Scooter & Hum: Day 648, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Jets Game 14 Review

As predicted, this one was ugly, with the offense struggling to find its footing without rookie centerpiece Jaylen Waddle and the defense experiencing a few bumps without rookie safety Jevon Holland. In a surprise twist, running back Duke Johnson basically saved Miami's season with a career game (127 total yards and two scores) after being called up from the practice squad.

When the Dolphins were 1-7, getting to .500 felt like a pipe dream, with the idea being to get there and see who is left. Well, in the AFC, it's pretty much everybody, which means having the league's third-hardest remaining schedule is suboptimal. But now how matter how it looked, the 'Fins have won six in a row -- allowing the team to cling to its playoff life for at least another week.

On to the holiday recap ...

Offense

The Dolphins dominated time of possession (34:22 to 25:38), but three turnovers hurt the team's efficiency. Miami racked up 379 total yards and 23 first downs, converting five of 12 third downs and two of three fourth downs. Perhaps most importantly, the 'Fins turned five red zone visits into four touchdowns.
In his worst game of the streak, Tua was 16 of 27 for 196 yards with two touchdowns and two picks, and he was sacked once. He added 19 yards on seven rushes and recovered his own fumble at one point, but the sheer number of risky throws and iffy decisions was overwhelming. Backup Jacoby Brissett (finally) got into the act with a rush for two yards and a key fourth-down conversion among his three snaps.
As noted, Johnson was stellar, racking up 107 rushing yards on 22 carries and adding a pair of touchdowns to earn a 83.5 grade from PFF. Despite a long of just 12 yards and a reputation as purely a receiving back (he added a 20-yard catch), Johnson was effective running between the tackles and displayed tremendous contact balance. Myles Gaskin (26 snaps) backed him up effectively, ripping off a 30-yarder as part of his 54 rushing yards on 10 carries, though he did not factor in the passing game.
Minus Waddle, wideouts caught just eight passes for Miami. Parker stepped up with four catches (on eight targets) for 68 yards and a touchdown. His scoring grab was a great pluck on a slant that was thrown early and behind him, and he also added a 37-yard reception in traffic to set up another touchdown. Isaiah "Zombie" Ford added 51 yards on three receptions (including a pair of clutch third-down receptions) for an 83.5 PFF grade in only 19 snaps, while Albert Wilson had only a nine-yard grab (off a tipped pass) despite playing 41 snaps. Mack Hollins (13 snaps) and Preston Williams (nine snaps) were shut out as the fourth and fifth wideouts. The receivers were not utilized a ton, but Parker in particular made his catches count.
At tight end, Mike Gesicki was targeted eight times, reeling in five for 43 yards, with a long of 20. Durham Smythe had just a four-yard grab in his 65 snaps, while Hunter Long had a rough day, being flagged for holding twice and having his lone target end up as a pick-six on an ill-advised Tua decision.
With Tua struggling, the Dolphins needed a big effort in the ground game -- and they got it. The 'Fins hammered away, rushing the ball 42 times for 183 yards (4.4 yards per carry), at times bullying the New York front seven. Rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg (76.3 PFF grade, his career-best rating), guards Robert Hunt (71.5) and Austin Jackson (70.4), and center Michael Dieter (68.3, his best grade this year) all played winning football. Despite being whistled for a hold, Hunt put together his third straight 70-plus PFF grade, and his physicality seems to be rubbing off on Jackson, as the duo did not concede a single pressure on 62 pass-blocking snaps. Right tackle Jesse Davis (39.2 grade) continued his struggles, being beaten three times and allowing two pressures (the 'Fins only allowed four all game long) according to PFF, with a false start to boot. Interestingly, undrafted rookie free agent guard Robert Jones played 10 snaps in jumbo packages.

