EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Dolphins are as good as any team in the AFC.
Just check the 8-3 record.
The Jets have one of the worst offenses in recorded history.
Just check the record books.
Miami smashed the woeful, pathetic, embarrassing Jets 34-13 at MetLife Stadium on a Black Friday mismatch.
If you went shopping for a new refrigerator, table saw or robot vacuum on Friday afternoon, you didn’t miss much. Trust us.
The Dolphins are 8-3 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 22 years.
Miami is 12-3 in their last 15 meetings in the Jets “rivalry.”
The Dolphins are atop the AFC East and also atop the entire AFC, tied with Baltimore.
The major negative on this night was an Achilles injury to Miami’s rising young star Jaelan Phillips.
He left the field on a golf cart and it did not look good.
The Dolphins may need to rely on Bradley Chubb, Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah at edge rusher the rest of the way.
Ogbah had 1.5 of Miami’s six sacks on Friday.
Fellow rising star Jevon Holland was sidelined with a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
Tua Tagovailoa was not especially dynamic, against a solid Jets defense.
Jets quarterback Tim Boyle was embarrassingly bad against a strong Fins defense.
Miami out-gained New York, 395-159.
Miami had 22 first downs and New York had 12.
Jevon Holland talent and touchdown
It should not stun anybody to see Dolphins safety Jevon Holland return a punt 99 yards for a score, with no time remaining in the first half.
Holland has great ball skills. He’s in excellent condition.
And he is fearless.
From the moment Holland intercepted the pass, he surely was thinking, “I can score from here.”
Miami coach Mike McDaniel told Amazon at halftime: “He caught the ball and relied on his instincts. He knew what time it was.”
Christian Wilkins had a key block on the return, but he’s a spectacular athlete.
There’s a reason Holland is Pro Football Focus’ #1-ranked NFL safety.
Even without the game-breaking plays this season, it was easy to see they would come.
Tua Tagovailoa turnover concern?
If there is one thing Tua has really wanted to sharpen it’s turnovers.
And in the first half in New Jersey, Tua had two interceptions that somehow kept the Jets in a game they were being dominated.
With Miami leading the Jets 10-0, Tua tried to throw a quick out to Braxton Berrios.
But Jets defensive back Brandin Echols read the play and intercepted it for a 30-yard interception return.
At that point, the Jets had five possessions and five punts.
Then, with only two seconds left before the half, Tua was intercepted again. This time it was by D.J. Reed, on a pass intended for Tyreek Hill.
At that point, Tua had tied a career-high with 10 interceptions.
McDaniel told Amazon at halftime: “When you’re going against a really good defense that stuff is going to happen, Next play. Keep slinging it.”
It’s not completely out of whack compared to previous interception rates.
But he’ll want to study his mistakes.
Jaelan Phillips & Christian Wilkins forces
Phillips and Wilkins dominated the woeful Jets front.
In the first half alone, Phillips nearly sacked Tim Boyle in the end zone.
Phillips had a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup.
Wilkins added a sack. Then another in the third quarter.
Miami’s front has the potential to be utterly dominant.
Miami’s entire defense has a chance to be utterly dominant down the stretch.
Unfortunately, Phillips left the game on a golf cart in the fourth quarter.
Phillips appeared to injure a leg after taking a pass-rush step.
It appeared serious as Phillips was upset and the entire team came out onto the field to be with Phillips.
Return of “People’s Champ” Jeff Wilson
With De’Von Achane out with a knee injury (Miami will hope he returns at Washington), Miami leaned more on Jeff Wilson.
Yes, Raheem Mostert started, and scored two rushing touchdowns. But Wilson had been completely lost in the shuffle, even as he returns from a few injuries.
This week, Wilson referred to Wilson as “The People’s Champ.”
Wilson is tough and dogged and determined and sets a tone with his approach to the game.
Now that Salvon Ahmed is on injured reserve, Wilson should surely be a part of rotation, even when Achane returns.
On Sunday, we saw the Mostert-Wilson duo do damage as they did in 2022.
This & That
Jets defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson head-butted Dolphins guard Liam Eichenberg on the first offensive play of the game. It was a personal foul… Jaelan Phillips nearly had a safety of Tim Boyle in the first quarter… Tua Tagovailoa sustained a pretty deep-looking gash on his right arm in the first quarter. The worst part: it might require repair of his amazing arm sleeve tattoo… De’Von Achane (knee) was scratched… Robert Hunt (hamstring) was active but the Dolphins started Lester Cotton and Eichenberg at guard…. Tyreek Hill flipped a touchdown football to his wife, Keeta… Durham Smythe was unable to hold onto his block on a second-quarter sack… Tyreek Hill dropped a potential touchdown on fourth down in the first quarter. Hill told Amazon before the game that he was dealing with pain in one hand… Jason Sanders made a season-long 54-yard field goal for the Miami Dolphins. Sanders is now 2-for-4 from 50+ this season. Sanders has made from 54, 55 and 56 in past years… Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead left the game in the third quarter with a quad injury…. Austin Jackson was disqualified as part of a fourth-quarter kerfuffle with the Jets… Tyreek Hill topped 100 yards yet again…
Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on social media platforms @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing.
