THE GESICKI CONUNDRUM
One of the more surprising stories of the Dolphins' season is how little Mike Gesicki, one of the most athletic tight ends in the NFL, has been involved in the offense.
After having career highs of 73 receptions for 780 yards in 2021, Gesicki has caught 25 passes for 274 yards this year. He has only been targeted five times in the past four games and has just one catch for 5 yards during that span.
“I’ve made plays in this league for a long time and I’ve proven the player I am,” Gesicki said. “There’s probably defensive coordinators that are going in and watching our film and have to put in time — or at least used to have to put in time — to ‘How are we going to affect the game plan with 88 out there?’ In my opinion, yeah, I could help, but I’m just going to go about it in the most professional way I can.”
McDaniel said it's a “failure to some degree” that he hasn't gotten Gesicki more involved.
DISAPPOINTING DEFENSE
McDaniel said Miami’s defense is not playing to its capabilities.
“I think any person in the locker room and every coach on the coaching staff would say no,” he said. “Just because they really believe in each other.”
The Dolphins rank 27th in opponent third-down conversion percentage, and they rank near the bottom of the league in passing defense (27th), scoring defense (26th) and red-zone defense (25th).
A CHEETAH CHRISTMAS
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill has never played on Christmas Day and has a few holiday-themed celebrations planned for Sunday.
“It’s gonna be a fun show," Hill said. “I’m gonna give people something to watch. It’s gonna be very entertaining.”
Hill has 109 catches for 1,529 and seven TDs this season.
NIXON’S RETURNS
Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon wasn’t even the Packers’ main kick returner at the start of the season, but he now has eight kickoff returns of 30-plus yards and three of 50-plus yards to lead the NFL in both categories. Nixon has returned at least one kickoff 30-plus yards in each of his last four games, the longest such streak by any Packer since Sam Shields did it in 2010.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged after Green Bay’s Monday night victory over the Los Angeles Rams that he should have made Nixon the main kick returner earlier in the season.
“In all my 18 years, I’ve never once, until tonight, seen an opposing team’s kicker kick away from one of our returners on purpose,” Rodgers said after the Rams game. “That’s fun. That’s pretty incredible.”
CLIMATE CHANGE
The Packers played Monday night with temperatures of 15 degrees — and the wind chill measured at 7 — just before the opening kickoff.
They’re preparing for a much different situation Sunday, though it won’t be quite as warm as usual in Miami. The forecast calls for highs in the mid-50s.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
either way & Happy Holidays & Mele Kalikimaka everyone >>>> 
and Merry Christmas Mac! 
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