Scooter & Hum: Day 1,354, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Jets Game 11 Review

Miami lost the turnover battle yet again (3-2), but dominated defensively and established a strong running game to own time of possession (35:41 to 24:19) and run 14 more plays than the Jets. While the ability to rotate defensive players at the end was big for rest purposes late in the season, there was a palpable pall over the team after the game based on edge Jaelen Phillips being lost for the season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Here's to the never-apologize-for-a-division-road-win recap ...

Offense

Against a strong defense, Miami managed to convert 11 of 16 third-down opportunities and -- somewhat unexpectedly -- establish a strong running game, averaging 4.5 yards per carry on its way to 167 rushing yards. The 'Fins also scored touchdowns on two of its three red-zone trips
Tua Tagovailoa struggled at times, connecting on 21 of 30 passes for 243 yards and a score, but turning the ball over three times with two interceptions and a fumble. He was sacked twice, ran twice for a yard, and kept the Jets in the game with a pick-six -- the only thing he couldn't do against a team without an offense. Despite an 81.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, the performance marked a second straight subpar outing, and Tua hooked up with only four different receivers in this one. Former Jet Mike White came in once for a kneeldown to close out the contest.
Raheem Mostert led the way again in the backfield, carrying 20 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 34. He was also targeted once without a catch in 42 snaps. Jeff Wilson served as the backup with DeVon Achane out and Salvon Ahmed injured, and he ran hard, carrying 11 times for 56 yards and catching all three targets for 17 yards in 23 snaps. Newcomer Darrynton Evans rushed twice for 16 yards with a long of 13, but was involved in a turnover on a botched handoff among his five snaps. Fullback Alec Ingold had no touches in his 20 snaps, but did deliver some strong lead blocking despite a 50.2 rating from PFF.
At wideout, Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle both eclipsed 100 yards, with Hill snaring nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and a score, with a long of 35. He added a two-yard carry among his 44 snaps, earning a 71.1 mark from PFF. In 46 snaps, Waddle reeled in all eight targets for 114 yards, with a long of 32, leading the team with a 91.3 PFF grade. Braxton Berrios (one target in 38 snaps for a 49.8 PFF grade), Cedrick Wilson (27 snaps), and River Cracraft (24 snaps) were all active, but did not catch a pass. Tua will need to diversify his targets down the stretch in order to get the offense back in rhythm.
Durham Smythe was back at tight end, and he contributed a 10-yard catch on three targets in his 54 snaps. Julian Hill did not catch a pass in his 21 snaps (he was flagged for holding on special teams), while Tyler Kroft came on for six snaps in reserve. Smythe (48.1) and Hill (48.2) received poor grades from PFF, reinforcing the idea that tight end is perhaps Miami's thinnest position.
Up front, seven offensive linemen saw action due to right tackle Austin Jackson being ejected (after 62 snaps that included a false start) and left tackle Terron Armstead leaving early (49 snaps) due to a quad injury. Guards Lester Cotton (zero pressures allowed, but a 51.4 PFF grade) and Liam Eichenberg (did not allow a sack or pressure in 33 pass-blocking snaps, earning a 74.9 pass-block grade from PFF) and center Connor Williams (88.6 PFF grade) played all 70 snaps. Reserves Kion Smith (74.9 grade from PFF in 21 snaps) and Kendall Lamm (eight snaps) got in on the action for a unit that is getting more banged up by the week.

