Jaelan Phillips has ice in his veins
For the third time in four weeks, my Most Valuable Phin from the game is a defensive player. While Miami’s injury depleted defense didn’t have their best day, one player rose above the rest and handled his business with stone-cold ferocity.
Miami Dolphins Week Fifteen MVP – Jaelan Phillips
Phillips, a California kid who had never played in snowy conditions before Saturday, warmed up — and I use that term loosely — before the frigid game shirtless, wearing nothing but team-issued shorts and his cleats. Immediately, the tone was set.
Hearing about how the Dolphins would struggle in the wintry conditions all week, head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear to his team that overcoming the elements was going to have to be a ‘mind-over-matter’ type situation. Clearly, Jaelan Phillips took that philosophy to heart.
Phillips would finish the contest with three tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits. The three QB hits would be half of the team’s total of six and the sack and forced fumble all came on one play where the EDGE rusher hunted down Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen from behind, swiping the signal caller’s throwing arm to dislodge the football. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins would recover the ball for the Dolphins.
In just his second season in the league, Phillips is quickly become an impact player along Miami’s defensive line and his contributions to the team go beyond his play on the field as just last week he was named Miami’s nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his charitable efforts in the local community.
MVP TRACKER
Week One – DB Kader Kohou
Week Two – QB Tua Tagovailoa
Week Three – S Jevon Holland
Week Four – WR Tyreek Hill
Week Five – RB Raheem Mostert
Week Six – WR Tyreek Hill
Week Seven – DB Noah Igbinoghene
Week Eight – QB Tua Tagovailoa
Week Nine – QB Tua Tagovailoa
Week Ten – RB Jeff Wilson
Week Eleven – BYE
Week Twelve – EDGE Jaelan Phillips
Week Thirteen – WR Tyreek Hill
Week Fourteen – DT Christian Wilkins
Week Fifteen – EDGE Jaelan Phillips