Dolphins believe adversity is opportunity, well, there's plenty of both now

MIAMI GARDENS - Tua Tagovailoa is out of Sunday's game at the Patriots with a concussion and the Dolphins don't know if or when he'll play again.

Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead may try to play despite injuries to at least four body parts.

Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard suddenly has a knee concern.

The Dolphins have lost four consecutive games after an 8-3 start.

It's a good thing the most important of Miami coach Mike McDaniel's central tenets is "adversity is opportunity."

“Be careful what you wish for,” Mike McDaniel quipped Friday. “We are in the midst of that. You find out a lot about people, your team, the players, the coaches. That’s where you can’t hide. Your true colors show.”

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McDaniel is relentlessly positive. That's why he and his coaching staff and the locker room are expressing confidence in backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who will make his 65th career start on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.

"This is why we thought it so vital to go after him in free agency," McDaniel said.

The Dolphins have defeated the Patriots in four straight games, though Tagovailoa was the starter in all four of those games against the Bill Belichick-coached team up north.

Miami Dolphins playoff scenarios

Miami can clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Patriots (7-8) and the Seahawks (7-8) beat the Jets (7-8) in a game later Sunday afternoon.

If the Dolphins were to lose on Sunday, they could still make the playoffs by defeating the Jets in the last weekend of the regular season. Miami would also need New England to lose at Buffalo.

Dolphins passing game coordinator believes Bridgewater can make plays.

"He’s a cagey veteran player," Bevell said. He’s been in a lot of locker rooms. He’s been in a lot of huddles. He knows a lot of offense. He has a lot of background, so it’s not like he needs a thousand reps of this specific thing because over time, he’s accumulated those reps and he’s seen a lot of things.

"He’ll be able to diagnose the coverages, diagnose the looks that he’s getting from the opponent and he’ll be able to put himself in those positions because he has all those banked reps. He throws a great ball, he can throw a great deep ball. He’s an accurate passer. He has better movement skills than you think, so I’m excited to see him play.”

The Dolphins have run the ball better in recent weeks and a key to their recent success against the Patriots has been an effective run game. Running back Raheem Mostert wants to bounce back after a tough Packers game in which he fumbled and made a route error on a fourth-quarter interception by Tagovailoa.

"I know what I’m capable of," Mostert said. "Last week wasn’t my best game, but it wasn’t a lot of guys’ best game last week. So I know I’m going to improve. I’m going to step up this week and do what I got to do."

The Patriots' offense is a mess. Long-time defensive coach Matt Patricia has flopped as an unexpected offensive play-caller and quarterback Mac Jones has regressed.

But consider that Miami's defense will be without Byron Jones, Emmanuel Ogbah, Brandon Jones and Nik Needham on Sunday. And edge rusher Bradley Chubb (ankle/casted hand) is certainly in doubt as well.

Patriots' defense poses challenge

Meanwhile, the Patriots' defense is predictably solid.

One thing to be a bit concerned about is Miami's offensive tackles against Patriots edge rushers Matthew Judon (15.5 sacks) and Josh Uche (11.5 sacks).

The Patriots are second in the NFL with 50 sacks.

Armstead is what McDaniel described as a "warrior," but he does have injuries to the toe, pectoral, knee and hip. And even starting right tackle Brandon Shell now has a shoulder injury.

The Dolphins have only one playoff appearance in 14 years and in that game, backup quarterback Matt Moore started in a 2016 season loss at Pittsburgh.

Miami won 19 games under Brian Flores the past two seasons, but failed to qualify for the postseason.

Late last season there was a 34-3 loss at Tennessee.

Two years ago it was a 56-26 loss at Buffalo in the season-finale.

After an 8-3 start it would be a colossal disaster if Miami were to finish this season 8-9 and out of the playoffs.

But Miami players and coaches are trying to block out negative noise and thoughts.

"Everything that we’ve set out to do is right in front of us," McDaniel said. "And I can tell you one thing, the New England Patriots don’t care about our feelings. (The players) are very aware about that. I see a very focused and determined group that recognizes the opportunity within the adversity.”

Bridgewater, the Miami native, hates to see Tagovailoa sidelined by concussion. But he also believes in his own abilities. And he wants badly to seize this moment.

"I’m excited to get an opportunity to play some football," Bridgewater said. "Some meaningful football."

Joe Schad can be reached at jschad@pbpost.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: The Miami Dolphins can clinch a playoff spot as soon as Sunday