Week 15 in the National Football League is chock full of big games, and one of those is the showdown in Houston between the Texans and the visiting Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins (6-7) could get back to .500 for the first time since Week 2. The Texans (8-5) are the only team on Miami's remaining schedule with a record currently better than .500.
With a pair of games on short weeks coming up against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, the Texans are in need of a win of their own. One win over that three-game stretch would keep the surging second-place Indianapolis Colts at bay in the AFC South.
The quarterbacks headline the marquee. Tua Tagovailoa has been arguably the most productive passer in the league since his Week 8 return, throwing 15 touchdowns and just one interception over that span. Sunday, Tagovailoa added to his resume with his first overtime appearance as a pro, going six of seven in the period with 67 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith.
Tagovailoa's run is re-writing record books. As it stands today, his 68.1 career completion percentage is the best in NFL history. The game was also his third consecutive 300-yard passing performance, which put him in the company of Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in team history to record three consecutive games with 300 yards. Tagovailoa's streak of three games with 300 passing yards, two touchdown passes and zero interceptions is the longest streak in franchise history.
Houston's C.J. Stroud had one of the most decorated rookie seasons the NFL has ever seen. Though his passer rating is down 13 points this year (87.9 down from 100.8), Stroud still ranks top 10 in several categories, such as Pro Football Focus metrics 'Big Time Throw rate' (seventh), and 'Turnover Worthy Play Rate' (sixth).
On paper, this game has the making of a shootout. The Dolphins, and their many weapons at Tagovailoa's disposal, rank fifth in points per game (27.7) since the quarterback's Week 8 return.
The Texans have arguably the deepest groups of eligibles in the league. Nico Collins leads the way with 104 receiving yards per game, but it's running back Joe Mixon who leads the Texans both in yards from scrimmage (1,131) and touchdowns (12).
Both teams will be without major contributors. The Dolphins are going to be without left tackle Terron Armstead, compounding the loss of right tackle Austin Jackson against a pass rush that features one of two pairs in the NFL (Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson) that has a combined 20 sacks.
Houston will be without two critical parts on their defense. Safety Jalen Pitre was placed on injured reserve this week and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will begin serving his three-game suspension for an illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the Texans' Week 13 win in Jacksonville.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Sunday, December 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
