Divisional rival game. Throw out the team records, throw out the last meeting between these two teams and also, throw away all the momentum of the 5 game winning streak. All that is in the past. What remains in front of the Miami Dolphins is a team that knows them backwards and forwards, there are no surprises, no secrets. Unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, the one thing that the win streak afforded them was consistency. That went out the window when the entire Dolphins RB room tested positive for COVID. More unfortunately, it wasn’t just the RB room. We have potentially lost our star WR Jaylen Waddle as well as our star S Jevon Holland. Both of these players are huge part of what we do on offense and defense respectively. The pass game went through Waddle and the versatility and effectiveness of Jevon Holland doing everything from blitzing, to coverage, to playing near the LOS as a LB has been so valuable to the Dolphins. There is potentially good news as S Brandon Jones is questionable to return from ankle and elbow injuries Sunday. He’s logged 2 limited practices so it’s possible he can suit up. Jones isn’t Holland, but if I had to pick one of our safeties to replace Holland, it would be Jones.
Back to the consistency thing. We need Deiter in there at C and we need him to play well. We’ve had 3 different centers this season though I believe we’ve seen the last of C Austin Reiter who was waived this week. Greg Mancz who we picked up from the Ravens is IR/DFR which means he’s off the IR and designated for return. He’ll likely be the backup this week to Deiter who is wearing a precautionary walking boot. I’m really hoping Myles Gaskin can play. We know his limitations, as do the Jets, but he gives the offense some consistency which is much needed this week. If Waddle is OUT, and it sure looks that’ll be the case, DeVante Parker who is being rested this week and not practicing will hopefully be wearing his Superman costume under his uniform. The WR corps will be Parker, Wilson, Hollins, Ford and Williams. I would imagine TE Mike Gesicki would be in line for a heavy dose of targets this week although it’s difficult to say that with certainty since his targets have been anything but consistent.
Our defense will have to set the tone, and they have been doing that during the duration of this five game win streak. There won’t be the statue-like Joe Flacco at QB this week, it will be the much more mobile, much less experienced rookie QB Zach Wilson. To be fair, Flacco carved up our defense pretty well but ultimately it was his lack of escapability that did him in. Zach Wilson can move, but pressure will cause errors in judgement and poor throws. We need Emmanuel Ogbah, Jaelan Phillips, Andrew Van Ginkel to keep up their relentless pass rush. All of these guys have been killing it the last few games. If S Jevon Holland is OUT, hopefully Brandon Jones can step in and get the job done.
The Jets will likely get a boost for their run game as rookie RB Michael Carter will be coming off IR this week. Carter has played well this season and has been a definite bright spot in their offense. Bad news for the Jets is WR Elijah Moore is on IR and will not be able to play Sunday. He’s been the bright spot in their passing game which now features Denzel Mims who is desperately trying, along with the Jets to get going. The Jets will rely a lot on Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole and Braxton Berrios. Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson have been splitting RB duties but if Michael Carter is able to play, he’s the one to watch out for.
I don’t care what this game looks like on paper. Yes, the Jets are 32nd in points allowed with 397 (30.5 PPG). They are 29th in points scored with 226 (17.4 PPG). The Dolphins have made significant gains in both categories during the 5 game win streak. The Dolphins are now 25th in points scored with 254 (19.5 PPG) and really moved up defensively to 13th with 288 (22.2 PPG). When 2 teams know each other so well, anything can happen, especially after having the win streak snapped by the interruption of the BYE week. What could have been a week to improve our roster by getting healthy has turned out be a disaster with COVID infecting too many important players. It will take a lot for Brian Flores and his staff to stay focused and find a way to overcome the obstacles that have presented themselves this week. Hopefully Flores has this team’s attention and they understand the importance of winning E-V-E-R-Y * S-I-N-G-L-E * G-A-M-E. There are no week’s off, this team must win the rest of their games or the season is done. Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh would love nothing more to end this streak and have the Dolphins join them as another team from the AFC East OUT of the playoffs. This game could be a nail biter, so fasten your seatbelts!!
PS – Some good news most recently from the Stanger camp. Jon has improved since my last update. Things are looking up so all of you BLOG Cardiac Surgeons can rest easy and don’t worry yourselves about transplants and the like. Hopes and prayers to Jon that he continues to improve and get out of the hospital able to resume a normal life.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Who is the best 4th Qtr QB this season? Asking for a friend.
