Here are a few of the high takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ 11-6 win over the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday that set Miami up for a wild-card spherical playoff recreation vs. the Bills in Buffalo subsequent weekend:
Jason Sanders is Da Man
Kicker Jason Sanders made a 50-yard subject aim to ship the Dolphins to the playoff for the primary time for the reason that 2016 season. Sanders was 1 of 5 on subject aim makes an attempt of fifty or extra yards getting into the sport. Sanders, an All Pro in 2019, struggled at instances this season. He was 26 of 32 for the common season. — Chris Perkins
Skylar Thompson give his crew an opportunity to win
Dolphins rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson stored his crew within the recreation and gave them an opportunity to win, which is what you need from a third-teamer. Thompson ended 20 of 31 for 152 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 76.3 passer ranking. Thompson, who ended the primary half 11 of 16 for 98 yards and an 84.9 ranking, didn’t make any silly selections. Although the Dolphins didn’t rating a landing, Thompson delivered simply what you need from a backup quarterback.
Sauce and Reed vs. Hill and Waddle
The Jets cornerbacks duo of rookie Pro Bowl choice Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed didn’t do something particular towards Dolphins extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, however they did sufficient, principally by taking away these middle-of-the-field throws the Dolphins feasted on within the first half of the season. Hill, who sustained an ankle harm within the second quarter, had 23 yards on two receptions within the first quarter. Waddle had 33 yards on three receptions and ended with 5 receptions for 44 yards.
Fourth-and-5 twice?
Coach Mike McDaniel went for it on fourth-and-5 from the Dolphins’ 44-yard line within the first quarter. It didn’t work. Then they went for it from the Jets 41-yard line and Wilson gained eight yards and the Dolphins went on to kick a 37-yard subject aim for a 6-3 lead. The latter fourth-down conversion got here after the Dolphins had the sector aim unit on the sector after which the Jets took a timeout. When the crew took the sector once more the Dolphins despatched the offense out and Wilson took the ball across the left finish for an 8-yard acquire. So, the Dolphins had been 1 of two on fourth-and-5 makes an attempt.
Chubb-Ingram-Phillips are low key
The cross rush trio of Bradley Chubb, Melvin Ingram and Jaelan Phillips didn’t do a lot Sunday. In reality, they solely had a handful of snaps collectively, presumably as a result of Chubb remains to be enjoying with a forged/protecting machine on his proper hand. They got here in for the primary time on third-and-9 and Jets QB Joe Flacco accomplished a cross to Elijiah Moore for 15 yards and a primary down. Flacco obtained just a little stress on each side from Ingram and Chubb. They performed collectively once more early within the third quarter on an incomplete cross proper earlier than kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 55-yard subject aim try. Chubb acquired a 5-yard offsides penalty later within the second quarter. The trio was on the sector collectively on the primary third down of the third quarter for a third-and-8, which resulted in a 7-yard completion. Overall, Phillips equipped respectable stress all through the day however that was about it for the trio.
Fighting again towards flipping the sector
Credit the Dolphins for doing one thing with unhealthy subject place. Jets punter Braden Mann had punts of 61 and 57 yards, each getting truthful catches from punt returner/security Jevon Holland. The 57-yard punt, which got here after the Jets went three and out to open the second half, began the Dolphins at their very own 9-yard line and resulted in a subject aim that gave the Dolphins a 3-0 lead. The Dolphins used 15 performs and drove 72 yards, consuming 8:12 off the clock. The 61-yard punt began the Dolphins at their very own 18-yard line. The Dolphins punted after a three-and-out possession. Obviously, give credit score for his or her possession after the 57-yard punt, not the 67-yard punt.
Bad problem, good problem
McDaniel is now 1 for six on challenges. He challenged a fourth-quarter 10-yard reception on third-and-11 from the Jets 49-yard line. The cross to Jets extensive receiver Garrett Wilson was initially deemed full however after overview it was decided the ball hit the bottom. McDaniel additionally challenged a 3rd quarter play through which he thought Wilson fumbled after a reception. But it was decided that security Eric Rowe touched Wilson whereas he had a knee on the bottom. The misplaced problem price the Dolphins a timeout. McDaniel has refused to element who within the upstairs coaches sales space is chargeable for the Dolphins’ challenges.
No Tua, no Armstead, No Tyreek, no drawback?
Midway by the second quarter extensive receiver Tyreek Hill left the sport with an ankle harm, that means the offense was with out Hill, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and left deal with Terron Armstead. The Dolphins ended up kicking a 37-yard subject aim and taking a 3-0 lead. It’s believed to be the primary time all season Tua, Tyreek and Terron had been out resulting from harm. And, no, that’s not a viable offensive answer transferring ahead.
