Game recap: Miami Dolphins kick game-winning field goal to beat New York Jets in regular season finale

It's win (and get a little help) or go home for the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins host the New York Jets on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in the final week of the NFL regular season.

Once considered a top playoff contender, Miami (8-8) has tumbled to the brink of elimination with five straight losses in December and January.

Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson has been thrust into the starting role for the all-important regular-season finale after injuries to starter Tua Tagovailoa and backup Teddy Bridgewater in recent weeks. The Dolphins signed veteran Mike Glennon this week as well.

The New York Jets (7-9) have been eliminated from playoff contention after suffering their own five-game losing streak late in the season.

New York has experienced its own quarterback turmoil after the benching top draft pick Zach Wilson and an injury to backup Mike White. Veteran Joe Flacco will start as quarterback for the Jets on Sunday.

Miami's playoff hopes also hinge on the Buffalo Bills (12-3) defeating the New England Patriots (8-8) in another 1 p.m. Sunday kickoff.

If the Dolphins and Bills win, Miami will make the playoffs with a winning record in head coach Mike McDaniel's first season.

5 takeaways from Dolphins win:Playoff-bound Miami Dolphins' 11-6 defeat of the New York Jets

Looking up:Skylar Thompson gives Dolphins great chance to win

Beached Dolphins:Tyreek Hill, after Dolphins' fifth straight loss: ‘We're just in a mud puddle'

Injury bug:Slew of key injuries may be final dagger for reeling Miami Dolphins' playoff chances

Miami Dolphins predictions:Who are NFL experts picking to win game vs. New York Jets?

A Twitter List by DanRorabaugh

4:01 p.m. | Dolphins defeat Jets in must-win finale

It's over.

The Miami Dolphins have defeated the New York Jets 11-6 in the final game of the regular season.

The Jets lost a fumble in their end zone while lateraling on the final play of the game for a Dolphins safety.

The Dolphins will qualify for the NFL playoffs if the Buffalo Bills defeat the New England Patriots. Buffalo led New England 35-23 late in the fourth quarter at the final whistle in Miami Gardens.

3:54 p.m. | Jason Sanders 50-yard field goal gives Dolphins lead

The Dolphins' final drive was boosted by a 15-yard horse collar penalty at the end of a Jaylen Waddle reception. Waddle limped off after the play.

Salvon Ahmed then rushed the Dolphins deeper into New York territory, bringing up a third-and-2 from the Jets' 32-yard line. New York used its final timeout after the Ahmed rush.

Jeff Wilson Jr. was stuffed on a third-down run and lost three yards, setting up kicker Jason Sanders for a potential go-ahead 50-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining.

Sanders' kick was good from 50 yards to give the Dolphins a 9-6 lead with 18 seconds remaining.

3:47 p.m. | Dolphins take over after Jets punt

The Dolphins get a quick three-and-out aided by an intentional grounding penalty by Jets quarterback Joe Flacco.

After a 42-yard New York punt, Miami takes over at the Dolphins 32-yard line with 3:01 left in the fourth quarter.

3:43 p.m. | Thomas Morestead out to punt again

The Dolphins managed a first down but nothing more as Skylar Thompson was under heavy duress from the Jets defense on the drive.

Thomas Morestead's punt to Braxton Berrios is returned to the New York 28-yard line. The Dolphins and Jets are tied 6-6 with 4:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Running back Raheem Mostert has been downgraded to OUT for the remainder of Sunday's game.

3:35 p.m. | Mike McDaniel finally wins challenge

Mike McDaniel's streak of lost challenges is over after the Dolphins head coach correctly reviews a potential Garrett Wilson third-down reception. The ball was ruled to have moved while Wilson was securing the catch.

Skylar Thompson and the Dolphins offense will take over with at the Miami 10-yard line with 6:31 remaining fourth quarter. The Dolphins are tied 6-6 with the Jets.

3:27 p.m. | Dolphins stall in Jets territory on fourth-quarter drive

Skylar Thompson hit tight end Mike Gesicki on a wobbling deep ball for a 32-yard gain, Thompson's biggest pass play of the afternoon. It's unclear if Thompson intended to hit Gesicki or was looking deeper at wide receiver Tyreek Hill running a deep route.

The Dolphins were unable to move into field goal position, however, as the drive stalled at the Jets 42-yard line.

Thomas Morestead pinned the New York Jets at their 11-yard line with his punt.

3:12 p.m. | Greg Zuerlein ties Dolphins-Jets with second field goal

The Miami Dolphins lost a challenge early in the New York Jets drive, dropping head coach Mike McDaniel to 0-for-5 on challenge tries this season.

After the Jets moved deep into Dolphins territory, Miami's defense stiffened and forced New York to settle for a field goal.

Greg Zuerlein converted a 35-yard field goal to tie the game at 6-6 with 11:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.

At the time of the kick, Buffalo led New England 21-17 late in the third quarter.

2:48 p.m. | Dolphins regain lead on Jason Sanders field goal

After stopping the Jets on the opening drive of the second half, Miami moved quickly into Jets territory thanks to a fourth-down conversion and 21-yard reverse run by Raheem Mostert.

New York Jets defensive back Jamal Adams suffered an injury on the Mostert run. Adams lost his helmet and held his head after the hit. He walked off the field under his own power.

