MIAMI, FL — Week 9 of the NFL regular season is in the books. 

With the playoff race already on for many teams across the league with others making their quest towards securing the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are two franchises to keep an eye on down the stretch. 

There is plenty to dive into as the Dolphins are tied for second-worst record in the NFL at 1-7 while the Buccaneers are 3-6, just a half-game behind the Panthers (3-5) & Saints (3-5) for the NFC South division lead heading into their bye week.

Where is your team sitting halfway through the season 👀 pic.twitter.com/r37WGG0ztM

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2026

So without further ado, let’s get started.

Miami Dolphins (1-7, 4th in AFC East) 

In their latest time out this past Sunday against the Lions, a 19-9 loss, Miami was unable to battle through offensive struggles, compiling just 228 total yards—151 in the air and 77 on the ground. While Detroit prevailed late in the affair on a Jahmyr Gibbs rushing touchdown, even in a game that sent the Dolphins to 1-7 on the season, there were some positives to take away from the loss. 

Jacob Rodriguez Racks Up Tackles

On a team filled with plenty of rookies, Mexican-American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been one of the bright spots for Miami this season by continuing to rack up tackles and adding more to his game. Week 9 was no different. 

🎥 Jacob Rodriguez in the gap vs. a star RB?

GIVE ME J-ROD. 😤 (@RookieWatxh) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/7WIql3eG1R

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) November 9, 2026

Playing 56 snaps, the 24-year-old from Wichita Falls, Texas had 10 tackles, seven defensive stops, and was credited with a sack on four pressures as a pass rusher. Rodriguez proceeded to show plenty of physicality in the middle of the Dolphins’ defense, which led to his fourth game with 10 tackles or more. And on the season, he only has one game with fewer than six tackles.

“Personally, I’m just trying to fulfill my role and put us in a position to win,” Rodriguez said after Sunday’s loss, “but individual stats don’t mean anything when you don’t get the ‘W.’ We have to tighten up the details.”

There is more growth in store for the former Texas Tech standout, especially when it comes to his pass coverage, but for a Miami defense looking for players to emerge and develop, Rodriguez has shown to be a very exciting piece. 

Textbook 🥊 pic.twitter.com/qHEzUmyFTV

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 3, 2026

“Jacob plays with an incredible motor,” Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said of Miami’s second round pick (43rd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft). “He’s smart, he plays downhill, and he doesn’t shrink in big moments. He was a bright spot today, but we need that collective urgency across the board.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6, tied for 3rd in NFC South) 

In what was a crazy end to Sunday’s slate of games on Sunday Night Football, the Bears escaped at home to defeat the Buccaneers by a final of 27-24 on a game-winning field goal.

Tampa Bay’s defense did indeed get them back into it, forcing five turnovers as Bucky Irving was a force for the team’s offense, however when the game got close, the Buccaneers could not get the job done in the passing game or hold up in pass protection. 

BUC-KY 🗣️ BUC-KY 🗣️ BUC-KY 🗣️

📺: #TBvsCHI on NBC pic.twitter.com/hCrlOFSimH

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 9, 2026

Going forward, Irving should be provided with more opportunities, but even with that, Tampa will need the passing game and offensive line to take some strides. 

Bucky Irving, The Superstar

Whenever the Buccaneers needed a play on Sunday night, the hometown kid Irving, a 24-year-old Chicago, Illinois native came through and helped the offense move the chains—notching 97 yards on 20 attempts, which was good for 4.9 yards per attempt. 

He forced seven missed tackles, had 84 yards after contact and as a receiver, he compiled 28 yards on four receptions—putting the third-year running back out of Oregon over 100 yards from scrimmage on the night (125 total) with two touchdowns.

Hometown TD for Bucky 🙌

📺: #TBvsCHI on NBC pic.twitter.com/CHyWfQCXVx

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 9, 2026

“I think he’s tough and he’s handling everything right now but I don’t know if he has the frame to keep up that type of workload,” Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said of Irving during Sunday’s postgame. 

“We’re going to have to take some of the carries off of him, and it’s hard to do because he’s playing such great football right now and he’s our bell cow. But we’ve still got to be wary of trying to keep him upright the entire season.”

Brandyn Pokrass is a journalist at Latino Sports and the Vice President of The League Winners, a nationally credentialed college football outlet, covering both FBS and FCS programs. You can follow him on Instagram @BPok24 and on X/Twitter @BPok24.

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