Defense

In dominating fashion, the 'Fins limited the Jets to just a dozen first downs and stopped them on nine of 14 on third-down attempts. New York did convert two of three fourth-down tries and scored a touchdown on one of two red-zone visits, but managed just 159 total yards of offense, averaging just 2.9 yards per offensive play. Most significantly, Miami held the home team to just 29 rushing yards.
Christian Wilkins had another strong game along the defensive front, collecting three solo tackles, two sacks, two stops for losses, and two quarterback hits in 37 snaps. Zach Sieler added two tackles, a sack, a stop for a loss, a quarterback hit, and an offsides call in his 32 snaps. These two play a huge number of snaps for defensive linemen, so easing their workload in this one was important as the team hits the stretch run.
On the interior, Raekwon Davis played well, notching two tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit in 32 snaps. Backup Da'Shawn Hand put up three solos, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit in his 23 snaps. Miami got a lot from the tackle spot, which will be even more vital as injuries mount in the front seven.
Before the devastating Achilles injury that ended his campaign, Phillips was a menace at outside linebacker (90.5 mark from PFF), posting four tackles, a sack, three stops for losses, a pass breakup, and two quarterback hits in 35 snaps. Bradley Chubb recorded two tackles and two quarterback hits in 46 snaps for an 83.2 PFF grade, while Andrew Van Ginkel added a pair of tackles and a holding call in 29 snaps. Ogbah two tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits. In 14 snaps, Emmanuel Ogbah was active, registering two tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, and a neutral-zone infraction for a 91.1 PFF grade. Something of a forgotten man, Ogbah will be a key contributor for the Dolphins as they try to replace Phillips the rest of the way.
At inside linebacker, Jerome Baker had one of his best games -- especially in coverage -- notching six solo tackles, a stop for a loss, two pass breakups, an interception, and an offsides call in 41 snaps for a 90.9 mark from PFF. In 39 snaps, David Long posted four tackles, three solos, a quarterback hit, and an offsides call for an unsightly 39.0 PFF grade. Duke Riley (17 snaps, 46.7 rating from PFF) and Cameron Goode (10 snaps, 57.8 PFF grade) came on in reserve with the game out of hand to give Baker and Long some much-needed rest.
Xavien Howard (pass breakup), Kader Kohou (five tackles, three solos), and Jalen Ramsey (three solos, 58.2 PFF grade) all played 48 snaps at cornerback. The 'Fins were able to rotate in Nik Needham (three tackles in 12 snaps), Cam Smith (assisted tackle in 11 snaps, 56.6 mark from PFF), and Justin Bethel (one snap) in reserve. Overall, it was a quiet day for the defensive backfield based on the sheer ineptitude of the New York passing attack.
At safety, Jevon Holland contributed five solo stops and a pass breakup in 44 snaps, putting his stamp on the game with an interception on a Hail Mary that he incredibly returned 99 yards for a touchdown. DeShon Elliott had a solo tackle and a pass breakup in 47 snaps, with Brandon Jones (one solo stop in 14 snaps) and Elijah Campbell (10 snaps) also seeing action from scrimmage. Holland's 92.6 PFF grade led Dolphin defenders, and it was good to see him making a big play again.

Special teams

Jason Sanders drilled both field goals -- including a 54-yarder -- and all four extra points on the day, and even had to make a tackle at one point.
Jake Bailey punted a single time for 40 yards.
Berrios averaged 9.2 yards on five punt returns and added a 22-yard kickoff return. Even though he fumbled once, he did recover it himself.
Berrios and Kroft led offensive players with nine special-teams snaps apiece, and Evans got eight. Among defensive players, Riley (18), Campbell (17), Jones (16), Goode (16), and Bethel (15) saw the most action in the third phase.
In the return game, Van Ginkel was whistled for a holding call on a kickoff and Hill was called for the same on a punt.

