Jets vs. Dolphins: Previewing NY Jets' Week 4 Matchup
Sunday afternoon, the New York Jets will travel to London, England, to take on the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. While the game is the first regular-season matchup for New York overseas in the team’s history, it’ll also mark the first time this year’s Jets take the field following a loss.
With no form of a running game to speak of, the Jets offense was stagnant in a 24-17 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Facing an even more talented Dolphins front, New York will be challenged quite a bit against Miami.
Speaking to the media, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said Miami’s defense has “several” players whom the offense will need to locate on each and every play. Meanwhile, coach Todd Bowles said the team’s offensive line will need to “eat their Wheaties” in order to prepare for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
With the 1-2 Dolphins trying desperately to save their season, and the 2-1 Jets looking to keep within striking distance of the AFC East’s first-place New England Patriots, Sunday afternoon has all the makings of a good one.
Date: Sunday, October 4
Location: Wembley Stadium; London
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
TV: CBS
Week 3 Recap: Philadelphia Eagles 24, New York Jets 17
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Defensively, just about everything went right for the New York Jets last Sunday.
Offensively? Well, nothing did.
With its running game stagnant and passing game unable to get out of its own way, the Jets fell to the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17, suffering the team’s first loss of the year.
After falling behind, 24-0, in the first half, the Jets fought their way back. But even though New York’s defense continually gave the ball back to its offense, the Jets offense continued failing to capitalize on any of the ensuring opportunities. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three second-half interceptions, all in Eagles territory, and receiver Brandon Marshall fumbled in the second quarter.
It wasn’t pretty.
Fitzpatrick finished the game 35-of-58 for 283 yards passing with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Running back Bilal Powell led the Jets rushing attack, gaining 31 yards on 10 carries, but as a team New York gained only 47 yards on the ground. Brandon Marshall caught 10 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, crossing the 10,000-yard career receiving mark in the process.
Defensively, Demario Davis had a team-high 13 tackles. Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams each had a half-sack.
The Eagles, who managed just 231 yards of offense, got the majority (123 yards) of it on the ground. Ryan Mathews led the way, with 108 yards on 24 carries. Philly quarterback Sam Bradford finished 14-of-28 for 118 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.
News and Notes
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Can Ryan Fitzpatrick bounce back?
In the Jets first two victories of the season over the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick made a couple of passes that came close to being ugly. Maybe it was an overthrow that a defender just missed or an underthrow with the same result. Either way, Fitzpatrick escaped unscathed.
Against the Eagles last Sunday, those “near misses” became interceptions going the other way.
Fitzpatrick tossed three picks in a Jets 24-17 loss and was a big reason the team failed to secure a victory. Fitzpatrick’s inability to stretch the field showed; he forced the issue and, honestly, just played a poor game.
After the loss, Jets coach Todd Bowles said Fitzpatrick would remain the team’s starter. But with another performance or two like Sunday’s, it’ll be Geno Smith time again in New York.
The hook isn’t out yet to yank Fitzpatrick off the stage, but it’s being readied. Aside from the quarterback position, New York has a team that’s ready to win now. Some of the Jets best players (Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie) are all at the turning points of their careers. None have five or six years left to wait. That means if Fitzpatrick can’t get the job done, Geno Smith will be given the opportunity to do so.
See, one of the big reasons Fitzpatrick was viewed as a better option under center than Smith was because of the fact he didn’t turn the ball over. Last year as the Houston Texans quarterback, Fitzpatrick threw just eight interceptions in 12 games. Sure, Fitzpatrick doesn’t have the arm strength or athletic ability that Smith does, but unlike Smith, Fitzpatrick wasn’t going to single-handedly lose games.
But if Fitzpatrick starts turning the ball over with two, three or four interceptions a game? Well, New York might as well trot Smith out there.
Sunday will be a big game for Fitzpatrick as it’ll show how well he bounces back. Does that hook begin swinging, or will his leash get a little bit more slack?
Will injured Jets make return? Can replacements step up?
The Jets defense is relatively healthy, aside from a few nicks and bruises. Cornerback Darrelle Revis has an injured hamstring, but he isn’t expected to miss any time. Cornerback Darrin Walls also has an ailing hamstring, but he’s fourth on the team’s depth chart.
On offense? Uh, things are…different.
Running back Chris Ivory, receiver Eric Decker, tight end Jeff Cumberland, right guard Willie Colon and receiver Chris Owusu all either missed or left last Sunday’s game with the Eagles early. All are extremely questionable, or already ruled out, for this Sunday’s game against Miami.