Jests have not been good against the run all year, pound it in.
“grabbing flores and shaking him” let Duke runwild!!
Lol
run the fucking ball
JETS suck suck suck
WILKINS TD!
He has always wanted to do that
Love it!!!
Wilkins for MVP!
Big man with ball
give it to DUKE for the hat trick
no way… GO Wilkins!!!
Kid in a candy store scores
Hot damn
CHRISTIAN!!!!
lol WILKINS is a reliable backup WR
We really need to practice our “Lambo Leaps”
Really? 6’4 315 made it over the wall. I was impressed
I think Wilkins may have killed a child…
Does anyone have more fun than Wilkins?
Love Wilkins. He just loves playing the game
He was interviewed once and said that he is always campaigning on Flores to let him catch a TD. Finally got his way. LOL
That’s going to be played a lot this cycle
the Wilkins caterpillar dance, that was awesome!
Someone has got to tell coach hey.. we know you love your players but… play the hot hand… gaskin and ahmed are scat backs… duke sees the hole quick and he is in there.
Come on D
One more stand
smelling blood
Ok, still have a game to play. Stay focused
Yeah
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE
Sealed!
Let’s go!
This is how you do it…
Seiler!!!!!!!!
Man what a steal he’s been!!!!!!!!!!11
DEFENSE!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !LOLOLOL
Guess they refocused. 😂
Now please let Duke run…. please…
Santa.. this is all I want.
Besides a hot sexy 50something… lol
Nah, that would make too much sense, let’s run Gaskin
Nice Ford
crowd was yelling DUUUKKEEE
lol hes already loved in Miami
Hated when he went to the Pets
again… WTF
That looked like a horrible spot
He may not have a cannon but Tua can throw a seed on the money within 20 yards
hes the most accurate in the NFL
Gaskins sucks, should have run the DUKE
You didn’t even know his name an hour ago
hes still better than Gaskins
Wtf
WTF
give gaskin the ball again and I am done
Right. Johnson has been pounding it, but let’s give it to Gaskin.
Bad time for that
unreal, WHAT the hell
Flores starting to make this game reek like the Jags game
Debacle
WoooHoo!
Okay let’s eat clock
Pardon ??
SMH
A Wilson sandwich!!!
Run the ball now
I like having Duper back to return kicks for us
If we can get a couple first downs we win.
id run the shit out of the Ball, bring Wilkins in at FB
Whew … complementary football
Oh shite
come on hunter long, stop holding
nice run by the DUKE!, damn penalties
Bad throw
They really had a chance to close this game and they keep making dumb mistakes
Shitty play calling too
Holy telegraphed batman!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do we run to Hunter Long’s side? He’s a rookie with limited playing time and came out as a pass catching TE
Fuck
wow, that SUCKS
bad pass by Tua, but I don’t understnad the reason for that play call
We throw those quick outs almost too often. Not surprising really
not to hunter long though
Flores… needs to slow down… play your hot hand.
Fucking horrible
There’s that inexplicable play by Tua.
Need a to score a TD on this drive, don’t give them a chance to win this
Its the Jets Brian..
Bad risk to reward play call
Breathe… in… breathe out… go slow.
run
DUKE will get his 100 yds today
run the ball with Duke
OK… even a blind squirrel can find a nut.
Johnsons in a zone
That’s why you need a rotation of running backs!
Stop shitting on Gaskin Dolphins fans
Gaskins finally got a nice run, but the OL is making holes, NICE
resting johnson for the TD punch in .. I pray.
yup
i like when Miami runs the ball
Mike not shitting on Gaskin.. but it is so obvious, who is the better back today!
I agree, but see my next comment
Aye.
Johnson might be running out of gas. He’s not used to this
Wooohooo
That’s better
Just win this fucking game already. LOL
No shit. Let’s go D
Let’s gooooooooo!
nice Job by Tua to get the pass off over a leaping defender
K Def , shut this game down
I am just rooting for the aging vet MIke… I like the passion he is playing with for an old boy like us…
Totally understand, this is his day
Johnson has 103 yards, nice job DUKE
One more tight defensive stand now guys
stuffed.
Punt bitchessss!
Duper lost his footing
Arizona going to go down to the Lions!!!!!!!
NOW RUN THE BALL
3 running plays please
Johnson somewhat reminiscent of Lamar Smith