The Miami Dolphins host the New York Jets this afternoon, hoping to send a five-game losing streak, avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Jets, and potentially position themselves for a playoff berth. The Jets, who were eliminated from the playoffs last week, are looking to play spoilers while ending their own five-game losing streak. An AFC East showdown to end the season is always fun, and there are plenty of stakes on the line today.
Both teams come into this game with their third-string quarterbacks starting. For the Dolphins, Skylar Thompson, a rookie seventh-round pick, is starting for the second time this year, while the Jets’ Joe Flacco returns to the lineup after starting the first three games of the year. How will this all shake out? We will keep up with all of the action, and provide our immediate reactions, right here throughout the game.
Jets 0 - 0 Dolphins
Miami started with the ball, turning to running back Raheem Mostert on the first two plays. Mostert picked up six yards and two yards on the runs before quarterback Skylar Thompson found wide receiver Tyreek Hill for eight yards and a first down. Mostert picked up seven yards on the next play, then converted for the first down with a three-yard run, getting the ball out to midfield. After a pass attempt was batted down at the line of scrimmage, Thompson threw to tight end Mike Gesicki in the flat, picking up three yards. On 3rd-and-7, a false start on the Dolphins backed Miami into a 3rd-and-13, with Thompson throwing a bubble screen to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who picked up seven yards. Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley was injured making the tackle on Waddle. On the 4th-and-5 play from the Jets’ 44-yard line, the Dolphins turned the ball over on downs as Thompson was flushed from the pocket and had to throw away the pass just before he was pushed out of bounds.
The Dolphins started with the running game, and they need to keep that going. Feed Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Jr., all day and make the Jets prove they can stop it. With Thompson at quarterback, Miami cannot afford long-yardage situations, hoping a seventh-round rookie making his second start of the year is going to make magic to save the offense. They also cannot afford the penalties. Not the start to the game the Dolphins wanted, but it was not bad either. Now the defense has to step up with the Jets starting near midfield.
New York started with a two-yard run from running back Michael Carter. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw incomplete on second down, but converted the 3rd-and-8 play on a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Elijah Moore. At the Miami 39-yard line, the Jets backed up to the 43 with a four-yard loss on a run from running back Ty Johnson as defensive lineman Zach Sieler and safety Eric Rowe met Johnson in the backfield. Flacco felt the pressure from linebacker Jaelan Phillips on the next two plays, leading to a one-yard catch from Johnson and an incomplete pass and a Jets punt.
The defense did exactly what they needed to do. Giving the Jets the ball at midfield was a scary proposition, but the defense stepped up. If Phillips, Sieler, and Rowe are going to be this active, the Dolphins should have a good defensive day. The punt was great, however, starting Miami at the two-yard line.