Jets at Miami Dolphins recap

Slip sliding away is a Paul Simon song and fits this game for the field condition playing the day after a UM game and for the potential standings after having already lost to the Jets.

With all the slippage from a sloppy playing field one can only hope for all players involved in this match up to remain healthily after it is done.

Jets got the ball first and the Miami Dolphins defense looked real shaky allowing runs which they had been good against up till now for the most part. And it got worse when the Jets tried their first deep pass that went for a TD. The drive took all of two minutes and five seconds. This match up has a long and rather odd history.

And just like that the first drive the Dolphins had the same results Cutler went 3 -3 65 yards scoring on a play to Landry in the end zone, the play lasted only two minutes and eleven seconds. As noted some odd things happen for this match up but it shaped up early to be a good game providing the other defensive and special teams units also show up.

This is exactly what happened the next drive both teams defenses shut down the others offenses although Kenyan Drake had a penalty on a punt but made up for it making a tackle quickly off the would be return by the Jets. Drake is sort of in the doghouse for offensive snaps and it is pending on his special teams play.

A lot of people myself included feel that having Drake more involved in the offense would be beneficial for the added talent of speed he would provide. Even though this was reported to happen by now, coach Gase feels he needs to see Drake prove himself more on special teams before that happens.

It seems as though Gase is content having Jay Ajayi has the featured back with Damien Williams sneaking in for the occasional pass, picking up on random third downs. But having a change of pace back come in would also most likely elevate this offense making it more complete.

Landry played an excellent game, not only clutch but with extra effort.

One slow motion replay on this clips shows how well Stills used his hands.

Down by 2 TD’s in the 4th it looked daunting.

Even early in the game, don’t give up hope on this Stills catch

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/922155502540173312

The defense needs to latch things down on defending the run off of screens.

As advertised

Cam Wake: got a sack making it third and long keeping the Jets further back from midfield however on the next play the defense forgot how to stop the run again allowing the first down off a screen play. And even worse allowed a TD. He ended up with 2.5 sacks.

Kenny Stills: his number was called almost all game and he came through with flying colors. The TD catch near the goal line showed control, great hands and the ability to get open on the play. Even on some plays where he didn’t make the catch PI was called at times.

Jarvis Landry: is the rock on offense. When most things are going badly on this unit he can still be counted on as shown during this game making key clutch plays.

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Still missing in action

Jordan Phillips: On the above mentioned screen play he went for the ball and missed his complementary one tackle for his “good game” then made matters worse committing a foul on the next play which placed him on the bench where he belongs.

Defense: Just when you think the unit has something down they give it up. The run defense had been really good except the start of last game and that carried over into this one on-screen plays. Also the secondary is lacking on passing plays soon after the Jets go from having their way running the ball off screens into attempting their first passes on drives early on this game.

Jay Cutler‘s decision-making: backed up near their own goal line on a safety blitz he still tried to throw over the rusher who tipped the ball with the Jets intercepting it and then scoring a few plays later. The score was tied at fourteen near the two-minute warning of the first half.

Just last game Cutler got good grades from me for decision making by throwing away a ball under similar circumstances and keeping the distance needed for the tying FG.

Pleasant surprises

Throwing deep: (play calling) Even though only one good result happened early by throwing deep to Kenny Stills after a review on the play. And other plays that didn’t work out like Steen not keeping his opponent at bay among other likewise occurrences. The Miami Dolphins still stuck with Stills going deep and it payed off with a pass interference soon afterwards.

The TE’s: Julius Thomas had an impressive one-handed grab and Anthony Fasano even got into the end zone for a TD turning back the clocks to when he last played on the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had been running two TE and even three TE sets at times to help with blocking coming into this game. Fasano also caught one in the middle after the two-minute warning to move closer to FG range with the game tied 28 each.

Late TD: down by two TD Matt Moore connects with Kenny Stills 28 yards to take it to being down by just one TD 11:21 left to play in the fourth quarter making it 28-21. Let’s add the play of Moore as well, he had little time to warm up and was on fire getting two TD’s late to tie the game.

Bobby McCain: with his game changing interception, it came with 0:39 left to play with the game tied giving the Miami Dolphins the opportunity to win this game. Which they did on a 39-yard field goal made on the slippery field by Cody Parkey.

Phi-injury report: Jay Cutler had to exit the game in the third quarter from a hit to his chest/ribs.
Mike Pouncey had to leave the game in the first half from undisclosed injury but did return in the second.
Laremy Tunsil also had to leave with a knee injury around the eight minute mark in the third.
Andre Branch got knocked out of the game due to a groin injury.

Phin fact: Last Jets loss up 14 in the 4th was back in 1995.

One for the ages might get to be a common saying every game the way things are going with these games lately but they are wins and highly enjoyable.