Dolphins aim to avoid a tumble from 8-3 like last season when they open December at Washington

December was the cruelest month to the Miami Dolphins a year ago. Going in 8-3, they lost five in a row and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending concussion, falling out of first place in the process. The Dolphins, again 8-3, hope this December is not as much of a wasteland, starting with their game Sunday at the Washington Commanders that they're favored to win and pad their lead atop the AFC East.