Miami Dolphins gameday: What’s different from week three

The Miami Dolphins will square off today in Miami against division rival New York. The Jets took the first meeting in week three when the two clubs met in New York.

While some things are similar many things are different since the previous meeting that took place a short four weeks ago. Both teams enter this weekends game with three wins. The Jets have three losses which put them in last place in the AFC East.

While the Jets may be in last based on that one extra loss, the Jets have not been playing like a team that many believed were destined to win the first overall pick in next years draft. In fact, one really bad call against the Patriots and the Jets could be the top in the East. Yes, sometimes one play can make a difference.

So why are the Jets playing at this level? For starters, they have no expectations and because of that they can simply play loose without the stress. Another reason is that many overlooked the coaching of Todd Bowles who is doing well this season. Still others may point to the fact that teams are overlooking the Jets but they soon find out that while the Jets may not be for real this season, they are not rolling over for anyone.

On the other side of the field is the Miami Dolphins who many expected to show far better than they have. Miami has three wins and two losses but those two losses were a combined 40-6 in a two week span that saw the team drop to the Jets and then the Saints. The problem is that in the wins they offense was anemic.

Against Tennessee, the Dolphins barely walked out with a win and needed a defensive touchdown to pull it off. Against the Falcons Miami’s offense didn’t bother to show up until the second half when they scored 20 unanswered points. So is that second half showing the Dolphins offense we can expect moving forward or simply an anomaly?

This season the Dolphins have relied on the play of their defense and that too has changed since week three. Miami’s defense has started playing at a different level than how they started. The unit is a top 10 defense at the moment and last week held the Falcons to zero points in the second half. They average 17 points per game and have not given up more than 20 points in a game this season.

Miami is getting a lot of quality play from two key off-season additions. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons has been playing at a very high level and defensive end William Hayes is making a strong case for an early extension. Add to that the improving play of rookie Charles Harris and the Dolphins defense is looking strong.

This however is Jets week and that means that both teams will bring as close to their “A” games as they can. Following last weeks win in Atlanta, Jay Ajayi said that the team “had something for the Jets”. The Jets of course are hoping to repeat week three and sweep the Dolphins.

If the Dolphins win today and the Patriots lose tonight, Miami would move into a tie for first place in the AFC East. The only thing they control is today’s game. Miami simply can not afford to overlook or underestimate this Jets team. They may have already done it once. That too needs to be different today.