The New York Jets welcome the playoff hopeful and division rival Miami Dolphins to MetLife Stadium.
- New York Jets (4-9)
- Miami Dolphins (8-5)
- NFL, Week 15, Saturday 8:25 ET, NFL Network
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
As the first of two straight Saturday games has arrived, the New York Jets look to play spoiler against the playoff hopeful Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are currently tied with the Denver Broncos for the final wildcard playoff spot in the AFC.
The New York Jets are fresh off of a come from behind overtime win against the San Francisco 49ers. New starting quarterback Bryce Petty started the game off rough, but settled in nicely as the game moved along, showing heart and toughness in the comeback. Bilal Powell stole the show last week accounting for 179 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, including the overtime winner.
With the playoffs within reach, the Miami Dolphins come to the Meadowlands with a hot hand, winning seven of their last eight games. The emergence of Jay Ajayi has been one of the highlights of a Dolphins season that has turned for the better following a 1-4 start.
A victory this Sunday and the Dolphins will be rooting for the New England Patriots this Sunday as they matchup with the current #6 seed Denver Broncos. The Jets look to spoil the Dolphins playoff aspirations against their long-time division rival.
NEXT: Injury Report
Injury Report
DNP-Did not practice LP- Limited participant in practice FP- Full Practice
- DNP– Steve McLendon, DT (hamstring)
- DNP- Buster Skrine, CB (concussion)
- DNP- Lorenzo Mauldin, LB (ankle)
- DNP- Mike Catapano, LB (knee)
Doubtful
- DNP- Khiry Robinson, RB (lower leg)
- DNP- Brent Qvale, OT (hamstring)
Questionable
- LP- Brandon Marshall, WR (knee)
- LP- Matt Forte, RB (knee)
- LP- Brandon Bostick, TE (ankle)
- LP- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (ankle)
- LP- Quincy Enunwa, WR (ribs)
Healthy (pun intended) sized injury list this week. Quincy Enunwa, Muhammad Wilkerson and Brandon Marshall are all expected to suit up for this contest. Matt Forte will be a game-time decision. After the career day Bilal Powell had last week and the fact that the Jets are only playing for pride, they should allow Matt Forte to rest his injury to not risk any further damage.
Brent Qvale more than likely missing this game means 2016 5th round pick Brandon Shell out of South Carolina will get his first career start.
Out
Questionable
- FP- Jermon Bushrod, OT (shoulder)
- FP- Isa Abdul-Quddus, S (neck)
- FP- Anthony Steen, G, (toe)
- FP- Spencer Paysinger, LB (thigh)
- LP- Kiko Alonso, LB (hamstring)
- FP- Bobby McCain, CB (hand)
- LP- Jelani Jenkins, LB (knee)
- FP- Branden Albert, OT (wrist)
- LP- Mario Williams, DE (ankle)
Ryan Tannehill being out is a big story, but the Dolphins have an experienced backup in Matt Moore to fill in until Tannehill returns. It was originally feared that Tannehill was lost for the year after taking this hit:
During the week it was discovered the knee injury was a sprain, and Tannehill’s season would not be over.
NEXT: History
Matchup History
These two franchises have played some historic games against each other including the “Monday Night Miracle,” the “Fake Spike” and the “Mud Bowl.” There is no love lost between these two franchises, and this would not be the first time in this series that one team has the chance to play spoiler to another.
The first time these two franchises handled business on the field this season the Dolphins came away with a 27-23 victory behind a strong performance by Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake‘s 96 yard kickoff return late in the fourth quarter. New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick only threw for 194 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. There is a new head man under center this time around, as the Dolphins will get their first extended look at Bryce Petty (he appeared briefly in the previous matchup).
This Saturday will be the 102nd edition of the Miami Dolphins versus the New York Jets with the Jets holding a 53-47-1 edge in the series. Dolphins head coach Adam Gase is 1-0 against the Jets while Todd Bowles is 2-1 against the Dolphins.
NEXT: Top Storyline
Top Storyline
Brandon Marshall will bring his own flag to the game:
In the first meeting between these two teams, Brandon Marshall made it clear that he didn’t feel Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell could stop him without committing penalties.
This time around Marshall says he will bringing his own flag to assist the referees.
“He’s the same guy. I thought the refs did an amazing job the last time we played them,” Marshall said, from Josh Alper of profootballtalk.com via the New York Post. “I think they threw three, four, five flags, so Saturday night I will be assisting the refs and I will be carrying my own flag just in case he decides to conduct himself the same way. I will help the refs out.”
In the previous meeting, Marshall had five catches for 46 yards and was held out of the endzone. He did draw two pass interference penalties, and with possible antics, this matchup could be fun to watch on Saturday.
NEXT: Keys To Victory
Jets keys to victory
Apply pressure early and often:
True, Matt Moore is a seasoned veteran with plenty of NFL game experience, but the backup Dolphins signal caller is just that, a backup. Applying pressure to him early and often and causing him to essentially have ‘happy feet’ will lead to Moore hurrying his throws and making mistakes.
Stuff the box:
Again the Jets are going to be dealing with the Dolphins backup quarterback, so why not challenge Matt Moore to beat them through the air. Taking away the running game will make the ‘Fins one dimensional, and if the defensive line can come through and apply pressure, it should be a favorable outcome for the Jets.
Jay Ajayi cannot be allowed to replicate his last performance against the New York Jets where he ran for 111 yards and a touchdown. Ajayi went into that game red hot coming off of back-to-back 200+ yard games on the ground. Coming into this contest he hasn’t broke the century mark since the previous matchup with the Jets.
Petty needs to feed off of last week’s victory:
Nerves seem to have a hold on Petty in the beginning of last week’s contest with the San Francisco 49ers as evident by multiple overthrows throughout the first half and an interception on his first pass of the game. This will be Petty’s second start since being named the starter, and he has to prove that the way he played in the second half last week, is how he will show up from week to week.
The Jets have division games for all three of their remaining games and how Petty responds in those games will tell the Jets if they have their quarterback for next season or not. If Petty can put up consistent solid performances against the division, don’t be surprised to see his under center come opening day 2017.
NEXT: Prediction
Even with the Jets not able to get out of their own way when they played in Miami, they gave the Dolphins all they could handle. With Bryce Petty playing for his future and having another week of first team offense practice under his belt, this will be another game that comes down to the wire.
If indeed Matt Forte sits this contest out and Bilal Powell is able to receive the lion’s share of carries, he should be in for another big day. The Dolphins defense ranks 30th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. Getting Powell off and running will take a tremendous amount of pressure off of Petty and allow him to make smarter decisions with the football.
Matt Moore is strictly a pocket passer. So, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams will need to take advantage of this fact. If the big three on defense find success, the Jets should have no issue doing enough on offense to put a kink in the Dolphins playoff plans.