Defense

The Jets managed just 228 total yards and 16 first downs, with Miami registering six sacks and limiting the visitors to 3 of 11 on third down. New York did convert two of three red zone opportunities into touchdowns and only turned the ball over once, which kept them in the game. The visitors clearly missed injured Elijah Moore -- who gave Miami fits the first time around -- and quarterback Zach Wilson relied on his tight ends a lot in this one, with Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft, and Trevon Wesco combining for 93 yards on five catches.
On the edge, Andrew Van Ginkel (five tackles, one sack, one quarterback hit) and Emmanuel Ogbah (two solo stops, one sack, one batted pass, two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery) combined for 11 pressures. Rookie Jaelen Phillips had two tackles and one stop for loss in 41 snaps.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins had a big game, racking up seven tackles, one stop for loss, a batted pass, and a touchdown catch on a goal-line toss. Zach Sieler made the most of his 28 snaps, with three tackles, a game-changing strip sack, a batted pass, and a quarterback hit, finishing with an 89.5 PFF grade. Raekwon Davis had a pair of assisted tackles in 31 snaps, while Adam Butler didn't record a statistic in 28 snaps.
Jerome Baker was a terror from the linebacker spot, with seven tackles, two sacks, and two quarterback hits, showing stellar energy as a blitzer. Elandon Roberts posted six tackles, good for a 77.9 PFF grade. As the third 'backer, Duke Riley added four tackles, including a pair of solo stops, on nine snaps.
Both Xavien Howard and Byron Jones bounced back after subpar games in the first matchup with the Jets. Jones had three solo tackles and two pass breakups for an 89.5 PFF grade, while Howard had three tackles and a hit on the signal-caller. In the slot, Eric Rowe had three tackles in 33 snaps and Justin Coleman added a pair in 36 snaps.
In Holland's absence, Brandon Jones led the way at safety with six tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit. Instead of his customary nickel duty, Nik Needham played extensively at free safety, coming up with five tackles, including three solo stops, in his 57 snaps.

Special teams

Jason Sanders converted his only field goal (from 24 yards) and all four of his extra points, showing terrific distance on his kickoffs.
Coming off AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, Michael Palardy averaged 53 yards on three punts, placing one inside the 20-yard line.
Someone named Tommylee Lewis returned a punt for five yards. I got nuthin'.
Though what actually happened on the play was never quite explained, Clayton Fejedelem was credited with a lost a fumble when he took a snap off the facemask on a punt attempt.

