Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
Miami Gardens, FL – Brock Osweiler started for the fourth straight time in place of the injured Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. Offense from the quarterback fortunately was not needed for the Dolphins to seal a victory at Hard Rock Stadium Sunday. The Dolphin defense completely diffused the New York Jets offense, holding them to only two 3rd down conversions and causing four interceptions in 13-6 win.
“I thought they did a good job playing together,” said Head Coach Adam Gase. “We had all three levels trying to really complement each other, and that’s what you’re looking for. Today we did a good job of all three levels playing together.”
At the 54 second mark in the first quarter, linebacker Kiko Alonso corralled an interception and returned it for 14 yards for the first Dolphin interception. A late hit out of bounds on the play set the Fins up at the Jets 43-yard line. Dolphins would fail to score a touchdown as the drive stalled at the Jet 26-yard line. Coach Gase decided to run the ball with Kenyan Drake on 3rd and 14, that would only result in a five yard gain. Jason Sanders connected on a 43-yard field goal to put the Dolphins on the scoreboard first 3-0.
“We tried to get [Drake] the ball a few times. Every time we called certain things, [Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles] had the right coverage to take it away. They were blitzing at the right time. We were trying to mix it up, call opposite of what they would; but he dialed up everything right and it made it really difficult to try to get our playmakers the ball.”
Osweiler’s second scoring drive started at the Miami 40-yard line. The 6’7” quarterback finally got into a rhythm on this drive running a no huddle offense that would move into the red zone for this first time and only time all day.
Dolphins would settle for another field goal as Osweiler’s pass would fall incomplete on a 3rd down and two. Sanders would make a 27 yarder to extend the lead 6-0 with 1:14 left in the half.
The Jets would get on the board right before the break as rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, the number three overall pick in the draft, executed a seven play 45-yard drive that would end with a Jason Myers made field goal from 48 yards out. Plenty of punts traded back and forth as the entire contest would go without an offensive touchdown.
The Dolphins lead a balanced attack with 17 rushes and 17 pass attempts in the first half.
“It was just a hard-fought and a tough football game,” said Osweiler. “We knew going into this game offensively we had a great challenge. The Jets have a lot of good players on the defensive side of the ball. They play really hard. They are talented and they have a tough scheme to go against.”
Running back Frank Gore surpassed Barry Sanders and moved into sixth place in career scrimmage yards on the Dolphins first drive of the second half. After the game Gore learned of the feat and was honored with the accomplishment.
Interview with @frankgore after the @MiamiDolphins 13-6 win over the New York Jets Sunday. The former @CAVALIERNATION1 and @CanesFootball alum surpassed @BarrySanders for sixth all time in scrimmage yards. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/1VfmNjoF7c
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) November 6, 2018
“I didn’t know that but I’ll take it,” said Gore. “He’s a guy I looked up to when I was coming up as a kid, I’m blessed by that.”
The Jets would make it into the red zone for the first time in the fourth quarter. As soon as they crossed the 20, the Jets started to go backwards. Defensive end Cameron Wake would get his second sack of the day on Darnold and a delay of game penalty would push them back even further.
An incomplete pass set up fourth down and yard field goal attempt by Myers would sail wide right.
“There are days you get pressure and no sacks, and some days you get sacks and no pressure, said Wake. “That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. And if you continue to do your job day-in, day-out, don’t look backwards, don’t look too far forward, focus on the play in front of you, the next play is the most important play, eventually you keep doing the right thing, good things will happen for you and obviously for the team as a whole.”
On 2nd and 9 from the Jets own sixteen yard line, rookie linebacker Jerome Baker stepped in front of a Darnold pass and returned it for 25 yards for the touchdown. The former Ohio State Buckeye kept the ball as a keepsake. It was the only touchdown scored in the game.
“It was in the air and felt like it was moving in slow motion,” described Baker of the interception. “I’m going to frame [the football] and keep it at my house.”
Jets would bounce back on the next drive as Myers redeemed himself with a field goal from 56 yards with 5:57 left. Dolphins would go three and out on their next drive giving the Jets a chance to tie. After a sack by Akeem Spence the Jets would face a fourth down with what felt like the game on the line. A pass over the middle would be intercepted once again, this time by safety TJ McDonald. McDonald would finish with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defended. Spence would finish with two sacks.
“We just played a good brand of defense today and that’s just something that we had to get back to,” stated Spence. “Just playing defense.”
Reportedly, pro bowl safety Reshad Jones removed himself from the game. Gase commented after the game.
“It sounded like he pulled himself out,” said Gase. “I just gotta found out what happened there.”
The Dolphins continue to be decimated by injuries this season as starting right tackle Juwan James Laremy Tunsil both left the game with a knee injuries. This team has already lost starters Albert Wilson, Vincent Taylor, Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore among others.
“Linebacker. Quarterback. Tight end. Receiver. Offensive line. Nobody. Kickers ain’t safe right now,” said Wake.
Osweiler is now 2-2 as the starter while Tannehill is 3-2 this season. Tannehill is recovering from a shoulder injury but is expected to return next week. Tannehill has five interceptions and three fumbles in 5 games, while Osweiler has three interceptions and zero fumbles. Although Osweiler did not score any touchdowns he also did not turn the ball over. Gase will have a decision to make if Tannehill is ready to go at Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers next week.
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