Momentum plays

After an initial third-down conversion thanks to Sieler jumping offsides, back-to-back plays by Philips helped force a New York punt on the opening possession of the contest.
Miami's first offensive play featured a Jets' personal foul, then Tua hit Hill for 35 yards on 3rd & 8, with the speedster barely being tripped up on his way to a long score. Hill got 17 more on a 3rd & 2 tunnel screen, following a good Williams block, but on a 4th & 2 play from New York's five-yard line, Hill dropped a fade pass, giving the ball to the Jets.
Phillips pressure on the first play could have led to either in-the-grasp or grounding calls for a safety, but neither was whistled. The 'Fins forced a three-and-out, getting the ball back on its own 44-yard line.
A Smythe 10-yard catch was followed by a 14-yard run by Jeff Wilson, but a 3rd & 1 sidearm pass by Tua was nearly intercepted. Instead of going for another short fourth down, McDaniel elected for a 38-yard Sanders field goal for a 3-0 advantage.
Another Phillips tackle for loss sparked another three-and-out for the home team, and the Dolphins converted a 3rd & 5 with an 11-yard pass to Waddle. Tua then hit Wilson on a slant for seven yards to convert another 3rd & 5, then the quarterback hit Waddle for 20 yards on 3rd & 6 with a dangerous throw into triple coverage. Two plays later, Hill took a short pass in the flat, eluded a tackler, and strolled in from seven yards away to push the lead to 10-0 halfway through the second quarter.
New York got an initial first down when Elliott missed a tackle, but a Phillips deflected pass was nearly intercepted by Holland. Third-down pressure by Wilkins and Chubb led to a Wilkins sack and another Jets punt.
A 13-yard pass to Waddle earned a quick Miami first down, but Tua took a second-down sack and the Dolphins had to punt. Bailey was drilled on his lone punt of the day, but the penalty was inexplicably called running into the kicker instead of roughing, leading one to wonder why the roughing-the-kicker penalty even exists anymore.
The Jets went three-and-out once again for a fifth straight drive of five plays or less, with Kohou making a huge tackle on 3rd & 1 to prevent a first down. However, Tua kept the home team in the game with a late, lazy toss into the flat that was easily intercepted for a 30-yard pick-six by Brandin Echols, cutting the margin to 10-7.
A Van Ginkel hold on the ensuing kickoff pinned the Dolphins at their own 13-yard line with 58 seconds remaining, but Tua inexplicably came out firing. He hit Waddle for 10 and 11 yards, but threw late to the sideline twice, with the second resulting in another interception.
Taking over at their own 49-yard line with two seconds remaining, the Jets tried a Hail Mary, which quickly turned into a Fail Mary when Holland easily reeled in an interception on the one-yard line, picked up key blocks by Wilkins, Chubb, and Baker, juked the signal-caller, and raced into the end zone -- he covered 124-and-a-half yards in all -- for a back-breaking 99-yard pick-six with no time on the clock, giving the 'Fins a 17-6 halftime advantage.
Three plays into the second half, Miami got a big play when Waddle beat Jets corner Sauce Gardner for 32 yards on a 3rd & 3 play that also featured a New York hold. Tua took a third-down sack, but Sanders salvaged the drive with a 54-yard crush job to make the score 20-6.
A Wilkins sack spurred another New York three-and-out, and after a punt that saw a negative-yardage return, a Berrios fumble that he recovered, and a penalty on Julian Hill, the 'Fins were backed all the way back to their eight-yard line. Miami reeled off a 15-play, 92-yard drive that took more than nine minutes, powered by five third-down conversions. Mostert ran for 30 yards and Wilson added 16 more on the ground, and the Dolphins also got a key facemask call and a 15-yard catch and run by Hill. Mostert paid off the drive with a slick 13-yard touchdown run that saw him pick up a nice block by Julian Hill to make it 27-6. The extra point featured three personal fouls and two disqualifications, with Jackson getting flagged and ejected for Miami without an explanation.
The Jets responded with a 17-play possession of their own that featured two fourth-down conversions, but the drive covered just 55 yards and ended in an interception when Howard missed his own pick but Baker hauled in the deflection.
Evans came in and picked up 16 yards on his first two carries, but a high Tua handoff on a third straight Evans carry resulted in a fumble right back to New York.
Taking over on Miami's 35-yard line, the home team converted a 3rd & 2 before getting a one-yard touchdown reception by Garrett Wilson to trim the margin to 27-13.
The Jets attempted an onside kick, but Riley recovered it easily. Three straight Mostert rushes earned 12 yards and a first down, with Miami attempting to run out the clock. New York didn't cooperate, however, calling repeated timeouts to extend the game, eventually forcing Mostert to burst into the clear behind Eichenberg and Cracraft blocks and go 34 yards for a touchdown and a 34-13 advantage instead.
With backups in, Miami gave up a pair of third-down conversions, but a strong Jones tackle on 4th & 14 gave the ball back to the 'Fins, setting up White to come in for a kneeldown to end the game.