Momentum plays

Miami started the game with a three-and-out thanks to a fumbled RPO exchange between Tua and Johnson.
Palardy's punt put the Jets at their own 17-yard line, but New York put together a balanced drive (five runs, five passes) that featured bootlegs to the tight end and good inside running. A third-down flanker reverse with a pass option led to Raleigh native Braxton Berrios running through Howard for the early score -- marking the first touchdown allowed by the Dolphins defense in 24 possessions.
On the first play of the following drive, Tua airmailed a pass to Parker, leading to an easy pick for the Jets' Ashtyn Davis, setting up the visitors on the 'Fins' 25-yard line.
Missed tackles by Rowe and Byron Jones allowed Kroft to hammer his way to a first down, but a trick play involving a throw back to Wilson was knocked down by Sieler -- though Baker looked to have an interception if not for the PBU. Good coverage led to a third-down throwaway by Wilson, leading to a short field goal and a 10-0 Jets advantage.
Another Dolphins three-and-out was marked by back-to-back poor throws by Tua, including a dropped interception by Davis on third down.
A third-down drop ended the Jets ensuing possession, and a personal foul on New York for hitting the return man on a fair catch seemed to give the 'Fins life.
Johnson powered his way to a first down on a 3rd & 1, and Miami got another break when a tipped pass intended for Gesicki was caught by Wilson. Tua made his best throw of the game on the following play, fitting a 37-yarder to Parker between two defenders. Johnson paid off the drive when he slid off contact to launch himself into the end zone, trimming the margin to 10-7.
Two Miami penalties -- a roughing-the-passer penalty on Van Ginkel and a 3rd & 1 flag for too many men on the field -- got the Jets going on the next drive. Coleman and Ogbah then missed sacks on the next play, allowing Wilson to find Griffin for a big gainer. Three straight powerful runs by Tevin Coleman set up a Wilson sneak for a touchdown to extend the lead back to 10 at 17-7.
The 'Fins found an offensive tempo on the ensuing possession, with Johnson ripping off a 12-yarder and Tua finding Parker for another first. Brissett came in on third- and fourth-and-short plays, pitching to Johnson for a big first down on 4th & 1. A few plays later, an RPO hit to G-Sick set up first and goal, but Tua followed with a too-late throw to Smythe, an awful decision to throw into triple coverage to Gesicki in the end zone, and then a throwaway under pressure. Sanders barely snuck the short field goal inside the left upright, making it 17-10.
New York converted a 3rd & 15 with a half-field hook and lateral from Jamison Crowder to Berrios for 23 yards, but a Baker sack stymied the drive, forcing a tremendous Jets punt that was downed at Miami's 5-yard line, causing the Dolphins to kneel on the ball to end the half.
An Ogbah sack helped force a Jets three-and-out to start the second half, and Miami struck quickly with a deep third-down pass that saw Ford outfight the defender for a stellar 27-yard catch. Johnson took a dumpoff pass and broke tackles for a 20-yard pickup, then Tua hit G-Sick to convert a 3rd & 9 and set up a goal-to-go situation. Johnson powered through multiple defenders and was carried into the end zone from there to tie the game at 17.
A 3rd & 4 that saw Wilson avoid sacks by Coleman and Wilkins, then elude Howard and Butler, gave the Jets life, but sacks by Brandon Jones and Van Ginkel led to a poor punt.
Taking over at their own 42-yard line, the Dolphins went to work again, with Ford again converting a key third down. Tua ran over a New York safety to energize the crowd, then five straight runs culminated in a fourth-down conversion by Brissett. An end zone interference call drawn by Parker set up Miami at the 1-yard line, and Tua lofted a short pass to Wilkins -- of all people -- who fought the ball for a bit before holding on for a touchdown and a 24-17 advantage.
On the following drive, Kroft ripped off a 22-yarder catch and run when Van Ginkel lost containment, then Coleman made Brandon Jones miss to get loose for another 22 yards on a run. Sieler came to the rescue for the 'Fins, sacking Wilson and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Ogbah.
A holding call on Hunter Long put Miami in a tough spot, but a 17-yard pass to Ford set up 3rd & 1. When Gaskin came up short, the Dolphins showed punt on 4th & inches, but the snap hit Fejedelem in the face on what may have been a fake attempt, and the Jets pounced on the ball to gain possession on Miami's 45-yard line.
The 'Fin "D" came up with a huge stop, forcing a three-and-out that was punctuated by a sack that was credited to Baker but could have been split between he and Ogbah. The punt was not great, but Miami looked to get a generous spot on where it actually went out of bounds.
Unable to stand prosperity, a long run that saw Johnson break four tackles was nullified by joint holding calls on Hunt and Long. On the next play, Tua lollipopped a telegraphed pass (to mix a metaphor) intended for Long, allowing an easy pick-six by New York's Brandin Echols to tie the score at 24 with 7:45 remaining.
After Johnson stiff-armed his way to a first-down run, Gaskin busted loose for a 30-yard jaunt before it was Johnson's turn again for a hard-charging first-down carry. After Tua threw too late for Parker in the end zone, the signal-caller redeemed himself with a 3rd & 9 slant to Parker, who made a tremendous catch on a hard-to-handle ball. Parker flopped across the goal line for the go-ahead score at 31-24 with 3:37 left.
A three-and-out that saw more strong pressure on Wilson was followed by a 63-yard New York punt that was poorly returned by Lewis.
Miami went three-and-out on a drive that saw two more dangerous throws by Tua, including a 3rd & 5 pass intended for Parker.
New York took over at its own 37-yard line after the Palardy punt, but Phillips drew a monumental holding penalty to erase a Wilson scramble. The quarterback missed an open man high on 1st & 20, then Ogbah knocked down the 2nd & 20 toss. A 10-yarder to Crowder set up a 4th & 10, but Byron Jones tackled the receiver a yard short to give possession -- and the game -- to the 'Fins. Two Tua kneel-downs cemented Miami's sixth straight win and another sweep of the hated Jets.