Jets vs. Dolphins: 3 Things We Learned from New York's 24-6 Win over Miami

The New York Jets needed this one. A date with the Miami Dolphins is the perfect medicine for an ailing team.

While some of the Jets' success tonight is certainly due to weakness of their opponent, they did show some excellent signs of recovery from their early-season woes throughout the game.

Let's take a look a three key lessons that we learned from the Jets' 24-6 win over the hapless Dolphins.

Mark Sanchez Responds Well with His Back Against the Wall

After a thoroughly lackluster start to the 2011 season, Mark Sanchez showed why he's a legitimate franchise quarterback.

Although he started poorly with a number of wretched overthrows, he got it together later in the game. He stood in the pocket well under pressure all night and hit his receivers when he needed to.

Although he was helped by an effective running game and better blocking by his offensive line, those facts shouldn't diminish his good play tonight.

He completed 14 of 25 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown. While these are certainly not overwhelming numbers, he wasn't the turnover machine he was in earlier games this year.

Sanchez displayed great poise as he led the key drive at the end of the second quarter that turned the tide for the Jets. That drive keyed their run to the steamrolling they administered to the Dolphins in the second half. 

The Jets Won't Win Many Games If They Start Like They Did Against the Dolphins

The Jets gift-wrapped an early lead to the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are so putrid they couldn't even open that present. Instead, Matt Moore tossed an interception at the goal line that led to a 100-yard touchdown return by Darrelle Revis and they kicked a couple of short field goals.

Against a better team (like their next opponent, the San Diego Chargers) the Jets would be in at least a 14-0 hole at that point in the game.

The Jets need to get it together earlier in the game going forward. The offense is still not clicking as it needs to for the Jets to make a strong playoff push.

Shonn Greene showed up nicely in the second half and the Jets should be sure to feed him the ball consistently. LaDainian Tomlinson is a great change-of-pace back, but Greene needs to shoulder the majority of load.

Dustin Keller needs to continue to be a force in the passing game over the middle. Sanchez should also keep looking for Santonio Holmes, who makes things happen with the ball and has better hands than Plaxico Burress.

The Jets Defense Is Better Than Ever

With five sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions, the Jets defense brought the wood against the Dolphins.

It doesn't matter who the opponent is—those statistics are incredibly impressive.

In the Jets' three losses this year, their defense really wasn't the major problem. That squad wasn't as dominating as it has been in the past, but it did enough to win those games (if it weren't for the turnover-prone, ineffective offense).

Kenrick Ellis looked quick and strong at defensive tackle and Kyle Wilson was effective at cornerback. I also liked Aaron Maybin at linebacker this week. Calvin Pace was his typically excellent self and Revis did enough against Brandon Marshall to keep him from the end zone. The whole group swarmed like angry bees all night, pestering an overmatched Dolphins offense into numerous errors.

If the defense can continue to perform this well and the offense can minimize turnovers like it did this week, the Jets will be poised to claw their way back into the playoff hunt.