About a month ago at 1-4, many people considered the Miami Dolphins one of the worse teams in the NFL. Since then, the team has won its last their last three games at home as they defeated the New York Jets 27-23 on Sunday. Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi didn’t gain 200 rushing yards for the third consecutive game, but he did rush for 111 yards on 24 carries.
Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi didn’t gain 200 rushing yards for the third consecutive game, but he did rush for 111 yards on 24 carries.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a quiet day as he finished 17 of 28 for 149 yards with a touchdown pass.
Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled as he also finished 17 of 28, but he threw two costly interceptions that could have gotten the team points.
Matt Forte rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries. Brandon Marshall caught six receptions for 45 yards.
On the opening drive of the game, New York received the ball first and the Jets went 70 yards on 13 plays as they scored on a 23-yard field goal by Nick Folk.
Miami then answered as the Dolphins 75-yard drive that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown run by Ajayi.
Later, in the first quarter, the Jets then regained the lead as Matt Forte ran for a 31-yard touchdown to make the game 10-7 at the time.
In the second quarter, the Dolphins made it 14-10 as Tannehill threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end, Dominque Jones. The drive went 11 plays for 75 yards.
New York would cut the lead to 14-13 later in the second quarter. A Forte 32-yard run to set up a 21-yard field goal by Folk that made it a one-point game. Miami would lead 14-13 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Dolphins would receive the ball after halftime, but the team would go end up punting after six plays.
With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, Fitzpatrick threw an interception to Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. That would be Fitzpatrick’s 12th interception of the season, which leads the NFL.
Miami would settle for a Franks field goal after taking over on offense on at the Jets 14-yard line. That would make it 20-13 with 3:26 left in the third quarter.
With 55 seconds left in the third quarter, Fitzpatrick came out of the game after a roughing the passer penalty against Ndamukong Suh, which gave the Jets a first down at the 32-yard-line of the Dolphins.
Petty then replaced Fitzpatrick on the drive as he led the Jets to a 28-yard field goal that made the score 20-16 with 12:50 left in the game.
Later, in the fourth quarter after another Fitzpatrick interception in the red zone, the Dolphins went three and out. Dolphins punter Matt Darr fumbled the snap and the Jets took over on the 18-yard-line.
In two plays, the Jets took the lead on a Jalin Marshall 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-20.
Then on the next kickoff, Dolphins running back and kickoff returner Kenyan Drake scored on a 96-yard kickoff return to give the Dolphins a 27-23 lead.
“That was obviously a game changer for us,” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. “Probably that penalty, that offsides penalty and us getting our guys another shot at returning it. (Wide receiver) Jakeem (Grant), it probably tired him out a little but. He covered about and gained four.”
New York had a chance to get the ball back at the end, but the Jets went three and out and Fitzpatrick was sacked by Suh to force the punt.
Next, up for the Dolphins (4-4), they will go on a two-game road trip to California as they will face the San Diego Chargers and then Los Angeles Rams the week after. For the Jets (3-6), they will play the Los Angeles Rams next week.
