LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- It could be Dan Marino's last game. It could be Jimmy Johnson's last game.

It's also the first regular season meeting between good buddies Johnson and Norv Turner, who together helped resurrect Dallas to Super Bowl glory early in the 1990s.

It's a good thing there are some interesting subplots to Sunday's regular-season finale between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins, because the result of the game itself might not mean anything.

Maybe it's just another off-key note to this wacky NFL season, but could anyone ever imagine a game between two 9-6 teams that had no bearing on the playoffs?

"It's funny," Miami cornerback Terrell Buckley said. "They say if you play long enough you'll be in every situation. It's different."

Though the teams' records are the same, their situations couldn't be more different. Miami is still in the running for a wild-card berth in the AFC, but -- barring a tie in another game -- whether the Dolphins win or lose has no bearing as to whether they make it.

For Miami to advance, either the New York Jets have to beat Seattle or Oakland has to beat Kansas City. If Seattle and Kansas City both win, Miami is out. Both of those games could be over before the 4:15 EST kickoff in Landover. Only a tie in one or both games could put the Dolphins in a position in which they would need to win.

"There's no doubt we're going to take a look at those games," Miami coach Jimmy Johnson said. "But we're going to prepare to go out and win the ballgame."

Washington has already clinched the NFC East and will have something tangible to play for only if Chicago defeats Tampa Bay and Detroit defeats or ties Minnesota in early games. If those two games go the Redskins' way, Washington would clinch a first-round playoff bye with a victory over Miami.

Otherwise, from a standings standpoint, the huge electronic scoreboard at the stadium might as well go blank.

"I'll tell you what," Washington receiver Irving Fryar said. "This might say more about our character than any game this year. If we go out and just flip around and don't do anything, then I don't expect us to do anything in the playoffs. If we go out there and play tough and win this game, then I think that's going to be a springboard for us going into the playoffs."

If the result is meaningless, both Turner and Johnson will consider resting players with marginal injuries. That means running back Stephen Davis and receiver Albert Connell may get the day off for Washington, while running back J.J. Johnson and receivers Tony Martin and O.J. McDuffie may watch from the Miami sideline.

"I can't lie to you," Turner said. "You're aware of what the scores are. The big issue is us. I want us to play well. I want us to go into the playoffs with momentum. First of all, I hope we're playing the game so we can get a bye. If not, we'll just use good judgment."

If the Dolphins' season is done, Marino and Johnson will start making their own personal judgments about next season. Marino, 38, has thrown 11 interceptions in five games since returning from a neck injury as Miami has collapsed from a 7-1 start.

Marino can tie Elway's NFL record for most wins by a starting quarterback (148) with a victory, but he leaves no doubt he'd rather emulate Elway by retiring with a Super Bowl ring.

"I think that's the reason why I'm playing right now," Marino said. "You want a chance to win a championship ... I will consider what's going on after the season and see how I feel. Right now, I feel like I can play."

Johnson was ready to quit last season. His mother recently had died, and he was about to get married. Now his life is settled down, but he's again planning to take stock once the offseason arrives.

"This is going to be a year-by-year situation," Johnson said. "I won't even think about it until each year's over with. When you look at those type decisions, I don't think football has anything to do with it. I think it's more your lifestyle and what you want to do outside of football."

Turner was Johnson's offensive coordinator for three years in Dallas, and they speak on the phone frequently. It's taken nearly six years for the two to meet in a regular-season game, a matchup so long awaited that it's somewhat anticlimactic.

"I don't like playing a game against a team where the head coach is as close as, say, Dave Wannstedt or Norv Turner," Johnson said. "As far as knowing, without question you know the style of play by the individual. But the big key is not you knowing, it's the players knowing."

MIAMI Season schedule and results

WASHINGTON Season schedule and results

September 13 @Denver W 38-21 September 19 Arizona W 19-16 October 4 Buffalo L 18-23 October 10 @Indianapolis W 34-31 October 17 @New England W 31-30 October 24 Philadelphia W 16-13 October 31 @Oakland W 16-9 November 7 Tennessee W 17-0 November 14 @Buffalo L 3-23 November 21 New England W 27-17 November 25 @Dallas L 0-20 December 5 Indianapolis L 34-37 December 12 @NY Jets L 20-28 December 19 San Diego W 12-9 December 27 NY Jets L 31-38 January 2 @Washington 4:15pm ET

September 12 Dallas L 35-41 September 19 @NY Giants W 50-21 September 26 @NY Jets W 27-20 October 3 Carolina W 38-36 October 17 @Arizona W 24-10 October 24 @Dallas L 20-38 October 31 Chicago W 48-22 November 7 Buffalo L 17-34 November 14 @Philadelphia L 28-35 November 21 NY Giants W 23-13 November 28 Philadelphia W 20-17 December 5 @Detroit L 17-33 December 12 Arizona W 28-3 December 19 @Indianapolis L 21-24 December 26 @San Francisco W 26-20 January 2 Miami 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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