Right here’s a take a look at how the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets match up in six key areas forward of Monday’s Week 4 sport at Arduous Rock Stadium (7:15 p.m., ESPN):
When the Dolphins run: That is the place Miami ought to proceed imposing its will after discovering success on the bottom in final week’s loss to the Buffalo Payments. De’Von Achane went for 62 dashing yards on 12 carries, and rookie energy runner Ollie Gordon II offered a pleasant complement with 9 makes an attempt for 38 yards and a landing. The Dolphins have even included extensive receiver Malik Washington some on the bottom.
The Dolphins are nonetheless fourth within the league in dashing common whereas final in dashing makes an attempt, however they began making strides in closing that hole by working it 25 instances final week. Middle Aaron Brewer has been an outstanding run blocker, however he wants some assist from guards Jonah Savaiinaea and Kion Smith, who’s in at proper guard for the injured James Daniels whereas Larry Borom fills in for Austin Jackson at proper sort out.
The Jets rank twenty third towards the run. As at all times, defensive sort out Quinnen Williams is up there on the entrance line. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood is among the extra lively tacklers within the league, with 30 in three video games this season. Edge: Dolphins
When the Jets run: Operating again Breece Corridor could have had a down 2024 season, however he nonetheless must be thought-about one of many extra electrical runners within the NFL. He’s averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Mix that with the truth that, whoever’s in at quarterback between Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor, is a menace to run, and it’ll be a problem for the Dolphins protection. If Fields can clear concussion protocol earlier than Monday’s sport, keep in mind he as soon as ran for 178 yards towards the Dolphins with the Bears in 2022, a regular-season document for a quarterback.
The quarterback run being a part of New York’s offense places the group simply barely into the highest 10 in league dashing offenses. The Dolphins haven’t been good towards the run up to now, No. 28 within the NFL, as defensive sort out Zach Sieler is off to a gradual begin that he can flip round in a second’s discover. The Jets are damage up entrance by not having guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, however John Simpson is sweet at left guard they usually have tackles drafted in back-to-back first rounds with Olu Fashanu on the left facet and Armand Membou on the proper facet. Edge: Jets
When the Dolphins cross: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was largely managing the sport in Buffalo, taking what the protection gave him and discovering a downfield cross just a few instances it introduced itself, however he additionally missed some alternatives to search out his receivers with depth. After which, he threw the expensive interception within the clutch, the place linebacker Terrel Bernard made an excellent learn. The Dolphins are twenty first in passing offense, however remarkably, are conserving drives going because the NFL’s No. 1 third-down offense.
The turnovers have to cease, although, which Tagovailoa was doing a great job of for a lot of final Thursday night time. The matchup with the Jets often means extensive receiver Tyreek Hill faces off towards high Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, an All-Professional his first two seasons earlier than he took a dip final yr. New York doesn’t have a takeaway defensively but this season, but it surely has the 14th-ranked cross protection and ninth-ranked third-down protection.
The Jets have six sacks as a group. Will McDonald has two of them, linebacker Quincy Williams can even apply strain, and Quinnen Williams additionally gives inside cross rush. Patrick Paul needs to be dependable at left sort out, however Tagovailoa might be put in troublesome predicaments with Smith and Borom defending his blind facet at proper guard and proper sort out. He might be going to the dumpoffs to Achane typically once more, getting the speedster the ball in area. Edge: Even
When the Jets cross: The offense doesn’t change a lot whether or not it’s Fields or Taylor behind heart. Each are extra of a menace to run than harmful with their arm, however Taylor threw two touchdowns as he was 26 of 36 for 197 yards whereas throwing an interception and getting sacked 4 instances towards the Buccaneers final week.
His high goal, extensive receiver Garrett Wilson had a whopping 10 catches for 84 yards and one of many touchdowns. Wilson has the aptitude of going off towards the Dolphins’ secondary and No. 21 cross protection, plus third-down protection that’s second-to-last within the league. With cornerbacks Storm Duck and Jason Marshall anticipated to be out, Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones ought to begin on the boundary with totally different packages to create the group’s nickel set. Security Ashtyn Davis performed each snap towards the Payments with Ifeatu Melifonwu out, and he faces his former group. Miami often struggles protecting tight ends, and New York has rookie Mason Taylor, the son of Dolphins nice Jason Taylor.
The Dolphins, just like the Jets, haven’t pressured a turnover but via three video games and have six sacks — three coming from outdoors linebacker Bradley Chubb. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver needs him, Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon getting dwelling towards the Jets’ younger tackles, Fashanu and Membou. It could assist if Sieler and rookie defensive sort out Kenneth Grant can even present an uptick within the inside cross rush. Edge: Dolphins
Particular groups: The Jets are simply coming off a sport the place they’d a game-changing play come on particular groups, by the use of a discipline objective block and return for a landing that almost received them the sport in Tampa. They only left the Bucs sufficient time to march down for one more discipline objective try to win.
Like Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson, who has been filling in for the injured Jason Sanders, the Jets’ Nick People has made all his kicks up to now this season. Miami has a punt return for a landing this yr, however keep in mind, the Dolphins additionally surrendered a back-breaking kickoff return for a landing that adopted it towards New England. And twice in three video games, they’ve been penalized for roughing punters, conserving the protection on the sphere on an prolonged drive. Edge: Jets
Intangibles: Each groups are available 0-3. The Jets might be a extra unfastened group within the first yr below new coach Aaron Glenn, however the Dolphins don’t look like a gaggle deterred by the early droop in Yr 4 below coach Mike McDaniel. As a gaggle with intentions of salvaging one thing out of this season, they want one unhealthy at dwelling towards a division rival with further relaxation coming off taking part in on Thursday night time final week. Edge: Dolphins
PREDICTION: Dolphins 27, Jets 20
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