MIAMI GARDENS — This was the third consecutive game the Miami Dolphins “should” have won at home, in addition to New England and Las Vegas.
The Dolphins lived up to the hype — barely — with a 32-26 overtime victory over the lowly New York Jets Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins now are off to Houston next week to face the Texans in what amounts to yet another version of the “Biggest Game of the Year” for Miami.
At least the Dolphins (6-7) have some momentum considering they’ve now won four of their past five games, including their first game in December.
Here are some more takeaways from Sunday:
Playoff hopes remain alive
The Dolphins still have a chance at a third consecutive playoff appearance if they win their final four games. There’s no assurance they’d make the playoffs if they win out, but they have a good chance.
Coach Mike McDaniel has successfully kept his team afloat despite a season that started with a police detainment of wide receiver Tyreek Hill before the opener against Jacksonville and then a concussion to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the second game (against Buffalo).
A loss Sunday would have been tough to overcome when it comes to postseason hopes. — Chris Perkins
Ailing OTs
Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who has rarely practiced this season due to various bumps, bruises and designated rest days, left the game twice in the first quarter due to a knee ailment. He didn’t play after leaving late in the first quarter.
Armstead’s absence meant the Dolphins were without both starting offensive tackles. Right tackle Austin Jackson (knee) went down four games ago.
In their places the Dolphins have veteran right tackle Kendall Lamm and rookie left tackle Patrick Paul.
Ramsey vs. Wilson
Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who shadowed Seattle’s DK Metcalf earlier this season, shadowed Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (seven receptions, 114 yards). Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t shy away from the matchup. Wilson had one reception for eight yards in the first quarter. He was targeted twice. Wilson ended the first half with three receptions for 55 yards including a 35-yarder in the second quarter that came on a beautifully-thrown pass with a nice catch.
Early in the third quarter Wilson caught a 42-yard pass when Ramsey slipped and fell. Overall, Wilson got the best of Ramsey.
December football
The Dolphins, who are 3-6 in December games under McDaniel are off to a 1-0 December start this season.
In 2022, the Dolphins were 0-4 in December, losing at San Francisco (33-17), at the Los Angeles Chargers (23-17), at Buffalo (32-29) and against Green Bay (26-20).
In 2023, the Dolphins went 3-2 in December winning at Washington (45-15), losing against Tennessee (28-27), defeating the New York Jets (30-0) and Dallas (22-20) before losing at Baltimore (56-19).
Hill, Waddle spring to life
Dolphins Wide receivers Hill and Jaylen Waddle had good games Sunday, one of the best combined efforts they’ve had in a long time.
OK, the standard has been lowered. And the Jets didn’t have cornerback Sauce Gardner (hamstring), their best defensive back.
But Hill’s 10-reception, 115-yard effort along with Waddle’s nine-reception, 99-yard effort was their best combined effort of the season, surpassing their 143-yard showing in the opener against Jacksonville.
Hey, a good combined effort from Hill and Waddle doesn’t happen as frequently in 2024 as it did in 2023 or 2022.
Achane shaken up, returns but struggles
Running back De’Von Achane, who didn’t have a productive game, left the game in the second quarter after absorbing a big hit by Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Achane, who had a concussion earlier this season but didn’t miss a game, went into the blue medical tent on the sideline but didn’t miss a snap.
Still, it wasn’t a good game for Achane (six reception, 45 yards) on the ground.
Achane, who will likely comprise the bulk of the Dolphins’ rushing attack the rest of the season, ended with 24 yards on 14 carries.
Achane had 53% of the Dolphins’ carries in the previous four games entering the Jets game.
Of course, the poor showing wasn’t Achane’s fault.
The Dolphins are without their starting two offensive tackles.
And, of course, the run game has struggled recently.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins, Hyde break down Miami needing OT to beat Jets, keep itself in playoff picture | VIDEO
Run game issues continue
The Dolphins rushed for 44 yards on 19 carries, extending the woes of a ground game that’s struggled to contribute to victories all season.
Achane ended up being the leading rusher Sunday.
The Dolphins have averaged 63.3 rushing yards per game over their past four games.
The impact of injuries to Armstead, Jackson and fullback Alec Ingold (calf) are certainly worth watching in the final four games of the regular season.
The Dolphins might need a run game for offensive balance against teams such as Houston and San Francisco, and for possible cold weather in Cleveland and New York.
Boo birds come out as Hard Rock frustration grows
There were a smattering of boos in the second and third quarters Sunday, the most vocal after a failed third-and-10 at the Jets’ 27-yard line.
The Dolphins were insulated from boos at Hard Rock Stadium the previous two seasons but things have become more difficult this season. Actually, things got more difficult since that ugly 31-12 loss to Tennessee on Sept. 30.
The Dolphins, including that game, are 3-2 in their past five home games.
Aaron Rodgers is good, not great
Rodgers had good success throwing to wide receiver Wilson and decent success throwing to others. Rodgers (27 of 39, 339 yards, one touchdown, 104.5 passer rating) wasn’t great overall but he was decent.
Rodgers wasn’t having a great season entering Sunday’s game (19 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 87.5 passer rating).
Rodgers didn’t have running back Breece Hall (knee), which limited the Jets’ options.
All things considered, it was a fairly non-descript game for Rodgers, a certain first ballot Hall of Famer.
Tua is good, but not great
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (33 of 47, 331 yards, two touchdowns, 104.1 passer rating) didn’t have a great game, but he had a decent performance, including throwing the game-winner to tight end Jonnu Smith in overtime.
