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Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 34-13 victory over the New York Jets

chris perkins, steve svekis, south florida sun-sentinel
·10 min read
Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 34-13 victory over the New York Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game was great for the Dolphins and disastrous for the New York Jets as the Miami defeated the Jets, 34-13, in front of a surprisingly pro-Dolphins crowd at MetLife Stadium.

At one point early in the fourth quarter the Jets had 50 yards of offense and 70 yards in penalties.

The game got chippy early in the fourth quarter with a scrap that resulted in two ejections, Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson and linebacker C.J. Mosley, symbolic of the action we saw after things got exciting late in the second quarter.

At that point quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had thrown two interceptions, one resulting in a pick-6, but safety Jevon Holland had the play of the game with a 99-yard interception return on a Hail Mary from Jets quarterback Tim Boyle.

The bad news for the Dolphins is the injuries seem to be adding up again.

Here are some more takeaways from Friday’s game:

Injuries adding up again

Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips sustained an Achilles injury and Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead left the game with a quadriceps injury. Neither situation is good, but Phillips appears to be more serious as his injury could likely season ending. — Chris Perkins

Dolphins run game gets the job done

The Dolphins had their second consecutive grind-it-out run game and it turned out pretty good as Miami ended with 169 yards on 36 carries. Miami had 99 yards rushing on 28 carries in last Sunday’s 20-13 victory over Las Vegas.

Rookie running back De’Von Achane (knee) was inactive, leaving rushing duties to veterans Raheem Mostert (20 carries, 94 yards, two touchdowns) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (11 carries, 56 yards).

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On one hand you could argue the Dolphins’ run game struggles when it doesn’t have big plays from any of its speedy guys.

On the other hand, you could argue the Dolphins’ run game is learning to play big-boy football instead of finesse football.

We’ll see how this thing turns out but the run game would benefit greatly from Achane. Oh, and give credit once again to coach Mike McDaniel. He called 36 run plays.

Tua’s interceptions

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions in the second quarter, including his second pick-6 of the season (he had one against the New York Giants), raising his season total to 10 in 11 games. Last year he had eight in 13 games. Those interceptions can be a killer against quality opponents.

Tua wins in cold weather

Tagovailoa began play Friday with an 0-4 record when the temperature at kickoff is 50 degrees or below.

Temperature at kickoff on Friday was 47 degrees.

Dolphins guard play passes the test

Guards Lester Cotton (left) and Liam Eichenberg (right) started with starting right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring), who has missed two games, reduced to a reserve role. Cotton and Eichenberg did nice work against the Jets interior defensive line.

Jets defensive linemen Quinnen Williams (six tackles) and Quinton Jefferson (one tackle) had little impact.

Miami’s injury-riddled offensive line is doing the job under some trying conditions this season.

At one point Friday the Dolphins had four reserve offensive linemen on the field among left tackle Kendall Lamm, Cotton, Eichenberg and right tackle Kion Smith.

CBs vs. WRs … Dolphins win with ease

Dolphins cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard did a nice job against Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, one of the most talented youngsters in the game. Wilson ended with five receptions for 29 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Tom Boyle wisely seemed to avoid throwing at Ramsey or Howard.

On the other side of the ball, Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill (nine receptions, 102 yard, one touchdown) and Jaylen Waddle (eight receptions, 114 yards) had their way with Jets cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. Yes, cornerback Brandin Echols had a pick-6 against Tagovailoa, and Reed had an interception.

Waddle had a 32-yard gain on Gardner in the third quarter. Wilson had a 1-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter with slot cornerback Kader Kohou being the closest defender.

But the Dolphins easily won this matchup on both sides of the ball.

Sanders hits from 54 yards

Kicker Jason Sanders, who has been shaky from 50 yards or more, made a 54-yard field goal in the third quarter to put the Dolphins ahead, 20-6. It was the second consecutive game Sanders hit from more than 50 yards as he hit a 51-yarder against Las Vegas last week.

Sanders, who entered Friday’s game as the most accurate kicker in franchise history (82.3%, 135 of 164), is now 2 of 4 from 50 or more yards this season, a comfort for Miami with the playoffs around the corner.

Wilkins sacks continue to add up

Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins had two sacks, raising his season total to a career-best 6.5, eclipsing his previous best of 4.5 sacks in 2021. Wilkins is in the final year of his contract and sacks are the main reason it was assumed he wouldn’t get in the $20 million per season range of other top interior defensive linemen. But Wilkins, who led NFL defensive linemen in tackles last season with 98 and is among this year’s league leaders in snaps played, is doing his best to negate the sacks argument.

Dolphins have third-down success

Miami, which began play Friday ranked 16th on third downs at 38.3% (42 of 107) and 30th on fourth downs at 35.7% (4 of 15), has been accused of being a poor short-yardage team. But that wasn’t the case Friday. The Dolphins were 11 of 16 on third downs and 0-1 on fourth down.

