The Dolphins goal ahead of their season finale vs. the Jets? ‘The best [expletive] week of practice’

The Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes remain — slightly — alive.

Although the New York Times gives Miami a 21% chance, the Dolphins need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos for the AFC’s last postseason spot. That said, the Dolphins aren’t worried about percentages. They aren’t worried about Broncos. They’re not even worried about the Chiefs.

The motto is simple: control what you control, which as linebacker Jordyn Brooks said after Sunday’s victory over the Cleveland Browns, can translate to the “best [expletive] week of practice.”

“Make this week of practice the best [expletive] week of practice of your life,” Brooks told the team in the locker room. “Body’s hurting, it don’t matter. We gone suck that [expletive] up. We gone ball and we gone fight for each other.”

Brooks’ words give a bit of insight into the Dolphins’ mentality in what could be their last week of practice for the year. Sure, franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa might not play with an hip ailment. Sure, two-time Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead has played only sparingly during the past month as he continues to nurse a nagging knee injury. Sure, the Dolphins could also be without starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and burgeoning star receiver Jaylen Waddle.

But such is the beauty of December football; while a player might be physically worn out, his mentality becomes all the more important

“It’s intentional effort,” fullback Alec Ingold said. “It’s intentional focus. It’s really dialing into your details and putting yourself into the game. Visualizing, watching the tape when we’re in a meeting room and putting yourself in that game atmosphere on the practice field.”

Added Ingold: “While you might not be going full speed, well you got a full week to try and get your body feeling ready for Sunday again, all that stuff. It’s about being a pro, and I think that’s something I’ve learned a lot from ‘T-Stead’ and how he approaches a week, how he’s able to do his work throughout a week and then go out and perform unbelievably, All-Pro levels for the past few years now. I think that’s a great example to follow.”

Edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah agreed, emphasizing the importance of focus ahead of Sunday’s rematch against the New York Jets.

“We got a good opponent even though their record doesn’t seem like it, but they are a good opponent,” Ogbah said. “We went toe-to-toe with them last game, so we’ve got to bring our A game this game. But just be focused, ultra focused. We have no room for error. Do your job, do your responsibilities and just be out there and give it all you got.”

The Dolphins narrowly escaped Week 14 with a win against the Jets as the Aaron Rodgers-led offense put up more than 400 yards. After not recording a single reception in regulation, tight end Jonnu Smith came alive in overtime, catching three balls for 44 yards including the game-winning touchdown.

“They are fighters,” Ogbah said of the Jets, emphasizing that “you can’t take no team for granted. It’s a division game.”

As defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said in mid-December, the Dolphins certainly want to have a better outing against a team that ranked 24th in total offense.

“Every time you step on the field matters,” Weaver said Dec. 19. The Dolphins, he continued, “have things to prove.”

Added Weaver: “That last game against the Jets, they hung up 400 on us the last time we played. So we have something to play in every single game.”

The Dolphins won’t practice until Wednesday. By Saturday, they will be on a plane to New York. And unless a player peaks up at the scoreboard midgame against the Jets, they likely won’t know their fate until the final buzzer sounds as the Chiefs-Broncos also kick off at 4:25 p.m. Again, however, that’s not within their control – therefore, it doesn’t truly matter.

“If everybody just shows up and does whatever they need to do to win a football game, that is the recipe,” kicker Jason Sanders said. “So if you can just show up and crank out a Wednesday, crank out a Thursday at the highest level, Sunday should come pretty easy.”