Jets vs. Dolphins: Preview, predictions, what to watch for

An inside take a look at Sunday’s Jets-Dolphins Week 5 matchup at MetLife Stadium.

Marquee matchup

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill vs. Jets CB Sauce Gardner 

The Jets almost acquired Hill in a commerce with the Chiefs again in March, however the Dolphins swooped in and landed him. Now, the Jets must attempt to guard him. Hill enters the sport because the main receiver within the NFL with 477 yards. 

There are some things working within the Jets’ favor, although. Hill landed on the harm report this week as questionable, with a quad harm, and it's unclear how critical that's. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has been coy about Hill’s availability. The Dolphins are additionally enjoying with backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater instead of Tua Tagovailoa, who's out with a concussion. 

These issues will assist, and it'll additionally assist if Gardner continues to play the way in which he has thus far, early in his rookie season. Gardner has lived as much as his billing and it has been robust to finish a go on him. Gardner received’t guard Hill completely. D.J. Reed may also cowl Hill (and Jaylen Waddle, who is also listed as questionable with a groin harm). However the matchup everybody needs to see is Gardner vs. Hill. 

Tyreek Hill, Sauce Gardner
Tyreek Hill, Sauce Gardner
Getty (2)

“That is what I dreamed about coming to the NFL,” Gardner mentioned. “The objectives that I've for myself like Rookie of the 12 months, All-Professional, Professional Bowl, all that sort of stuff, I’ve obtained to go towards guys like that to be able to be acknowledged. It’s an important alternative. Me and D.J. and the remainder of the secondary was speaking about it. It’s an important alternative to point out the world what we are able to do.” 

Costello’s name

The Jets might be catching the Dolphins at an excellent time. Miami has lots of harm questions coming into this recreation. However I believe Teddy Bridgewater will have the ability to do sufficient and hit a number of massive performs on the Jets’ protection to tug out an in depth one. 

Dolphins 28, Jets 20 

4 downs 

Zach assault: Jets quarterback Zach Wilson confirmed what he was able to within the fourth quarter final week towards the Steelers. Wilson accomplished 10 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a landing within the closing quarter. He led the offense down the sector twice to erase a 10-point deficit. 

The query now's whether or not will probably be the fourth-quarter Wilson who exhibits up towards the Dolphins, or if will probably be the quarterback who was 8-for-24 with two interceptions within the first three quarters. 

“To place collectively these two drives within the fourth quarter says loads about these guys, says loads about him as a pacesetter, how a lot he’s persevering with to develop and develop and mature,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur mentioned. “He was final yr when it comes to simply being a pacesetter. By expertise, it’s going to proceed to get higher and higher.” 

The Dolphins have given up yards within the passing recreation this yr. They're thirty first within the NFL in passing yards towards. They might be with out star cornerback Xavien Howard, who didn't apply all week due to an injured groin. 

Teddy time: The Dolphins have spent the previous 10 days attempting to maneuver past the Tua Tagovailoa concussion controversy. They'll try this on the sector Sunday with a powerful efficiency from backup Teddy Bridgewater. The Jets know the veteran properly. He was a member of the Jets for a quick time in 2018, and the they confronted him final yr when he was the Broncos’ quarterback. Denver received that recreation, 26-0, and Bridgewater was his common environment friendly self. 

“He obtained after us final yr after we went to Denver,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh mentioned. “Teddy is a really well-respected quarterback inside league circles.” 

Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater
Getty Pictures

Shedding my division: There are many areas wherein the Jets have been dismal lately, and you can begin inside the division. They've misplaced their previous 12 AFC East video games. It's important to return to the ultimate week of the 2019 season, after they beat a Payments staff resting most of their gamers, for the Jets’ final division win. The final time they beat the Dolphins was a number of weeks previous to that. 

Saleh has emphasised “closing the hole” within the division because the minute the 2021 season ended. It was a part of his message through the first staff assembly in April, and “Personal the East” is written on partitions across the constructing. They'll begin closing the hole on Sunday. 

Corridor gasoline: Rookie working again Breece Corridor seems to be like he's figuring issues out. He ran onerous final week in Pittsburgh, and the coaches have been impressed with the changes he produced from earlier within the season, when he was not as bodily in his rushes. Corridor had 66 dashing yards on 17 carries final Sunday and scored the game-winning landing. He additionally had two catches for 12 yards. 

The Dolphins can anticipate one other heavy dose of Corridor this Sunday. 

“He’s two-dimensional,” Wilson mentioned, “he does an important job within the go recreation as properly, and he’s nonetheless studying each single recreation, however he’s robust, the sport isn't too massive for him, he’s doing an important job, so I’m excited that we have now a working again like that.”

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