MIAMI – Every year, it seems, when the Jets and Dolphins play each other either, there’s something significant at stake or something memorable occurs.
There was the “Midnight Miracle” Monday night game at the Meadowlands. There was the “Fake Spike” game. There was the 51-45 overtime epic. The Jets have clinched playoff berths playing the Dolphins, even played them in an AFC Championship game for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
That’s not the case today. This matchup features two teams with a combined record of 2-20, playing out the 2007 string to a merciful end to their respective seasons.
Call it the Ineptitude Bowl, if you will. But there are some things at stake today at Dolphins Stadium.
First, the Jets, who feel they have suffered enough humiliation this year, do not – we repeat, do not – want to become that one victory of the 0-11 Dolphins’ season.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, a Jets loss to the Dolphins, who actually are favored to win, would place them in serious contention for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
Right now, the Dolphins (0-11), Jets (2-9) and Rams (2-9) are jockeying for position for that dubious honor. A Jets loss would leave them a game behind Miami in the race for the top pick.
Here’s an inside look at how this classic will break down.
BEST BATTLE
Jets kick-return and coverage teams vs. Dolphins kick-return and coverage teams. The Jets have Leon Washington, second in the NFL with a 31.5-yard kickoff return average and an 8.1-yard punt return average. The Dolphins have rookie Ted Ginn Jr., averaging 23.8 yards on kickoffs and 12.5 yards on punts. Edmond Miles, who leads the Dolphins with 13 special-teams tackles and has a forced fumble, will be busy with Washington.
WHO WILL RUNNETH OVER?
The Jets are ranked 31st in the NFL in run defense. The Dolphins are ranked 30th. The difference here is the Jets are ranked 20th in the league in rushing offense, and the Dolphins are ranked 15th and have an impressive 4.4 yards-per-carry average, second-best in the AFC and more than a half-yard better than the Jets’ 3.7-yard average. The Dolphins have scored 10 rushing touchdowns this season, eight more than the Jets’ two, one of which came from Chad Pennington. Jets feature back Thomas Jones has gone 207 carries without scoring a touchdown. Jesse Chatman, who had been out of football for two years before this season, is averaging 4.3 yards per carry since replacing the injured Ronnie Brown, who lit up the Jets defense earlier this season.
HERE’S THE KICKER
These teams have been involved in mostly close games this season, and this one is a good bet to come down to a field goal. For the Jets, Mike Nugent has made 13 of his last 14 field goal attempts. For the Dolphins, Jay Feely is 14-of-16 for the season, though his two misses have come in the last four games.
TAYLOR MADE
If the Jets have one most pressing concern with this game, it’s not allowing Dolphins DE Jason Taylor to ruin their offense. Taylor, who has had his way with the Jets in the past, leads the Dolphins with six sacks and three forced fumbles. He, too, has an interception. He will give Jets LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson everything he can handle.
ON YOUR MARK, GET READY …
A fast start could put the Jets in good shape. They have played much better in the first half (outscored only 111-110) than in the second half (outscored 164-68). The Dolphins have been vulnerable early in games, outscored 62-19 in the first quarter, with one first-quarter touchdown in the last 15 games dating back to last season.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
Ten times this season, the Dolphins have allowed their opponent to score within the final minute of the first half or regulation. The Jets have had some of their most effective drives in two-minute-drill situations.
FOE FACT
The Dolphins defense has picked off five passes in the last three games.
JETS FACT
As a result of teams trying different ways to kick the ball away from Washington, 10 different players have returned at least one kick this season.
NUMBER TO KNOW
11. That’s the number of different starting lineups the injury-riddled Dolphins have used in their 11 games this season.
CANNIZZARO’S CALL
JETS – 17
DOLPHINS – 14
The Jets will squeak this one out, but it won’t be stress-free. Look for Thomas Jones to rush for more than 100 yards and for Kellen Clemens to be efficient passing the ball. The Dolphins have lost too many running backs to injuries and their running game shouldn’t be a major threat.