MIAMI GARDENS – A month ago, this activity involving AFC East rivals could possibly have experienced diverse implications.
Both the New York Jets (7-9) and Miami Dolphins (8-8) were being earlier mentioned .500 getting into December and on monitor for their to start with playoff appearances in some time. Miami was difficult Buffalo for the division’s major spot. New York was off to its finest get started in several years.
Both equally groups have dropped their last five games, nonetheless, and now only the Dolphins’ postseason hopes keep on being alive. The Jets ended up eliminated with previous week’s loss to Seattle.
Miami can make the playoffs with a acquire more than the Jets in Sunday’s normal-time finale, coupled with a New England decline to Buffalo.
“You’ve got to gain, that is all it comes down to,” Dolphins basic safety Jevon Holland explained. “Whatever you obtained to do, even so you obtained to put together. You’ve got bought to earn.”
The Dolphins have looked like two various teams this season. The to start with highlighted one of the NFL’s most unstoppable offenses, with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle powering Miami to an 8-3 record.
That offense has not sustained its generation late in the season, and now Miami’s personal injury-plagued quarterback room adds a different roadblock to its postseason likelihood.
Tagovailoa’s return from a concussion isn’t going to feel imminent, and Teddy Bridgewater dislocated the pinky finger on his throwing hand in past week’s loss to New England.
Rookie Skylar Thompson figures to be the male the Jets’ fourth-ranked defense will face.
“A formula for thriving offensive engage in is a quarterback that is keen to do regardless of what it takes and a bunch of teammates that thoroughly think in what he has to give,” Miami mentor Mike McDaniel stated. “And so I see both.”
The Jets can only enjoy spoiler on Sunday, but coach Robert Saleh is selecting to see it as “yet another championship sport.”
“I know it really is technically not,” Saleh mentioned, “but you have to maintain your state of mind that any time you have a possibility to phase on the field, you’ve acquired to move on the gas and do the complete greatest you can.”
Immediately after early wins over Miami, Inexperienced Bay and Buffalo, the Jets have fallen to Minnesota, Jacksonville, Detroit, the Bills and Seattle in recent weeks.
Jets players talked about that even if they’re not taking part in for the playoffs, they’re taking part in for some thing.
“You’ve got bought to go back again to the reason you occur to function,” claimed linebacker C.J. Mosley, “and that is to gain, play for you brothers and symbolize by yourself.”
LEAN ON ME
Dolphins working back again Raheem Mostert isn’t a person to notify McDaniel how to recreation approach, but with Thompson at quarterback for a must-get video game, Mostert would be happy to get loads of carries to consider some stress off the rookie.
“It really is generally suitable when you can go in there and speak to Mikey (McDaniel) about the run match and lean on me and Jeff (RB Jeff Wilson),” Mostert claimed. “But I would say that’s sort of egocentric to start off so early and say all those matters. We genuinely have to rally guiding Skylar and whoever is at quarterback. … Arrive activity time, and we require to operate the ball extra, you know I am likely to go out there and be a private advocate of managing the ball much more.”
Mostert rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries versus the Jets in Week 5.
Electric power OUTAGE
The Jets were being 7-4 in advance of a five-sport skid finished their postseason hopes.
“We just did not do what we needed to be carried out,” quarterback Mike White said. “I imply, we can go game by sport and all that superior things but at the conclude of the working day, it really is just we didn’t get the career performed.”
The biggest perpetrator for the duration of the skid has been the offense, which has scored just four touchdowns throughout that stretch. New York hasn’t scored a TD in its previous eight quarters.
“It’s stunning,” White said. “It is not what you want to do as an offense.”
CATCHING ON
Regardless of the Jets’ challenges on offense and uncertainty at quarterback, broad receiver Garrett Wilson has had a single of the finest rookie seasons in franchise record.
Wilson, the 10th general decide last April, has set the team rookie marks with 74 receptions for 1,014 yards. All those totals also guide NFL rookies this season.
“It can be about winning,” mentioned Wilson, who has four TD catches. “I want to get. Individual accolades will be there regardless, but if we get, it is likely to appear with it.”
NO Crack
Saleh will not foresee generating adjustments to the lineups on offense or defense Sunday, barring damage. That means the Jets will not use the last match of the season to test to get prolonged looks at young players over veterans.
“Men have been taking part in and a great deal of guys have gained the suitable to finish the time robust and complete the time that they’ve commenced,” Saleh explained. “In this building, I really feel like we have constantly stood firm on supplying the individuals who should have the prospect to perform that chance to participate in, and if fellas like, for example C.J. Mosley, if he wishes to end the season solid, he is likely to get that possibility. He is earned it and he’s heading to get it.”