Versus Philadelphia, the Jets couldn’t establish a running game, likely because Ivory and Colon didn’t play. The Jets also couldn’t make much happen in the passing game, likely because of the absence of Decker and Owusu. It wasn’t pretty, downright ugly at times. The question now becomes when, and if, the walking wounded who spent the majority of practice in the rehab area are coming back.
“You always want to go out there with who you view as your best 11,” Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “We’ll see what happens, but obviously we want everybody on board.”
Will those injured be able to play? And if they do, will they be effective? Only time will tell.
Can the running game get going?
Against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener, New York’s offensive line paved the way for 154 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Against the Indianapolis Colts Week 2, it was another 101 yards on 27 carries.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday? The Jets rushing attack was anemic. Despite the fact Philly put just seven players in the box the majority of the game, the Jets managed only 47 yards on 16 carries. That’s an atrocious average of 2.9 yards per carry.
New York desperately needs to find a way to kick-start its rushing attack, or things could get ugly—and get ugly quick. With Fitzpatrick under center, the Jets offense is at its best when the rushing attack sets up the pass. Take those four-, five- and six-yard gains early. Then, when the defense creeps up, take advantage of the run-first mindset and hit it with a play-action pass.
But what if the running game isn’t working? The above situation doesn’t work, and you have Fitzpatrick completing 35 of 58 passes for 283 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions, as he did against the Eagles.
With starting right guard Willie Colon likely out with a knee injury, it’s not going to be easy for the Jets to get the rushing attack going against Ndamukong Suh and Co., but offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is going to have to find a way.
Latest Injury News
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| Player Name | Position | Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game Status |
| Darrin Walls | CB | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| Trevor Reilly | LB | Finger | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| Chris Owusu | WR | Knee | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| Jaiquawn Jarrett | S | Knee | DNP | LTD | FULL | PROB |
| Eric Decker | WR | Knee | DNP | LTD | LTD | QST |
| Jeff Cumberland | TE | Concussion | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| Willie Colon | OL | Knee | DNP | DNP | FULL | OUT |
| Darrelle Revis | DB | Hamstring | LTD | LTD | FULL | PROB |
| Chris Ivory | RB | Quad | LTD | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Antonio Cromartie | DB | Hip | LTD | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Quinton Coples | LB | Elbow | LTD | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Devin Smith | WR | Ribs | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| David Harris | LB | Finger | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| James Carpenter | OL | Lower Back | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| Stephen Bowen | DL | Knee | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
| T.J. Barnes | DL | Ankle | FULL | FULL | FULL | PROB |
Chart Codes: TBD (to be determined); DNP (did not practice); LTD (limited); Probable (75 percent chance of playing); Questionable (50 percent chance of playing); Doubtful (25 percent chance of playing); Out (zero percent chance of playing)
Wednesday, Sept. 30: Bowles indicated that of the injured players, he does not expect Walls, Reilly, Owusu, Cumberland or Colon to play. Revis and Ivory both should play, but Decker will be a game-time decision.
Thursday, Oct. 1: Bowles said that guard Willie Colon and tight end Jeff Cumberland will not play on Sunday. Due to Cumberland's injury, the Jets promoted Wes Saxton from the practice squad.
The coach also indicated that Revis would play, but Decker would be a game-time decision. There is also a chance that Reilly suits up after missing last week's game. Ivory, for the first time in over a week, was a full participant in practice.
Friday, Oct. 2: The Jets have released the game statuses of the team's injured players. As expected, Walls, Reilly, Owusu, Colon and Cumberland will not play. Decker, who missed last week's game with a sprained knee, is questionable.
Key Matchups
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Brian Winters vs. Ndamukong Suh
With right guard Willie Colon likely out with a knee sprain, former third-round pick Brian Winters is set to make his first start of the season.
His first matchup? The NFL’s newest $100 million man: four-time Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Through the first five years of his career, Suh has established himself as one of the game’s best defensive players. The Nebraska product has tremendous size (6’4", 320 lbs), speed and strength that make him an offensive lineman’s worst nightmare. He can beat you with his quickness off the line, his strength at the point of attack or his agility with an impressive rotation of pass-rushing moves.
All of the above is why Miami made him priority No. 1 this offseason. But to this point, Suh hasn’t really lived up to his hefty price tag.
