Scooter & Hum: Day 620, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Jets Game 11 Review

The good news? The Dolphins pushed their winning streak to three with a victory over the hated Jets. The bad news? They made it much more difficult than it needed to be against a team looking for reasons to roll over and play dead.

Both teams committed debilitating penalties (eight for Miami, seven for New York) and combined for three missed field goals, at times rendering the game a comedy of errors. However, the 'Fins did enough to pull away for a precious division road win and keep scant playoff hopes alive.

On to the allayed recap ...

Offense

Miami racked up 388 yards and 20 first downs against a weak Jets defense. The team converted eight of 14 third downs and found a little balance by sticking with the run, pounding it 33 times for 115 yards. The issues came in the red zone, where the 'Fins converted just two of four opportunities into touchdowns.
Tua Tagovailoa was efficient, completing 27 of 33 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw a handful of dangerous passes, was picked off once, and struggled with his footwork at times due to the pressure. He ran three times for six yards, but he could not convert on a key 3rd & 1 late in the game on a play that should have been handled by backup Jacoby Brissett.
Myles Gaskin had his best game of the season, running 23 times for 89 yards and adding three catches for seven yards and a touchdown. His 20-yarder featured a nice cutback and he generally missed fewer holes in this one. Newcomer Duke Johnson ran four times for 18 yards on six snaps, but didn't get any opportunities in the passing game, where he has made his name in the NFL. Patrick Laird (11 snaps) ran once for four yards and added a five-yard catch that saw him break two tackles to convert a third down that looked like it had no chance of succeeding. Salvon Ahmed was inactive for this contest, casting his future with the 'Fins somewhat into doubt.
Jaylen Waddle once again led the receivers, reeling in eight passes for 65 yards and adding a one-yard run for a touchdown. Mack Hollins had two receptions for 72 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown that saw the defense forget about him deep, and he did a stellar job of staying inbounds to complete the play. Albert Wilson had three catches for 18 yards and lost three yards on a run, while his pass to Preston Williams fell incomplete in the end zone when he threw too high. Williams was shut out again despite playing 25 snaps and Isaiah Ford only got a single snap after a big game against Baltimore, but Wilson is becoming a steady part of the offense as the season progresses.
At tight end, Mike Gesicki caught five passes for 50 yards, but was called for a pair of questionable offensive pass interference penalties -- ironic for a player who is consistently hammered down the field without a call. Durham Smythe continued his surge, hauling in four passes for 37 yards and making some nice blocks despite also being victimized by a phantom offensive pass interference call. Adam Shaheen had a key 19-yard catch on a third-down play, and as defenses key on G-Sick, it's nice to see the help coming from Smythe and Shaheen, even at the expense of rookie third-rounder Hunter Long.
Overall, the offensive line performed better in this one, holding the Jets without a sack and allowing Miami to get some semblance of a running game going. Rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg graded out at 76.3 by Pro Football Focus, making him the fifth-highest-graded Dolphins against the Jets. Left guard Austin Jackson had his weekly false start in the red zone and struggled with the interior pass rush on occasion, but overall the Dolphins seemed to be getting a lot of push up the middle on running plays. The reliance on short passing certainly aided the pass protection, but this was a promising outing for a beleaguered group.

