DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins must prove they can win the games they are supposed to win when they begin their five-game December schedule Monday, putting their 6-5 record on the line against the New York Jets (2-9).

If they do what they should, the Dolphins will be no worse than 3-2 in December, with victories over the Jets (twice) and Minnesota (4-7). What happens in the two other games — against Baltimore (7-4) and New England (9-2) — then becomes crucial. Either could be the 10th victory for the Dolphins, the one that gets them into the postseason.

To help ensure they reach the playoffs, the Dolphins are still searching for big plays offensively. They’re longest scoring play remains a 21-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to wide receiver Rishard Matthews, and they don’t exhibit one-strike scoring capability from long distance.

Coach Joe Philbin said the coaches have been stressing to skill players that they must create yards.

“Part of the job description of a running back is to make some yards on their own, whether it be elusiveness, whether it be breaking a tackle,” he said. “Lamar (Miller) made (Buffalo’s Leodis) McKelvin miss and got a 40-yard (run) two weeks ago. Certainly, we’ve been stressing that, and in the passing game some of the similar things. There are not a ton of routes in our five-step or our seven-step (drops). A lot of them are 16, 14, 18 yards, but then you have space between you and the defender. You have the ball in your hand; make something happen.

“So there are other ways. And obviously we want to connect on some of the deeper balls down the field, too.”

Big plays could help take some of the burden off the short and intermediate passing game and the running game, the two driving forces of the offense.

Big plays also could help ease some pressure on the defense if the Dolphins are in late-game situations such as they were against Green Bay, Detroit and Denver. The defense would be comforted to know that even if they give up a key play there’s a good chance the offense could come back and tie the game or take the lead with one snap. Currently, that’s not the case.

Because Tannehill rarely throws deep balls, many think defenses tend to cordon off a 20-yard box beyond the line of scrimmage to defend the Dolphins. Philbin said he doesn’t think that’s the case.

“Defenses, we’ve gotten a lot of variety,” he said. “I’m sure there are pictures where you could argue on film that’s the case, certainly. But there’s been a lot of variety.”

The Dolphins shouldn’t need to put their comeback skills on display when they visit the Jets. But they might need them against their other opponents, and it would be nice to have that area of the game mastered before it’s needed.

The Dolphins are doing well in almost every other area of the game — rushing yards, passing efficiency, scoring offense, scoring defense, sacks, rushing defense, etc. But they have a blind spot when it comes to scoring on long offensive plays.

Perhaps that gets addressed this week.

NOTES: CB R.J. Stanford, who was with Miami in 2012 and 2013, signed with the team Wednesday. … Among those not practicing Wednesday were CBs Cortland Finnegan (ankle) and Jamar Taylor (shoulder), WR Mike Wallace (unknown ailment), MLB Koa Misi (knee, back) and LB Jonathan Freeny (ailment not stated). … TE Charles Clay (hamstring) returned to practice.