MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Tua Tagovailoa, along with head coach Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins, are hitting their stride just in time.

This momentum sets the scene for an exciting Thanksgiving night game later this week.

Tagovailoa connected for three of his four touchdown passes during the first half, leading the Dolphins to a 34-15 victory over the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

After a shaky start to the season with only 2 wins out of their first 8 games, Miami is now on a three-game winning streak. The Dolphins have improved to a record of 5-6 and are eyeing a return to .500 as they prepare for a primetime Thanksgiving matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Can Tagovailoa and the Dolphins handle a chilly weather game? The Hawaiian quarterback has struggled in cold conditions throughout his five years in the NFL, and temperatures could dip into the teens come game time.

Can the Dolphins score a victory against an opponent with a winning record? They came close against the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals, suffering defeats by three points or fewer prior to their current winning streak.

The Dolphins have a dismal 2-14 record in their last 16 games against teams above .500. The Packers boasted a 7-3 record before their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

“I’m eager to change those narratives, so let’s go,” Tagovailoa stated confidently after the game. “Bring it on.”

The Detroit Lions will take on the Chicago Bears in an early 12:30 p.m. game. As the turkey coma sets in after Thanksgiving dinner, the struggling New York Giants will face off against the equally troubled Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. However, the matchup between Tagovailoa and the Dolphins against the Packers promises to add excitement to the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader.

“Now that our record is 5-6, the Packers won’t be worried about our winning streak,” McDaniel explained. “They will aim to prove we are a team that can’t win in cold weather or against strong competitors. We have a chance on Thursday to either validate that or defy expectations in front of families enjoying their holiday.”

Could the Dolphins pull off an upset against Green Bay on Thursday? To have a shot at the playoffs with just six weeks left in the season, they’ll need to continue leveraging what has contributed to their recent success.

Tagovailoa completed 29 of 40 passes for 317 yards against New England, marking a perfect 7-0 record against his AFC East rivals from Foxborough.

Throughout the Dolphins’ winning streak, Tagovailoa has completed 82 of 105 passes (78%) with eight touchdown throws. The team has successfully converted 18 of their 34 third-down attempts (52.9%) over the last three games before Tagovailoa was taken out with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

He threw his first touchdown pass to tight end Jonnu Smith and added another touchdown to running back De’Von Achane on third down against the Patriots.

“We’re still not at the .500 level, and a long road lies ahead for us,” Tagovailoa remarked. “We’ll savor this victory, but the next game is going to be crucial for us.”

McDaniel has also identified a new target in the passing game, allowing more opportunities to develop. With defenses bracketing receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, other players are finding openings.

Smith, the former Titans tight end, has been a key contributor lately, scoring three touchdowns in the last two games. Odell Beckham Jr. also adds to the mix, even though he did not catch any of his three targets against the Patriots.

Smith accumulated nine receptions for 87 yards in the game against the Patriots, following up a performance of six catches for 101 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders the previous week.

His role aided Waddle in achieving his best performance of the season, with eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown against New England. Achane contributed 56 yards and two touchdown catches during the win, while Hill had five receptions for 48 yards.

“With so many playmakers on our roster, it’s tough to defend against us,” Achane stated.

For the Patriots, rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw a 38-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Hooper, and Christian Gonzalez scored on a 63-yard fumble return within a short stretch early in the fourth quarter.

The Dolphins made their impact early in the game. Now, they have a short break of three days before their holiday matchup.

“We are facing a challenging situation ahead: a short week, on the road, at night, in cold weather. All of this will really test our mental toughness,” Dolphins edge rusher Calais Campbell added. “We will soon learn what kind of team we are.”

Tagovailoa concluded: “We’re thrilled to head to Green Bay and showcase our abilities on primetime.”

(This story has been updated with additional quotes and details.)