things that you’ve done, and try to move forward in that instance.”
The offseason and draft positioning are what many fans are pondering, but the Jets are looking for victories in their final two games of the season against the Patriots and Bills.
“The only thing we're thinking about, more or less, is going out there and competing our (butt) off and winning the game,” Glenn said. “And that's what's critical for us — ending this season on a good note against two really good opponents, two division opponents, at that. One at home and one away. Man, that's the only thing that we're thinking about.”
Maye entered the week first in the NFL in completion percentage (70.9), third in passer rating (108.5) and fourth in yards passing (3,947). The second-year quarterback was selected for the Pro Bowl Games for the second time — and he's hearing MVP chatter from some fans and media.
While Maye acknowledges the buzz around him, he insists he isn’t letting it distract him.
“The MVP is obviously one of the big accolades for this league and it’s something that is an honor as a player to earn that award, and I respect all the past MVPs," Maye said. "But I think at the end of the day, winning the Super Bowl is the biggest thing. I think it’s what kind of makes this league go is winning the big one. That’s what you work toward, and that’s what this game is about.
“I love winning, and the personal accolades come with all that, but I’d rather win than win personal awards.”
Jets undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his third straight start, getting extensive playing time in an unexpected opportunity.
Cook spent most of the season on the practice squad, but injuries to Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields have put the former Missouri star under center for New York. In three NFL games, including the last two starts, Cook has had a crash course in the pros. He has thrown for 527 yards and one TD with six INTs and a 59.2% completion percentage, but he also has been sacked 17 times.
“I think I’m handling it,” Cook said. “I think, as a young quarterback, it’s important to be critical of yourself. These are very important reps and moments and opportunities for me to review myself and really understand where I’m at and where I need to improve. I think I would be doing a disservice to myself if I wasn’t extremely critical of myself right now.”
Vrabel is the fourth coach in NFL history to win his first seven road games with a new team, and the first since Jim Caldwell did so with Indianapolis in 2009.
A win Sunday would make it eight in a row for Vrabel, who would trail only George Seifert, who won his first 16 road games with San Francisco in 1989-90.
The Jets set an NFL record last week by failing to get an interception in their 15th straight game.
The drought broke a tie with San Francisco, which went 14 consecutive games without one before getting its first interception in Week 8 of this season. New York's last INT came in the season finale last season against Miami when Ashtyn Davis picked off two passes.
“We still haven’t got an interception this year, which is kind of bizarre,” interim defensive coordinator Chris Harris said. “Never been a part of it, but we’re still working on that.”
AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Boston contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn reacts while talking with an offical during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, left, celebrates after a touchdown scored by quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) drops back for a fake hand off during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
