Dolphins vs. Jets: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Miami Dolphins have the postseason in mind but an AFC East hurdle to jump in the Week 13 edition of Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.

Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins have been down this familiar path before with collapses late in the season against beatable opponents. In fact, the 6-5 Dolphins have now lost two of their last three heading into Monday's trap game.

The two-win Jets are once again on the hunt for answers and a fresh start. One week removed from a debacle in Buffalo after a postponement, the front office is once again enforcing changes in the hopes the team shows a pulse.

A showdown between those behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East does not sound like much, but it has plenty of playoff implications hanging in the balance.

Going the Distance

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The ghosts of last year still haunt the Dolphins. 

Miami was in control of its own fate in regard to the playoffs just one year ago, but wound up at .500 and watching from home. The focal point of the collapse was a home loss to the Jets in the final game of the regular season.

"It's not a good memory," Tannehill said, per Jameson Olive of Fox Sports. "It's not something that I think about consistently, but we didn't play well. The Jets always find a way to play us well. They play some of their best football against us and we understand that going in."

Tannehill himself is back from the dead this season after early-season whispers about his job security. The Texas A&M product has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,582 yards and 20 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

As ESPN's Ben Fennell pointed out, Tannehill is on the right path this season:

He is flanked by a superb defense in most facets, which is fitting as the Jets are much of the same in that regard.

The only problem is the aforementioned budding late-season issues. In a Week 10 loss to Detroit, the stout defense allowed a touchdown with less than 30 seconds left to lose. Last week's loss to Denver was the byproduct of four Broncos scores in the final frame and the defense generating just one sack over the course of the entire contest.

New York certainly has its host of issues that Miami can take advantage of on the road. But a recent tough time in the consistency department with games on the line can even allow a two-team win to hang around and steal one.

Right now, that is the last thing the Dolphins need as the season winds down.

Back to Square One

Those in charge of the Jets must have an eye on the future at this point, as the team will trot out Geno Smith under center Monday instead of veteran Michael Vick. 

Vick had taken over for the ineffective Smith some weeks ago and led the team to a win against Pittsburgh, but he had the rug pulled out from under him last Monday after going 7-of-19 for 76 yards and a pick.

"The decision was made. I'm all for it. It's cool. Not to say I agree with it—I'm a competitor, and you always want to be out there playing—but I don't make the decisions," he said, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. "I respect every decision made in this organization."

As Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News pointed out, though, not everyone in the organization seems on board with the decision:

Regardless, Smith is the man under center now. He enters Monday with a 57.6 completion percentage and 1,459 yards with seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions. 

What may very well be a trial to see if the front office grabs his replacement this upcoming offseason starts in a brutal way. The Dolphins tout an elite pass defense led by corner Brent Grimes and, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), have generated 34 sacks, 36 quarterback hits and 137 hurries to date.

If Smith and the Jets are going to begin building a brighter future and play spoiler, it starts with better play from under center.

When: Monday, December 1, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Watch: ESPN

Betting Info: (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 42
• Spread: Miami (-7)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Status
Charles Clay	TE	Questionable
Mike Wallace	WR	Questionable
Cortland Finnegan	CB	Questionable
Mike Wallace	WR	Questionable

Player	Pos.	Status
Bilal Powell	RB	Probable
Muhammad Wilkerson	DE	Questionable
Jace Amaro	TE	Questionable

Injury info will be updated once released, via ESPN.com.

Prediction

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The Jets may be at home but inner turmoil and miserable play at the most important position of all doomed the team on prime time last week in a blowout loss.

Miami needs a rebound, which it will get as Tannehill takes care of the football and the league's 10th-best rushing attack finds room against a downtrodden roster.

More than anything, though, New York's propensity to turn the ball over in the face of a great defense will have this one in hand by the end of the third quarter.

Prediction: Dolphins 30, Jets 23

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).