The Dolphins’ first possession saw Miami convert a third-and 2-and a third-and-8. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill dropped a well-thrown pass from Tagovailoa on fourth-and-2 from the Jets’ 4-yard line with cornerback Sauce Gardner defending. On Miami’s second possession Tagovailoa threw a short third down and one incomplete pass that was intended for tight end Durham Smythe.

On the Dolphins’ third possession they converted two third-and-5s, which don’t qualify as short yardage. On and on it went with good success Friday.

It was a big change from the previous week. Miami was 3 of 11 on third downs and 0 for 1 on fourth downs in the victory over Las Vegas.

Tyreek 2K

Hill ended with nine receptions for 102 yards, taking his season total to 1,324 yards, an average of 120.4 yards per game. If Hill continues at that pace he’d end with a NFL-record 2,046 yards receiving. No one has ever had 2,000 yards receiving.

Top QBs getting handled in New Jersey by the Jets has been commonplace in 2023

Tua Tagovailoa saw his statistics take a beating at MetLife Stadium against the Jets defense. Tagovailoa completed 21-of-30 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions (including a pick-six), with a 77.5 passer rating. The silver lining? It is in line with the poor outings Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert have had this season in East Rutherford, N.J., against Gang Green. That Pro Bowl-laden quartet had been limited to 91 for 146, 855 yards, 3 TD, 8 INT, 62.4 passer rating, plus four fumbles in 2023. In their 37 other games this season, the foursome have been 889 for 1,298, 9,745 yards, 72 touchdown passes, 27 interceptions, a 100.3 passer rating and 11 fumbles. — Steve Svekis

Can a Dolphins team this successful after 11 games finally have a big finish?

In the 44 seasons where the NFL has had a regular season of at least 16 games, the Dolphins now have started 8-3 or better through 11 games 10 times. In the nine previous occasions (1978, 1984, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2022), Miami’s record from Game 12 onward has been 20-26.

16/17-game seasons, finishes for Dolphins who had an 11-game start of at least 8-3 — 2022: 1-5; 2001: 3-2; 2000: 3-2; 1999: 1-4; 1993: 0-5; 1992: 3-2; 1990: 3-2; 1984: 3-2; 1978: 3-2.

Miami’s defense has been holding teams down unlike any time recently

After stifling the Jets offense to a mere 159 yards, if the Dolphins limit the Commanders to under 300 total yards next Sunday, it will mark the first time since 2010 that the Dolphins have held a team beneath that total for five consecutive games. Thirteen years ago, the Dolphins’ opponents’ offenses failed to break the three-century yardage mark for seven straight contests.

Could Armstead’s unbelievable streak be extended next week?

Miami star left tackle Terron Armstead, if he doesn’t make the start against the Commanders next Sunday, Dec. 3, will miss his team’s 12th game of the season for the eighth consecutive year. The last time he played in a team’s 12th game, was on Dec. 6, 2015, while with the Saints. He exited Friday’s game with a reported quadriceps issue.

Tagovailoa still looking for improvement when he is the only show in town

In the 13 games Tagovailoa has played in when the Dolphins have been in the NFL’s only game being played at the time, his passer rating has been a milquetoast 87.2.

Tagovailoa’s national games, in order of passer rating, from best to worst: 104.0, At Bills, 2022, 32-29 loss; 104.0, Ravens, 2021, 22-10 win; 99.4, At Raiders, 2020, 26-25 win; 95.1, Jaguars (London), 2021, 23-20 loss; 92.7, Steelers, 2022, 16-10 win; 92.2, At Patriots, 24-17 win; 91.5, At Saints, 20-3 win; 87.5, At Eagles, 2023, 31-17 loss; 87.0, Chiefs (Germany), 21-14 loss; 80.8, Packers, 26-20 loss; 77.5, At Jets, 2023, 27-6 win; 65.3, At Chargers, 2023, 23-17 loss; 52.7, at Bengals, 2022, 27-15 loss.

The total numbers are 235-366 for 2,740 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, plus seven fumbles.

Is Mike McDaniel available to roulette-wheel duty?

The Mike McDaniel Dolphins won yet another pregame coin toss and have won 19 of their 22 (86.4%) pregame coin tosses in games played before December. The only opponent win in those games have been the Steelers last year and the Chargers and Broncos this season. Last year after Nov. 30, however, Miami lost six of its seven tosses.

On deck: At Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., Sunday

The Dolphins will get their hacks in on Baker Mayfield doppelganger Sam Howell and the free-falling Commanders. On Friday, Washington fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, but it should have little impact on a defense that has allowed a by-far league-worst 29.2 points a game. A unit that lost its best pass rushers in Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. It presents an opportunity for the Dolphins offense, which has scored 102 points in the past five games (20.4 per game) to get back onto the beam.