Bad snap, one other self-inflicted miscue
There was a 23-yard loss within the first quarter after a pleasant 26-yard completion from Skylar Thompson to tight finish Durham Smythe that put the Dolphins at their very own 35-yard line. The loss got here on a foul snap from middle Connor Williams. It appeared Thompson wasn’t prepared for the snap, and the snap was excessive. It was one other instance of the Dolphins not having the ability to get out of their very own means. After the Dolphins transformed a fourth-and-5 and acquired to the Jets 33-yard line that they had a delay of recreation on the following play and a first-and-15. Fortunately, the Dolphins cleaned issues up from there.
Run recreation
The Dolphins, who started play this week final in dashing makes an attempt at 358, rushed for 162 yards on 32 carries. The Dolphins had 63 yards on 16 carries (3.9 yards per carry) within the first half, led by Jeff Wilson’s 40 yards on eight carries and Raheem Mostert’s 23 yards on seven carries. Wilson ended with 32 yards and Mostert with 71.
Credit the Dolphins protection
The Jets aren’t recognized for his or her offense however credit score the Dolphins protection for preserving them down. The Jets hadn’t scored a landing of their earlier two video games getting into Sunday. They didn’t come near a landing towards the Dolphins because the protection did good work. The closest the Jets acquired to a landing had been snaps on the 14- and 17-yard traces ensuing of their 32- and 35-yard subject objectives.
Dolphins’ regular-season finales after lengthy shedding streaks
The Jets recreation was the fourth time Miami had gone into the finale having misplaced a minimum of three video games in succession. The streak getting in, the finale consequence, Miami’s season file and playoff consequence if any:
1966: Six losses, defeated Houston Oilers 29-28, 3-11, no playoffs;
2022: Five, defeated New York Jets 11-6, 9-8, playoffs;
1993: Four, misplaced to New England Patriots 33-27. 9-7, no playoffs;
2015: Three, defeated New England Patriots 20-10, 6-10, no playoffs. — Steve Svekis
Connor Williams must work on his snaps
The snap that acquired previous Skylar Thompson for a 23-yard loss was the noticeable error within the first quarter by Miami, however that hike was the third one within the Dolphins’ first 15 performs, and he had one other excessive one 5 performs later. To his credit score, Tua Tagovailoa prevented a variety of big losses by snagging snaps at helmet peak with loads of juice on them.
Just when it was about time to take the problem flag away from Mike McDaniel …
It was massive for Mike McDaniel to lastly get a name overturned on problem with 6:02 left towards the Jets when Garrett Wilson had what was dominated a completion overturned late within the recreation in an enormous spot. He wanted it. The Dolphins very presumably would have been sitting their starters towards the Jets with a playoff spot locked up final week if their coach had correctly dealt with the NFL’s problem system the previous 14 days.
In that fortnight, McDaniel has given away two timeouts with a pair of inconceivable challenges: On a 24-yard Tyquan Thornton catch in New England and Sunday towards the Jets when Wilson had his knee on the bottom and was touched earlier than the ball was punched out. McDaniel regarded to get each reversed, extra as a product of hope than proof.
So, the graphic retains being proven that he’s 1 for six in tossing the crimson flag. However, as damaging have been the 2 instances he hasn’t challenged lengthy cross performs. First, on Christmas, an erroneously dominated 31-yard completion from the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers to Marcedes Lewis that arrange Green Bay for a first-and-goal en path to a landing in a 26-20 Dolphins loss. Then, towards the Patriots, eschewing a problem when Tyreek Hill clearly had two toes down with possession on a 29-yard connection from Teddy Bridgewater on Miami’s first drive that was dominated incomplete. He must be grilled about his course of, particularly since they really do have a recreation subsequent weekend.
How many instances have all three Florida groups made the playoffs?
The Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers additionally all made the playoffs in 1997 and 1999. Of course, in January of 2000, Dan Marino performed his remaining recreation and Jimmy Johnson coached his remaining recreation in a 62-7 divisional-round rout in Jacksonville.
The Dolphins log a final-play-of-the-regular-season defensive rating for the second yr in a row
Last yr, the Patriots, down 27-20 within the waning seconds, tried to get their very own Miami Miracle. However, a toss from receiver Jakobi Meyers bounced to Dolphins linebacker Sam Eguavoen ultimately zone with no time left for a season-ending landing and 33-20 victory. On Sunday, the Jets had been in comparable desperation mode when receiver Elijah Moore grabbed the ball after a sequence of laterals, and, after the gun, fumbled the ball out of the tip zone for a security that pushed the ultimate from 9-6 to 11-6
On deck: At Buffalo Bills, day and time TBA
The Dolphins who had their confidence excessive by scoring 29 factors in Buffalo lower than a month in the past, head again as much as western New York with the protection — led by their run-stoppers — flying excessive. Will Tua be capable of play. Obviously, the $64 million query.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com