Dolphins start rookie third string QB Skylar Thompson while New York Jets start Joe Flacco

The Miami Dolphins need a win over the New York Jets to make the playoffs and are hoping rookie Skylar Thompson can pull off a magical performance to get them there.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said the 2022 seventh-round pick from Kansas State will get the nod to start in Sunday’s do-or-die game as quarterback — as their first and second string-signal callers sit out with injuries.

Tua Tagovailoa remains on concussion log retroactive to a hit sustained against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. He was disqualified for the second week in a row.

Second row QB Teddy Bridgewater went down with an injury against the New England Patriots last week. While McDaniel is optimistic Bridgewater will be active on Sunday, he says the QB will be available in a backup capacity as he only started throwing the ball in late practice sessions of the week.

The Dolphins & Jets will field third-string QBs for Sunday’s game, which is crucial to the playoffs

Meanwhile, their opponents will also be trotting out a new starter this week, as Super Bowl XLVII champion Joe Flacco earns his fourth start of the season for the New York Jets.

Last week’s starter Mike White is in “a lot of pain” according to head coach Robert Saleh as his injuries have “clearly affected his ability to throw the ball”.

The Jets won’t give the start to struggling sophomore Zach Wilson, who was benched for a practice team QB just two weeks ago Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Saleh said he didn’t want to let Wilson start because “I want to get him into the off-season so we can attack the plan that we’ve put in place. Leaving him out there now won’t do him any good; it will do no one any good.”

Wilson will start Sunday as the No. 2 quarterback on the Jets roster.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh will ask Zach Wilson to focus on the upcoming season

The Jets have nothing left to play after being knocked out in last week’s loss to Seattle. However, the Dolphins still have a shot at earning the last spot for the wild card.

They need to win against New York on Sunday and then hope the New England Patriots take a loss to the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park.

As of today, Miami has a 44 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times.

Jets-Dolphins departs from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel knows his team needs a Patriots win and a loss for a wild card