The former Detroit Lion has yet to register a quarterback sack, has just five quarterback hurries and only seven tackles this year. Suh hasn’t yet broken out.
If the Jets aren’t careful, that could happen in London.
Before suffering a season-ending injury a year ago, Winters was New York’s starting left guard. With him on that line, things didn’t go very well. Winters allowed 16 quarterback hurries, three quarterback hits, a sack and was called for three penalties in just six games. He had an overall Pro Football Focus rating of minus-15.3 and a pass-blocking rating of minus-11.0.
In the preseason this year, Winters did show improvement and earned a positive pass-blocking rating. But Miami, and Suh in particular, will be the true test.
Jets Inside Linebackers vs. Miami tight ends, running backs
Eagles coach Chip Kelly figured something out last week. In the copycat NFL, the Dolphins may look to duplicate.
Facing a Jets defense that may possess one of the league’s best secondaries, Kelly decided not to test the likes of Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine and Antonio Cromartie. Aside from receiver Jordan Matthews (six receptions, 49 yards), not one other Philly wideout caught a pass.
Instead, with safety Marcus Gilchrist locking down tight end Zach Ertz, Philadelphia threw to its running backs over and over and over again.
Why? Because Jets inside linebackers David Harris and Demario Davis struggle in pass coverage. And with everyone else locked down, those two were tasked with covering Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles.
The stats tell one story—the Eagles backs combined for six receptions, 39 yards and a touchdown—but the game another. If it hadn’t been for a drop by both Sproles and Mathews, that yardage number would have been astronomically higher. Davis and Harris are both solid against the run, but against the pass, both struggle.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Jets coach Todd Bowles indicated he wasn’t worried about teams targeting the Jets linebackers.
“We understood what (Philly) was doing with the running backs,” Bowles said. “We played them. (Demario Davis) looked in the backfield one play too much. I don’t think running backs will be a problem for us.”
It will be interesting to see if the Dolphins choose to test the two inside linebackers with Lamar Miller or Damien Williams. And if they do, what kind of success will the team have.
X-Factor
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Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson wants a new contract.
Through the first three weeks of the season, he’s playing like a player well-deserving of one.
New York’s first-round pick in 2011 has continued to show the league he’s one of the game’s best 3-4 defensive ends. Already in 2015, Wilkerson has 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed. Against the Eagles last week, Wilkerson recorded 11 tackles. That’s an awful lot for a 3-4 defensive lineman.
But what has made Wilkerson so dominant through the early portions of this season has been his ability to get to close to the quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilkerson has nine quarterback hurries; that’s tied for the most in the NFL.
This Sunday versus the Dolphins, Wilkerson will be going one-on-one with a player in Jamil Douglas who has allowed the most quarterback hurries of any offensive guard in the NFL.
Wilkerson has been vocal about how much money he thinks he deserves, and the Jets have made it known they want him to stay in New York. But to this point, neither side has been able to meet in the middle. Thus, there's no new deal. While there was once much optimism that a deal would get done before the start of the season, those contract negotiations have now been put on hold.
The interesting situation regarding Wilkerson is that, in a way, he holds the cards. The better he plays, which it seems like he will continue to do, the higher his price tag will become.
And if the Jets don’t wanna pay it? Well, another team will.
Prediction
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It’s a little hard to understand why exactly the Miami Dolphins are struggling so much in 2015.
The team has a young, up-and-coming quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, a solid running back in Lamar Miller and a nice group of receivers led by Jarvis Landry. On defense, Suh and Cameron Wake steal the show, but the group is littered with talent across the field.
Still, Miami isn’t winning. And it seems as if the team is beginning to turn on head coach Joe Philbin.
With things not going overly well, this is the Jets chance to pounce. Yes, Miami is a desperate team, and desperate teams are always dangerous, but this group doesn’t look like one ready to go to battle to save its head coach’s job.
The difference in this game is truthfully going to come down to the Jets offensive line and its ability to open holes for the running game. New York’s defense can contain Miami’s offense; that much is known, but what if Suh and Wake shut down the run and get after Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick? It may be a long flight back to New York.
In the Jets first two victories of the season, both game stories were relatively the same: The defense played extremely well, and the offense did enough. Versus Miami this Sunday, expect something similar.
Jets 26, Dolphins 16
Connor Hughes is the New York Jets beat writer for the Journal Inquirer and Scout.com. All quotes and advanced stats referenced and used are gathered firsthand.
Connor can be reached on Twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes) or via email (connor_j_hughes@yahoo.com).
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