MIAMI GARDENS — The dream is dead for the 2025 season. The Dolphins’ playoff hopes have officially been extinguished. Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) is more about the future than the present. And the stakes are huge.

The quarterback situation will be scrutinized with rookie Quinn Ewers making his first start.

Coach Mike McDaniel’s future will be scrutinized.

Owner Steve Ross’ judgement will be scrutinized.

In fact, Ross’ entire ownership era will be examined and if this game goes well for the Dolphins (6-8), it’ll get a relatively optimistic look toward the future. If not, well, he’d better brace for a rough week. 

Here are five things to look for on Sunday: 

QB play

Ewers (5 of 8, 53 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, 81.1 passer rating), rookie seventh-round pick, will start over demoted veteran Tua Tagovailoa, and while Ewers will need help to succeed the majority of the burden to win will rest on his shoulders. With a good performance in these last three games of the season, Ewers could insert him into the battle to contend for the 2026 starting job in training camp.

It’s unclear, and doubtful, whether he can play well enough in these games to secure the unchallenged starting job for training camp or next season. By the way, the Dolphins’ previous rookie starting quarterback was also a seventh-round pick — Skylar Thompson in 2022. 

Run game success

Miami is 6-2 this season when rushing for 100 or more yards, winning five consecutive. Cincinnati has the league’s worst run defense (157.9 yards allowed per game) so you’d think running back De’Von Achane (1,186 yards rushing, No. 3 in NFL) will be able to run all over the Bengals defense.

Achane, the heart and soul of the offense during the stretch in which the Dolphins won five out of six games, rushed for just 60 yards on 12 carries in Monday’s 28-15 loss at Pittsburgh. The run game is essential for the Dolphins to win, as evidenced during their four-game winning streak when backup running back Jaylen Wright rushed for a career-best 107 yards against the New York Jets. 

Run defense success

Miami must make Cincinnati run the ball. Bengals running back Chase Brown (185 carries, 780 yards, three touchdowns) can’t beat you. On the other hand, forcing Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (eight touchdowns, four interceptions, 84.3 passer rating) to throw to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (101 receptions, 1,147 yards, five touchdowns) can beat you.

Yes, the Dolphins are 27th in the league in run defense (132.1 yards allowed per game). And, yes, they’ve allowed three of their past six opponents to rush for at least 135 yards, and they’re 1-2 in those games. But it’s easier to stop Brown than the Burrow-to-Chase duo.

Dolphins beating another non-playoff team

The Dolphins are 29-13 (.691) vs. non-playoff teams under McDaniel. However, this season the Dolphins are only 5-4 against current non-playoff teams so nothing is assured from that standpoint.

Included in that record is the Dolphins’ 2-1 home record this season against non-playoff teams. Cincinnati is a non-playoff team so you’d think the Dolphins, who started the week as 5.5-point underdogs now that Ewers scheduled starting, should win despite their quarterback situation. 

Ross/McDaniel/home crowd

Ross and McDaniel are putting a lot on the line Sunday. We’ll see if the home crowd is in a forgiving mood. Replacing Tagovailoa with Ewers, after parting ways with former general manager Chris Grier, essentially means Ross trusts McDaniel greatly, more than he trusted Grier or Tagovailoa. Fans might or might not see things the same way.

You’ll recall it’s been a fairly hostile crowd at Hard Rock Stadium this season among flying banners over the stadium asking for the removal of Grier and McDaniel, booing the home team at times, and not showing up for games in big numbers at other times. If the Dolphins don’t get off to a fast start Sunday, the boo birds might let their voices be known. If the Dolphins dominate, they’ll be lustily cheered and the future will look blindingly bright. Well, at least for the next week.