Tua doubtful Sunday with hip injury as Miami Dolphins playoff hopes dim

CLEVELAND — The Miami Dolphins need plenty of outside help to make the AFC playoffs. First, though, they must help themselves.

With no margin for error, the Dolphins (7-8) hope to stay in the postseason hunt at least another week with a win Sunday over the Browns (3-12), whose season disintegrated weeks ago and appear on the brink of another disruptive offseason.

For Miami, this is another must-win situation, which is no different from a week ago when the Dolphins beat San Francisco. But with just two games left, the Dolphins’ bubble is precariously brittle.

There are several scenarios that could lead them to a playoff berth, but they all begin with wins in Cleveland and at the New York Jets (4-11) next week. Also, they’ll need various combinations of losses by the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos just to make the field.

In fact, the Chargers (9-6) and Broncos (9-6) both play Saturday, and if they win, the Dolphins could be eliminated before they even get to Cleveland. The Chargers routed the Patriots 40-7.

Miami took a pregame hit on Saturday, when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful with a hip injury that limited him in practice this week. If Tagovailoa can’t play, Tyler Huntley, who spent training camp with the Browns, will make his fourth start this season.

The Dolphins’ playoff odds aren’t great — roughly 10% according to various playoff projection sites — but coach Mike McDaniel is confident his players have a single mindset and purpose.

Focus shouldn’t be an issue.

“This team, what they’ve really gone through and fought for, it’s not a difficult task seeing how we have, a one-game season and our chances at the playoffs are at stake,” McDaniel said. “That has been a driving force — really is for our locker room and our coaching staff, really wants to play the type of football that we felt like we fell short of at portions of the season.”

Like any team, the Dolphins have had their share of ups and downs. If they miss the playoffs, a 2-6 start will be among the biggest regrets.

While their odds aren’t great, Tagovailoa said he and his teammates should be grateful for what’s ahead.

“It’s an opportunity and I don’t think any of us on our team should take this for granted,” said the Saint Louis School graduate, who may have more perspective than others given his history with concussions. “This is something that we’ve worked extremely hard for to be in the positions that we’re in now, to be able to play in the NFL.

“That in itself has been a dream, so for you to short-circuit yourself and be like, ‘Oh, no, we’ll get it next year.’ Well, how do you even know that there is going to be a next year for your career or there’s going to be a next game for you? You just never know when you’re weighing out those options.”

The Browns are closing out a season filled with disappointment.

This was supposed to be the year they took another step toward a championship. Instead, they went in reverse.

It will be the second straight start for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who threw two interceptions, was sacked five times and only led the Browns to one score in last week’s 24-6 loss at Cincinnati.

Going into that game, Thompson-Robinson said he viewed the final three games as an audition for next season. He’s had another full week to prepare, but the second-year QB said he’s done using his inexperience to explain away mistakes.

“I’m not going to use that as an excuse anymore,” said Thompson-Robinson, who has been dealing with a calf strain. “This isn’t my first time playing. I’m not a rookie no more, so I can’t use that as an excuse. I got to go out there and be able to execute, and when things don’t go right, don’t make a bad play worse.”