The Miami Dolphins don’t need the New York Jets to be perfect to beat them in Week 7. They just need to make life miserable for Geno Smith.
That’s the hinge point in this matchup. The Jets are better than Miami, but not by much, and their offense does not exactly scare anybody on paper.
They sit 25th in total yards and 23rd in both passing and rushing production. Still, they’ve found ways to win by forcing Smith into bad decisions, and that means the Dolphins’ defense has to show up in a way it hasn’t consistently done this season.
Miami can take advantage of New York’s weakness against the run, but that alone won’t decide the game. The bigger issue is whether the Dolphins can stop the Jets from controlling the rhythm on offense.
If Smith has clean pockets, the Jets can let receivers work themselves open and make Miami chase the play. If pressure shows up, the whole picture changes.
The Dolphins’ secondary has been better than expected, and Juju Brents should be able to handle the boundary with some safety help on Garrett Wilson. The tougher spot is the other side, where Jason Marshall has struggled.
That gives the Jets a natural place to attack, especially after they got rookie Omar Cooper Jr. involved last week and saw it pay off. Expect them to keep feeding him.
Chris Johnson is also off to a strong start, and he could end up being a difference-maker Sunday. Miami will need to be sharp against the tight ends too, which puts pressure on Jacob Rodriguez to be more reliable in coverage or at least disrupt plays at the line and on crossing routes before they develop.
But all of that is just part of the puzzle. The biggest issue for Miami is getting after Smith.
He has been sacked in all but the Jets’ first game of the season, and in every one since, he has taken multiple sacks. That’s where the opening is for the Dolphins, whose pass rush has been dormant far too often.
This is a week where Jeff Hafley may have to be aggressive and send pressure from different spots on the field. Miami hasn’t had many games where the rush has taken over, but this one sets up as a chance to do exactly that.
The Dolphins should have a manageable answer for the Jets’ running game. The real test is whether they can disrupt the pocket fast enough to keep Smith from picking apart the defense.
In Other News...
Dolphins Face An Awkward Kicking Test In Week 7
The kicking situation in Miami has already become one of those small but meaningful subplots that can linger around a team all season, and Week 7 adds another layer. Jason Sanders, once the Dolphins kicker, is now in New York and set to face Miami for the first time since leaving, giving the game a little extra edge in a spot where special teams can turn from background noise into the headline.
Sanders has been steady enough for the Jets, making 12 of 13 field goal attempts, with the lone misses coming from beyond 50 yards and on an extra point. For Miami, the return trip has a familiar sting after the offseason decision to move on from Sanders over salary, injury concerns and inconsistency, only to recently cut his replacement and bring back an older competitor, leaving the Dolphins still searching for the kind of stability they hoped the change would provide. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Kicking Situation
The Dolphins made a swift move at kicker after just five games, swapping out Riley Patterson for Zane Gonzalez as they tried to stabilize one of the most delicate parts of the roster. Pattersons inconsistency on field goals and extra points forced Miami to act, and the decision brought Gonzalez back into the picture after he had already spent time with the organization.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has made it clear why the Dolphins are comfortable with the change. He pointed to Gonzalezs consistency and experience, calling attention to a veteran who has seven NFL seasons behind him and has handled stops with multiple teams. For a team looking for steadiness in pressure moments, Miamis latest move says plenty about how seriously it is treating the kicking spot. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Have A Clear Path Vs Jets But One Problem Keeps Looming
The path for Miami in Week 7 looks fairly clear on paper, starting with a run game that has quietly given the offense some life. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the bright spots with De'Von Achane out, giving the Dolphins a steadier presence between the tackles and helping balance what Mike McDaniels group wants to do offensively. If Miami can keep leaning on that ground game and keep the Jets from turning the contest into a slog, it has a real chance to control the flow.
The bigger concern is whether the Dolphins can clean up the messiness that has followed them on special teams. Even with the matchup shaping up favorably, that phase has a way of creating sudden problems, especially in a game where field position and hidden yards can swing momentum fast. Miami can like its offensive plan and still know there is one area that could complicate everything if it does not improve. [Read more 🡒]