Five things the Miami Dolphins (6-7) need to do to get their sixth straight win, and beat the New York Jets (3-10) at home in Week 15:
Provide Tua Tagovailoa adequate protection
Everything offensively begins and ends with Tagovailoa’s protection, and lately Miami’s offensive line has done a better job of creating a cleaner pocket. During Miami’s five-game winning streak, the Dolphins have allowed 12 sacks. For some teams that might be a problem, but for the Dolphins, 2.5 sacks allowed a game is a drastic improvement.
Giving Tagovailoa time to operate in the pocket could open up Miami’s passing game by giving co-offensive coordinator George Godsey the flexibility to incorporate more five-step drop plays into the game plan. The Dolphins need to ensure that Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and pass rusher Shaq Lawson are accounted for. The last time Miami played the Jets, the Dolphins didn’t allow a sack.
Limit Jets to 17 points
The Dolphins defense has gotten back to its aggressive and stingy ways of last year, and it has benefited the team tremendously. Miami has only allowed four touchdowns in the past five games, and the Dolphins’ opponents during the winning streak are averaging 11 points per game. There is a potential for some slippage if rookie safety Jevon Holland doesn’t play, and remains sidelined while on the COVID-19 list. Veteran Eric Rowe has the most knowledge of Miami’s scheme, and is the logical replacement for Holland.
With tailback Michael Carter and receiver Eljiah Moore sidelined, if not slowed by their injuries, the Jets don’t have many playmakers that should give the Dolphins defense trouble. Carter is expected to return from his ankle injury this week, while Moore remains on injured reserve.
Confuse Jets QB Zach Wilson
Rookie quarterbacks typically struggle with the aggressive approach and multiplicity Miami’s defense features, and it often leads to a turnover-heavy game. Wilson, who the Jets selected second overall in the 2021 NFL draft, is struggling (completing 56 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,741 yards with s6 touchdowns and 11 interceptions) and has a 65.3 passer rating.
The Dolphins need to keep showing Wilson things he isn’t expecting, and hope it leads to the rookie making a dozen or so mistakes. Wilson has been sacked 28 times in 519 offensive snaps. He’s sacked once every 10.2 attempts.
Rush for 100 yards
Even without the the team’s top four tailbacks, who are either doubtful for Sundays’ game because they are on the COVID-19 reserve list or because of injuries like the knee strain Patrick Laird suffered that got him placed on injured reserve, the Dolphins need to remain committed to running the football.
During Miami’s five-game winning streak it has averaged 28 attempts per game, despite the team’s dismal 3.3 yards per carry average, because it provides the balance that fuels its run-pass-option offense. Duke Johnson will likely take the reigns of Miami’s rushing attack, and if his career average of 4.2 yards per carry holds up on Sunday we might be looking at a new starter in the Dolphins backfield for the final month of the season.
Contain Jets’ rushing attack
The Jets have struggled to establish a running game without Carter, the rookie who was having an impressive season before suffering an ankle injury in Miami’s win over the Jets last month. Tevin Coleman and La’Mical Perine have held it down during Carter’s absence, but Coleman might be sidelined by a concussion. Carter is expected to play this week, and hopefully Miami will defend him better this time than they did in the earlier contest considering he gained 63 yards on nine carries before leaving the game with that injury early in the third quarter.
The Dolphins head into Sunday’s game ranked eight against the run, allowing 103.8 yards per attempt. Most of the improvement was made when nose tackle Raekwon Davis returned from his knee injury. A stout performance against the Jets could push the Dolphins into top five in the league.