Defense

The Miami blitz package bothered New York and forced a red zone turnover, but the Jets still managed 380 total yards and arguably abandoned the run way too early. The home team converted 7 of 14 third downs, scored a touchdown on a fourth-down play, and averaged 6.4 yards per play.
Off the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah contributed two tackles, a batted pass, and two quarterback hits, with Jaelen Phillps adding three solo tackles, a sack, and two quarterback hits, to go with a really dumb and obvious late hit out of bounds. Andrew Van Ginkel was quiet in this one, with a single tackle, a quarterback hit, and an illegal-formation penalty on a punt.
Christian Wilkins was active on the interior, posting three tackles and a fumble recovery, though he did fumble it away to a teammate. Zach Sieler had three tackles and a quarterback hit in just 19 snaps (for some reason), while not much was heard from Raekwon Davis (a solo stop in 31 snaps) and Adam Butler (one tackle in 33 snaps).
At linebacker, Jerome Baker had six tackles and a quarterback hit, while Elandon Roberts added five stops. Brennan Scarlett (nine snaps before leaving with an injury) and Sam Eguavoen (seven snaps) each had a tackle in limited time, but Duke Riley (nine snaps) did not factor after seeing a lot of action last week. With Scarlett later added to injured reserve, Miami should be scouring practice squads around the league for promising linebacking help.
Eric Rowe paced the cornerbacks from his nickel spot, recording five tackles, with Justin Coleman (three stops in 22 snaps and a neutral zone infraction on special teams) and Nik Needham (two solo tackles in 28 snaps) rounding out the output from this role. On the boundary, Xavien Howard had four solo stops and a pass breakup, narrowly missing a couple of interceptions and getting flagged for pass interference. Byron Jones had three solo tackles and a pass breakup, but was victimized by Elijah Moore on a 62-yard touchdown. Both Jones and Howard struggled to contain Moore, who posted 141 yards on eight catches, signalling that he could be a long-term problem in the AFC East.
At safety, rookie Jevon Holland led the way with seven tackles and a pass breakup, but he missed a couple of assignments and overall did not generate the momentum-turning plays we've seen in recent weeks. Second-year man Brandon Jones added six tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit, making one of the biggest plays of the game when he forced a turnover with a blindside hit on Joe Flacco. The young safeties could evolve into a nice duo, but both are understandably making some mistakes along the way.

Special teams

Jason Sanders's subpar season continued, as he missed a 33-yard chip shot and hit some oddly planned and/or executed kickoffs. He did convert a 24-yarder and all three extra points.
Michael Palardy averaged 47.8 yards and a net of 40.8 on four punts, with one punt inside the 20-yard line.
Waddle had a 16-yard kickoff return on which he was tentative again, while Wilson pounced on the onsides kick to end the game.
The only return to speak of for New York was a 19-yarder by Braxton Berrios, and Elijah Campbell -- who is developing into a strong special-teamer -- committed a costly kick catch interference. Tight end Cethan Carter added a pair of tackles in the kicking game.

