2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 17

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NFL picks; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) after catching the football during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Miami Dolphins (8-7) at New England Patriots (7-8)

Sunday, January 1, 1:00 PM ET

It’s a really good thing the Miami Dolphins got off to as hot of a start as they did this season. This Dolphins team has been a top-10 offense all year and the combination of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle has been as good — or better — than Dolphins fans could have hoped with Mike McDaniel at the helm.

Tua Tagovailoa has played MVP-caliber ball for stretches of the season but we’ve seen the Dolphins’ positive momentum from earlier this year come to a screeching halt in recent weeks, and it’s no wonder when you look at the list of opponents they have faced.

Dolphins opponents during four-game losing streak

@ San Francisco 49ers (lost by 16)
@ Los Angeles Chargers (lost by 6)
@ Buffalo BIlls (lost by 3)
vs. Green Bay Packers (lost by 6)

Aside from getting a bit blown out by the 49ers, the Dolphins have been in tight games the last handful of weeks but they haven’t been able to find ways to close them out. That’s part of the reason they traded away their first-round pick (from the 49ers) to get Bradley Chubb in the fold, but four matchups against four possible (if not probable) playoff teams and three on the road? That’s proven to be too tough of a gauntlet.

Now you’ve got to go to New England to play the Patriots and their 5th-ranked scoring defense. It isn’t getting any easier for the Dolphins, who are reeling and falling apart at the seams.

You hate to pile on their misery by picking a loss, but that’s kind of the way things are trending right now. Can the Dolphins get back on track this week against Belichick’s Patriots with the playoffs on the line?

Prediction: Patriots win 19-16

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