![]() Since 2011, teams that need to win in the final week to keep their playoff hopes alive are just 14-20-2 against the spread (41.2%), with 12 of those 36 teams losing outright against a team with nothing on the line (33.3%). Here’s the thing: historically, that hardly matters at all. Check out the best sports betting sites.Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps The Jets were eliminated from playoff contention last week and, in theory, have nothing to play for this weekend. If the ‘Fins win on Sunday, they’ll lock up the final playoff spot in the AFC, which felt all but guaranteed over a month ago. Of course, there’s still the elephant in the room: motivation. It’s hard to see why this result would be much different this time around with Miami’s chief advantage (Tagovailoa) out of the picture. Yes, Joe Flacco is in line to start for the Jets on Sunday, though it’s not like his team needed much from Zach Wilson (210 yards, 0 TDs) when these clubs met in Week 5. That should give Dolphins bettors serious pause, as this offense has struggled mightily whenever Tagovailoa isn’t active and Miami’s defense has been a train wreck for most of the season. Thompson was also dominated by the Jets’ defense in his first-ever appearance in Week 5, when New York held him to 166 yards and an interception in a 40-17 blowout win. We’ve already seen how this might turn out: the seventh-rounder managed just 89 yards in his first start of the year, and he mustered 104 yards with a touchdown and a pick in last week’s extended action against the Patriots. That leaves rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson in line to start his second game of the season with a limited supporting cast and immense pressure on his shoulders. (Miami is 0-4 without him.) Crucially, perennial Pro Bowl lineman Terron Armstead is also questionable with myriad injuries, as is star wideout Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) and backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (finger). ![]() Tagovailoa (concussion) has already been ruled out of Sunday’s affair, which will mark his second straight game on the bench and fourth missed contest this season. Instead, injuries have defined this team’s epic late-season collapse. This isn’t the team that roared to an 8-3 start behind MVP candidate Tua Tagovailoa, who was the ultimate field general surrounded by elite skill-position talent and a passable offensive line. On paper, the Dolphins are the worse team here for a handful of reasons – namely their troubles under center. Just how much does motivation matter in Week 18? That’s ultimately what will decide Sunday’s contest, which pits one team with everything to lose against another playing for pride and a chance to put a positive spin on a frustrating campaign.
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