Momentum plays

Miami got off on the right foot, taking the opening possession down for a touchdown. On the second play of the game, a slick play design freed Gesicki down the sideline for a big gainer. Tua then found Shaheen for 19 on a 3rd & 1 play before Patrick Laird saved the drive by breaking two tackles to convert a 3rd & 4. A Waddle end-around that saw him outrun defenders who had the angle staked the Dolphins to a quick 7-0 lead.
The 'Fins stopped the Jets on the following possession, but Tua's overthrow of Waddle led to an easy interception three plays later.
A 39-yard run by rookie back Michael Carter featured Phillips and Byron Jones unable to get off blocks. The Miami defense stiffened from the 1-yard line, but the Jets went for it on fourth down and converted easily when Needham and Byron Jones miscommunicated to leave a wide-open receiver for the touchdown and a 7-7 tie.
On the ensuing possession, Tua dodged two more potential picks on a quick three-and-out.
A favorable spot after a big hit by Holland gave New York a first down on the next drive, then Holland left the tight end uncovered on a 3rd & 1 play, allowing a 29-yard gain. With the Jets knocking on the door, Brandon Jones came up with a massive play, tearing around end to drill Flacco, jarring the ball loose. Wilkins plucked it out of the air, then coughed it up again as he tried to rumble down the field. Holland eventually ended up with it, nullifying a promising New York drive in scoring territory.
After five plays, the Dolphins had to punt again, pinning the Jets at their own 15-yard line. Brandon Jones was beaten over the middle by the H-back to allow a big first down, but a long run was called back for a hold. Miami may have been bailed out when Byron Jones appeared to get away with a pass interference on a 3rd & 11 throw.
Taking over at its own 8-yard line after a good Jets punt, Miami had a big gainer to Gesicki called back on a bizarre offensive pass interference call on the tight end. On 3rd & 11, Tua dangerously held onto the ball in the end zone before scrambling out of trouble to set up another Palardy punt.
A strong punt return by Berrios set up the Jets at its own 48-yard line, and shaky 'Fins tackling got the home team moving again. A Flacco sneak converted a 3rd & 1, but solid coverage by Byron Jones three plays later forced a 55-yard field goal attempt that clanged off the left upright.
Starting in good field position, the Dolphins used a one-handed snare by Waddle to get going. A strike from Tua to Wilson continued the drive, but iffy clock management led to Miami never taking a shot to the end zone. When Sanders bounced a 33-yarder off the right upright, it was a fitting end to an ugly half by two aimless teams.
The Jets started the second half with a 22-yard strike to Moore, then Ty Johnson carried Phillips for a first down on a 3rd & 3 run. The Miami defense stiffened, and as New York lined up for a 56-yard field goal attempt, the Jets were whistled for a false start, forcing a punt instead.
Pinned at their 10-yard line, the 'Fins had a 34-yarder to Wilson called back on a phantom offensive pass interference on Smythe that has never been found or explained. Gaskin bailed out Miami with a nifty cutback on a 20-yard run that featured a strong Smythe seal block. Two plays later, Tua escaped pressure and fired deep to Hollins, who was left uncovered by the Jets secondary. Hollins hauled it in and somehow managed to stay inbounds to complete the 65-yard score and put the Dolphins up, 14-7.
An illegal block in the back on New York nullified a big kickoff return to near midfield on a bizarre Sanders kick. Three straight catches by Moore got the Jets moving, and a really stupid late-hit personal foul on Phillips carried the home team deep into Miami territory. A late grounding flag on Flacco created a 3rd & 15 play that saw Howard nearly intercept a pass, and then Matt Ammendola missed the ensuing field goal from 40 yards out.
The 'Fins went three-and-out when the team inexplicably ran Tua on a 3rd & 1 sneak instead of Jacoby Brissett, and when he predictably didn't get it, Palardy's punt was muffed by the Jets. However, a kick catch interference call on Campbell erased the Dolphins recovery.
Three plays later, Ogbah applied pressure on a 3rd & 8, but Flacco calmly hit Moore, who burned Byron Jones and outraced an out-of-position Holland for a 62-yard touchdown to tie the score at 14.
An elusive Waddle had a 15-yard catch and run to jumpstart the following drive, then he bailed out a dangerous Tua toss with a stellar catch to convert a 3rd & 7 play. Back-to-back Smythe grabs and a 3rd & 1 catch by Hollins kept the drive moving. A 3rd & 4 throw that was nearly picked fell incomplete, but Tua drew a roughing-the-passer penalty to extend the possession and set up a first-and-goal situation. Three plays later, Tua threw an under-pressure ball to Gaskin, who was drilled but held on for the go-ahead touchdown, 21-14.
Back-to-back pressures from Wilkins set up a 3rd & 9 sack by Phillips, who looped inside on a stunt to corral Flacco.
A shortish punt set Miami up at its own 49-yard line for the next possession. Gaskin and Johnson got the running game involved (this drive featured nine runs and two passes), with Gaskin converting a 3rd & 1 with a Wildcat run and Tua having a sack called back by a defensive holding on the Jets. A rollout pass to Waddle converted another 3rd & 1, but three straight runs came up short in a goal-to-go circumstances, forcing the 'Fins to settle for a 24-yarder from Sanders to extend the advantage to 24-14.
A tremendous catch by Moore converted a 3rd & 2 and helped the Jets move down the field with short passes. After a Flacco pass sailed out of the end zone on a first-down play, New York elected to kick a 35-yard field goal to trim the lead to 24-17 with 18 seconds left and set up an onsides kick opportunity.
Wilson easily caught a relatively poor onsides kick effort, and Tua kneeled on it once to cement the victory for the Dolphins.