Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin will be back with the team next year, the final season of his contract.

“I believe in what we’re building, Coach Philbin is coming back next year,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in the locker room after Miami rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Vikings with a blocked punt.

“Here’s a Christmas present. You don’t have to ask me anymore. He has one year left on his contract and is coming back.”

The Dolphins were eliminated from the playoff picture by virtue of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Dolphins are 8-7.

–Unless the Atlanta Falcons qualify for the playoffs and make a serious run, coach Mike Smith is expected to be fired at the end of the season, CBSSports.com reported.

According to the report, team owner Arthur Blank has told several people that he plans on letting Smith go when the season is over. However, Blank expects to keep general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

–San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is playing with a bulging disk in his lower back, ESPN reported.

According to the report, doctors fear that the injury is on the brink of being herniated.

Rivers led the Chargers to a come-from-behind 38-35 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. San Diego trailed 28-7 at the half.

–Despite being benched last week, Jay Cutler will likely return as the quarterback of the Chicago Bears and with a new coaching staff and perhaps general manager, according to CBSSports.com.

Second-year head coach Marc Trestman is expected to be fired and general manager Phil Emery could also be ousted at the end of the season. However, the Bears may be stuck with Cutler for at least two more years because of his big contract.

Cutler is guaranteed $16 million next season and $10 million of his $16 million salary in 2016 becomes fully guaranteed in March. Cutler reportedly is unwilling to change his contract to help him get traded. He also wants to wait and see who will be coaching him next season.

–Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught four passes for 126 yards in the 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, enjoyed the win over a team that cut him in March.

Jackson said he was not surprised the Eagles left him in single coverage.

“That’s how they play,” Jackson said, per ESPN. “They’re very naive and they play how they play, so they (can’t) care less who’s out there or who’s at wide receiver. They don’t care. That’s the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. I’ve been there a lot of years and witnessed a lot of players, wide receivers, tight ends get off some huge games on them. I’m just happy to be on that side and send them home with a loss.”