The Dolphins lost yards on the ensuing three plays, settling for a 37-yard field goal by Jason Sanders.

Miami leads New York 6-3 with 5:18 left in the third quarter. Skylar Thompson limped off the field after taking a low hit on third down.

2:18 p.m. | Dolphins, Jets tied at halftime

The Miami Dolphins are tied 3-3 with the New York Jets at halftime in a must-win regular season finale.

The Dolphins moved into Jets territory but quarterback Skylar Thompson took a big loss on a sack that was the final play of the half.

The Bills and Patriots are tied 14-14 in Buffalo late in the second quarter.

2:10 p.m. | New York Jets grab points before halftime

Garrett Wilson broke free from a trio of Dolphins defenders for a 36-yard reception -- the Jets' most explosive play of the half -- moving New York just outside the Dolphins red zone.

Wilson's big play came after the Dolphins failed to get off the field on third-and-9 with the Jets backed up in their own territory.

After the 2-minute warning, New York converted another third down thanks to a one-handed catch by tight end Tyler Conklin, which moved the Jets into the Dolphins red zone.

The Dolphins finally held on third-and-long as the Jets settled for a short field goal. Kicker Greg Zuerlein converted a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. The Jets' scoring drive was 11 plays for 61 yards.

Miami will get the ball back with 1:35 left in the half. The Dolphins have no timeouts.

1:57 p.m. | Jason Sanders gives Dolphins lead

The Miami Dolphins lead the New York Jets after Jason Sanders converted a 37-yard field goal, capping a 10-play, 36-yard scoring drive.

The Dolphins lead 3-0 with 5:17 remaining in the second quarter.

1:45 p.m. | Dolphins defense smothering Jets offense

The Jets are winning the field position battle but have nothing to show for it.

New York missed a 55-yard field goal to end its latest drive, which started just outside Dolphins territory. The Dolphins defense has held Joe Flacco and the Jets offense to just 41 yards of total offense so far.

Miami and New York are tied 0-0 in the second quarter.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

1:35 p.m. | Bad snap spoils Dolphins second drive

The Miami Dolphins moved the ball off their own 2-yard line on their second drive and again moved into New York Jets territory after a 26-yard Skylar Thompson pass to Durham Smythe.

On the next play, center Connor Williams snapped the ball early and far beyond Thompson's grasp, leading to a 23-yard loss. Miami punted after two short gains on second and third down.

The Dolphins and Jets are tied 0-0 after the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.

1:11 p.m. | Dolphins suffer turnover on downs to end first drive

The Miami Dolphins quickly moved into New York Jets territory on the game's opening drive but stalled after failing to convert a fourth-and-5.

The Dolphins were backed into a third-and-12 after a false start by Greg Little.

Jaylen Waddle then caught a short pass for seven yards to bring up the fourth-down play, which saw Skylar Thompson flushed to his right with no open receiving options. He ultimately threw incomplete while Jets defenders shoved him out of bounds.

1 p.m. | New York Jets win opening coin toss, defer

The Miami Dolphins will start on offense as the New York Jets correctly call tails to win the opening coin toss. The Dolphins end the regular season with six consecutive lost coin tosses.

New York elected to defer, meaning Skylar Thompson will lead Miami on the afternoon's first drive.

12:30 p.m. | Teddy Bridgewater throwing passes in warmups

Dolphins backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was seen throwing 15 to 20-yard passes in pregame warmups.

Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson is expected to start for the Miami Dolphins while veteran Mike Glennon was added to provide extra depth during the week.

11:30 a.m. | Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa, Terron Armstead vs. Jets

The Dolphins will be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and left tackle Terron Armstead today.

Receiver Cedrick Wilson also is inactive, opening a need for a punt returner. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Jevon Holland are possibilities.

Today also marks the first time rookie receiver Erik Ezukanma will be active.

Armstead has toe, pectoral, knee and hip injuries.

Wilson has a hip injury.

Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol.

Inactives for both teams:

MIAMI DOLPHINS

• #1 QB Tua Tagovailoa

• #9 CB Noah Igbinoghene

• #11 WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.

• #57 LB Brennan Scarlett

• #70 T Kendall Lamm

• #72 T Terron Armstead

• #80 TE Tanner Conner

NEW YORK JETS

• #5 QB Mike White

• #23 RB James Robinson

• #50 DL Bradlee Anae

• #82 WR Irvin Charles

• #87 TE C.J. Uzomah

11 a.m. | Dolphins vs. Jets predictions: Who do national NFL experts pick to win?

Opinion is mixed over who will win today's game. Skylar Thompson starting tips the scales toward the Jets for many prognosticators, but one writer offers this reminder: "The good news is that Miami still has the best wide receiver duo in football with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle patrolling the outside."

What time is the Dolphins game today?

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, January 8

What channel is the Dolphins game on?

TV: Fox, YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+ (7-day free trial)

How can I listen to Miami Dolphins game on radio?

Radio: WQAM 560; SiriusXM Channel 230

Online radio: SiriusXM.com (Channel 819)

What's the latest betting line for Dolphins vs. Jets?

Miami is a 1-point favorite over New York, according to Tipico, the oddsmaker for USA TODAY. The over-under is 38.5 points.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins vs. NY Jets game score, game recap NFL Week 18