Neither quarterback, Tagovailoa nor Rodgers, did anything special on Sunday.
Tagovailoa picked his spots to throw deep, and there weren’t many, but he was in control on the short and intermediate passes that have become his calling card this season.
Tagovailoa continues playing the best football of his career even though the Dolphins record since his return from a concussion 4-3 doesn’t reflect it.
Or, perhaps Tagovailoa’s best isn’t enough to lift the Dolphins’ struggling offense.
What were the Jets thinking on that third-and-21 play with a minute left?
With 1:02 left, the Jets faced a third-and-21 from the Dolphins’ 38, with the score tied and Miami without any timeouts. You run the ball. Period. If you pass it, it has to be a dump to a back in the field of play. Get 3 or 4 yards, melt the clock to 15 seconds, and kick the ball. Instead, they threw to the sideline, where it was caught by Davante Adams, going out of bounds and stopping the clock with 52 seconds left. Inexcusably dumb by the Jets, and a massive gift to Miami. — Steve Svekis
Tua has gotten to love playing the Jets in Miami Gardens
When the Jets made a field goal with 5:19 left in the first quarter, it snapped a 43-0 streak for the Dolphins over a three-game span for Miami at home against New York with Tua Tagovailoa starting. The past two games against the Jets at Hard Rock Stadium, Tua Tagovailoa is 54 for 71 for 555 yards, three touchdown passes and no turnovers (112.1 passer rating), with 62 points scored.
Dolphins are reaching an untenable position in short-yardage situations
As the Dolphins, who have the NFL’s worst conversion rate on runs on third- and fourth-and-1 since 2021, seemingly again broke out in hives on third-and-1, passing once and getting stuffed for minus-1 yard in the first half against the Jets, it is interesting to look at the difference in production of some standout quarterbacks with their legs. The past two seasons, here are quarterback non-scramble runs for first downs on 3rd- and 4th-and-1:
*Jalen Hurts: 42 runs, 4 TDs, 38 first downs;
*Josh Allen: 29 runs, 2 TDs, 27 first downs;
*Lamar Jackson: Nine runs, 2 TDs, 7 first downs;
*Justin Herbert: Six runs, 2 TDs, 4 first downs;
*Tua: Zero runs.
Aaron Rodgers reached a plateau he hadn’t gotten to in almost three years
Rodgers, for the first time in 35 games threw for at least 300 yards, going for 339. The last time he had hit 300 had been on Dec. 12, 2021, when he threw for 341 yards against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
Does Chop Robinson have a chance at defensive rookie of the year?
The rookie from Penn State drew a holding call on Morgan Moses, or he likely would have had a first-quarter strip sack, preventing the Jets’ field goal. Later, he registered a half-sack of Rodgers with Zach Sieler. All four of his sacks this season have come in the past half-dozen games. He has simply exploded as a pass-rush threat who offensive coordinators must account for.
Dan Marino may be able to commiserate with Joe Burrow in 2024
This season, the Cincinnati Bengals have lost an unprecedented three home games where they scored at least 33 points. In the 42 years the Dolphins have played without Marino on their roster (1966-82, 2000-24), they have had one home game where they scored at least 33 points and lost (2009 vs. the Saints). In the 17 years WITH Marino, Miami had six such home losses.
Are the Super Bowl champs leaking oil in pass protection?
A wild stat has popped up regarding Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Heading into this season, Mahomes had been sacked at least four times only six times in the regular season, and never more than once in any season. This year, though? In the past five GAMES, Mahomes has been dragged down while attempting to pass at least four times in four of them.
Hall of Famer-laden games, once a staple at the Orange Bowl, have dried up
A friend asked me earlier this week, the Jets-Dolphins game will feature four players with a decent to great chance to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (Aaron Rodgers, Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey) along with long shots (at this point) Davante Adams and Terron Armstead. He asked, ‘What game down here has featured the most future entrants into Canton?” It was a good question as, long gone are the days when a powerhouse team would be regularly be populated by at least a half-dozen Hall of Famers.
For instance, in a playoff game at the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, 1973, the Oakland Raiders suited up nine while the Dolphins had six. No game in South Florida has come close to that tally of 15. What makes that matchup’s number truly amazing is that only two of those players were on defense: The Dolphins’ Nick Buoniconti and the Raiders’ Willie Brown. There were as many special-teamers who would be headed to the Hall in Raiders kicker (and quarterback earlier in his 27-year career) George Blanda and punter Ray Guy. In the Miami Gardens era (1987 through today), there was a game in 1996 against Dallas where there were eight future honorees (Marino, Zach Thomas and six Cowboys).
Dolphins will be at a rest disadvantage the rest of the way
Miami will play the Texans coming off a bye, meaning Houston will have a full seven-day rest advantage. Then, for the games against the 49ers and then Browns, each of those teams will have a three-day rest advantage, playing Thursday night games in the week previous in each case. Even the finale against the Jets in New Jersey on Jan. 5 will be a case (as of now) of the Dolphins having come off a night game on the previous Sunday while New York will play at 1 p.m.
On deck: Houston Texans, NRG Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Texans have taken a step back this season, and the focus has fallen primarily onto their second-year quarterback, C.J. Stroud. Stroud has only five touchdown passes in his past seven games while spitting up seven turnovers (five interceptions and two lost fumbles).
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