Dolphins vs. Patriots NFL Week 17 odds: Spread shifts with Tua Tagovailoa again in concussion protocol, Teddy Bridgewater may start at QB for Miami

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa almost singlehandedly lost Sunday's home game vs. the Green Bay Packers by throwing three fourth-quarter interceptions. Those poor throws may make more sense now, as Tagovailoa has landed in the concussion protocol for the second time this season, and he's very much in doubt for this Sunday's game at New England, a crucial matchup in the AFC playoff race. Teddy Bridgewater would start if Tagovailoa can't and the Dolphins are currently 2.5-point underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook after opening as 1-point favorites.

Tagovailoa reported to team doctors Monday that he was feeling some symptoms, which led to him being placed on the protocol, according to coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel added he wasn't sure when Tagovailoa suffered the concussion, saying "nobody recognized anything" during the game. Miami made a rather controversial decision to let Tagovailoa continue to play in a Week 3 game against the Bills after suffering a blow to the head. He appeared to show concussion symptoms but was evaluated and stayed in the game.

In the wake of that incident, the NFL changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms -- including a lack of balance or stability -- sit out the remainder of a game. Tagovailoa then suffered a concussion in a Week 4 Thursday night loss in Cincinnati.

Bridgewater started Week 5 at the Jets, a 40-17 loss, but was knocked out injured when he took a hit on Miami's first play from scrimmage. The Dolphins announced Bridgewater had an elbow injury and was examined for a concussion before being ruled out under the new protocol. McDaniel said then that Bridgewater didn't have any concussion symptoms and passed tests, but a spotter saw Bridgewater stumble so he was removed from the game. Rookie Skylar Thompson started in Week 6, a 24-16 home loss to Minnesota, but Thompson left in the third quarter with a thumb injury and was replaced by Bridgewater.

Tagovailoa has started every game since but has not been overly sharp during the current four-game skid, completing just 52.6% of his passes for 984 yards with six touchdowns and five picks – good for a rating of 80.5. His QB rating in the first three months was not lower than 109.9 in any of them.

Miami (8-7) holds down the AFC's final wild-card spot, while New England (7-8) is eighth in the conference. The winner of this game controls its playoff destiny, needing only to win in Week 18 to earn a wild-card spot (Miami hosts the Jets and New England is at Buffalo). At DraftKings, the Dolphins are -225 to reach the postseason and +175 to miss. The Pats are +650 to make it and -1100 to miss.

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