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DAVIE (CBSMiami) – The Miami Dolphins are in somewhat unfamiliar territory, at least in recent memory, for mid-December.

The Dolphins currently hold an 8-5 record, good for seventh place in the AFC thanks to a tiebreaker going to the Denver Broncos.

If Miami wants to jump into the AFC's top six, and earn a playoff spot, they're going to have to do it without their starting quarterback.

Following Ryan Tannehill's knee injury suffered during last week's win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Dolphins will send out a different starting quarterback for the first time since drafting Tannehill in 2012.

The last quarterback to start a game for Miami was Matt Moore all the way back in 2011.

Moore has been with the team ever since, serving as a backup to Tannehill.

Now Moore will take Tannehill's place as the Dolphins starting quarterback.

Miami has made Moore one of the best paid backup quarterbacks in league history, and now it's time to see if that investment will pay off.

Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has shown nothing but confidence in his new starter.

"When you've got an experienced guy, you know he's taking every week as though he could be playing," Gase said. "That's what you get when you have a true pro as your backup. He knows exactly what he needs to be ready for every week and this week is no different. It's just now he has a different role. He was on it and guys responded well to him."

Making the playoffs would be huge for the Dolphins as the franchise hasn't played in a postseason game since 2008.  They haven't won one since January of 2001.

It's an exciting time around the Dolphins and the NFL, but Moore is trying to keep things on an even-keel.

"I'm just focused on getting better and winning one game," Moore said. "So that's where my head is at. I've done this before, so like I said, I'm just trying to jump in and have these guys and myself really not miss a beat. I'm just preparing for one game and one focus."

That one game comes on Saturday night against the division rival New York Jets.

Miami defeated the Jets earlier this season at Hard Rock Stadium thanks to a fourth quarter kickoff return for a touchdown by Kenyan Drake.

One big question looming over the Dolphins is how the offense will run with Moore at the helm.

He has a reputation as a gunslinger who loves to throw first and ask questions later, but that is a stark contrast from Ryan Tannehill, who has developed into a quarterback who takes good care of the ball and makes smart throws and decisions.

Gase has been watching Moore closely throughout the season and feels that he will be fine running Miami's offense.

"I feel like I do have a pretty good feel for a lot of the things that he really does like," Gase said. "There are a few things I feel like I know that he does not like, which is good, because we want to do what he feels comfortable doing, and when people say, 'Well, how much does the offense change?' It doesn't change from a schematic sense. It just might be a few different things that he likes a little better then what Ryan [Tannehill] did, or maybe there are a couple of things he didn't like as much. So the communication he has with me on the sideline is very valuable, because now I can use that information moving forward."

Despite the gravity of the situation and the importance of the game, Moore isn't letting the pressure get to him.

That being said, he isn't a robot either.  The key is finding a balance, and he seems to have gotten a good hold over that.

"I'm obviously excited," he said. "It's an opportunity to win another game and keep us going in the direction we're going."

The Dolphins are hoping that direction leads to a playoff berth. With three games remaining, it's right there for the taking.

HOWARD TO RETURN

Rookie cornerback Xavien Howard said on Thursday that he will return to the Dolphins lineup on Sunday. Howard has missed nine games this season with a knee injury.

"I'll be playing this week," Howard said. "It's been nine weeks, so I've just been patient, waiting, trusting the process and just ready to get back out there."

QUESTIONS AT CENTER

Gase also said on Thursday that he hasn't decided who will start at center for the Dolphins this week.  Anthony Steen has started in place of Mike Pouncey this season.  Steen is battling ankle and neck injuries which have led to a couple rough games.

Miami's other option at center is Kraig Urbik.

LINEBACKERS GETTING HEALTHY

There is a chance that the Dolphins could have both Kiko Alonso and Jelani Jenkins back on the field against the Jets this weekend.

The outlook for Alonso is a bit better than Jenkins, with Gase saying Kiko looked "better than last week. Still has to get through the next couple of days."

Gase also said Jenkins "looked OK" and that there was a chance he would also play.