The Miami Dolphins may have secured a playoff spot by the narrowest of margins, but unfortunately star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa won't be cleared in time to make Sunday's clash.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniels revealed on Wednesday that Tagovailoa has not cleared concussion protocol, meaning he is unable to return to football activities just yet. As a result, he is out for Sunday's Wild Card clash against Buffalo Bills.
Back-up quarterback Terry Bridgewater is preparing himself to be ready for Sunday's game, but he also has been out of action recently, with Skylar Thompson stepping in over the last two regular season matches. And the rookie could start his first-ever play-off game, against one of the favourites for the Super Bowl.
It's not the news that Dolphins fans wanted to hear midway through the week, but safety first means that Tagovailoa will not feature against the Bills. It's been a tough season for the Dolphins quarterback, who has been placed under concussion protocol multiple times during the campaign.
The Dolphins still managed to achieve a regular season record of 9-8 despite rotating their quarterbacks frequently, but they are preparing to put their trust in Thompson for the biggest game yet this campaign. McDaniel said that from Wednesday they will be practising for Sunday's game under the assumption that Thompson will be their starting quarterback.
Bridgewater suffered an injury in week 17 against New England Patriots, and is trying to get himself ready for Sunday. But with the team needing to prepare, Thompson may be the best option anyway, with Sunday's test one of the toughest of them all.
Whoever finished as the no.7 seed in the AFC was going to find it tough, with either the Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs their likely opponents. The Dolphins potentially have the toughest route of them all on their path to the Super Bowl, made even tougher after Wednesday's news.
They almost missed out on the post-season, as a tense 11-6 encounter with the New York Jets saw them squeeze in, as other results went their way. The Patriots lost to the Bills, meaning that the Dolphins clinched the last spot, while the Pittsburgh Steelers missed out despite beating the Cleveland Browns.
You can only beat what's put in front of you, and after seeing the breakthrough of Brock Purdy this season with San Francisco 49ers, anything is possible. But the Bills are determined to not let anything stop them in the playoffs, especially after recent events.
