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Miami Dolphins Face QB Conundrum as Season Nears End: Rookie Ewers Gets Final Audition

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – The Miami Dolphins’ 2025 season has been one to forget, ending in a playoff miss and the surprising benching of veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. With Tagovailoa’s future in Miami looking increasingly uncertain, the spotlight has shifted to rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, who has been under center since Week 15.

Ewers, despite statistically unspectacular performances, has shown flashes of promise in his first two starts. He’s thrown for 432 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, but the team’s reliance on the running game, even before Tagovailoa’s benching, has limited his opportunities.

Now, with only one game remaining, all eyes will be on Ewers as he faces his toughest test yet: a Week 18 matchup against the New England Patriots. Despite already securing a 13-3 record, the Patriots are expected to play their starters, vying for the AFC’s top seed. This presents Ewers with a crucial opportunity to prove his mettle against a top-tier defense.

“This is a huge opportunity for Quinn,” said an unnamed source within the Dolphins organization. “The Patriots defense is one of the best in the league, and how he performs against them will be a major factor in our offseason evaluations.”

Ewers’ previous opponents, the Bengals and Buccaneers, both boast defenses near the bottom of the league in passing defense. The Patriots, in contrast, have consistently ranked among the top 10 in that category.

A solid performance, even in a loss, could dramatically alter the Dolphins’ offseason plans. If Ewers can demonstrate competence and avoid costly mistakes against New England, the team may reconsider spending significant resources on a quarterback in the draft or free agency.

The looming question for Dolphins fans: Can Ewers solidify himself as a viable QB1 candidate and potentially save the team valuable cap space and draft capital? The answer may come Sunday.

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