Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb registered two sacks and a forced fumble in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Tomas Diniz Santos/Miami Dolphins
Bradley Chubb was a backfield buzzsaw, teething through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lead the Miami Dolphins to victory Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Chubb logged two sacks and a forced fumble for the Dolphins, who forced three turnovers and blocked a field goal in the 20-17 triumph at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I saw the signs of a defensive outing like this during the week,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “It’s not a surprise at all, but I’m just proud and glad they got to put that type of football out there.”
With the loss, the Buccaneers dropped to 7-9, but can still win the NFC South and earn the conference’s final playoff spot with a win next week over the division-leading Carolina Panthers (8-8).
The Dolphins (7-9), who were eliminated from playoffs weeks ago, snapped a two-game skid, while extending a four-game losing streak for the Buccaneers.
“The [defense] helped us out with turnovers,” Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers said. “It’s the statistic that’s directly correlated to wins and losses; the turnover margin.”
The @astronaut takes 'em down & @qbell recovers!
@NFLonFox pic.twitter.com/NjLbasuZKs— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 28, 2025
Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin scored the first points of the day with a 5-yard touchdown catch with 5:27 remaining in the first quarter.
The Dolphins answered that 14-play drive with a surge of 17 consecutive points and didn’t trail again.
Ewers, who made his second career start, threw his first career touchdown pass to Theo Weiss with a 63-yard strike less than a minute after Godwin’s gallop.
The Dolphins took their first lead on a Riley Patterson field goal 8:18 before halftime. Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. intercepted Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield on the next possession.
Ewers turned that turnover into points with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Dulcich 1:43 before halftime en route to a 17-7 Dolphins lead.
The Buccaneers got in position for a field goal at the end of the first half, but defensive tackle Zeek Biggs blocked the kick to preserve the Dolphins’ 10-point lead at the break.
.@QuinnEwers lets it fly and finds @_TheoWeaseJr for six! pic.twitter.com/W6iVDF8dRl— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 28, 2025
Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin sliced the deficit to seven with a 33-yard field goal with about 3:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Patterson made a 31-yard field goal 45 seconds into the fourth quarter to bring the score 20-10. Safety Ashtyn Davis intercepted Mayfield with about seven minutes remaining. Chubb ended the Buccaneers’ next drive with a strip-sack of Mayfield. Fellow Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell recovered that loose ball.
Mayfield threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans with about a minute remaining, but the Buccaneers failed to recover an onside kick, effectively ending the game.
Mayfield completed 33 of 44 passes for 346 yards, two scores and two interceptions, in addition to his lost fumble. Wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin totaled 114 and 108 receiving yards, respectively.
Ewers completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards and two scores. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane totaled 112 yards from scrimmage.
The Dolphins will take on the New England Patriots (13-3) in their season finale Jan. 4 in Foxborough, Mass. The Buccaneers will host the Panthers the same day in Tampa, Fla.
UPI Pictures of the Year 2025: Winning moments in Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
