Tweet
Sports Network
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - A pair of longtime AFC East rivals will take to the field on Monday night, when the Jets welcome the Dolphins to the Meadowlands for a primetime battle.
New York will be looking to recover from its first loss of the 2004 season, a 13-7 defeat at the hands of defending Super Bowl champion New England last Sunday. The loss dropped Herman Edwards' club, which had posted its best five- game start in franchise history, to a game behind the Patriots in the division.
Miami, meanwhile, will be attempting to build upon its first victory of the season, a 31-14 triumph over NFC West-leading St. Louis. Dave Wannstedt's team, which had scored just 55 points in its first six games prior to last week's win, is vying to recover from a franchise-worst 0-6 start.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jets hold a 39-37-1 lead in their all-time series with Miami, including a 17-9 road win on Oct. 3. The Dolphins won in their most recent away contest against New York, taking a 21-10 decision at Giants Stadium last year. The Jets' last win over Miami at home came in 2002.
New York head coach Herman Edwards has a 4-3 career record against both Miami and Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt, while Wannstedt is 4-7 versus the Jets, including a 3-6 record while with his current team.
In addition to their regular season history, the Jets and Dolphins met in the 1982 AFC Championship, which went to Miami by a 14-0 score.
DOLPHINS OFFENSE VS. JETS DEFENSE
Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler (838 passing yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) comes off his most efficient outing of the season, a 13-17, 203-yard, two-touchdown game against the Rams. Fiedler, who was sacked six times, faced constant pressure as usual, but was able to burn St. Louis for deep TD passes to wideout Chris Chambers (3 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD) and tight end Randy McMichael(4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD). Chambers and McMichael have combined for 60 of the team's 125 catches on the year, and five of Miami's six receiving touchdowns. Dolphins QBs have been sacked 26 times on the year, worst in the league.
The Jets' best defense of Tom Brady last week was its pass rush, which dropped the New England quarterback for three sacks on the day. Ends John Abraham and Shaun Ellis combined for a sack-and-a-half, and have now combined for 11 sacks on the season. The New York secondary did little of note last week, as Brady completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards. Free safety Erik Coleman chipped in with a team-best eight solo tackles in run support, but failed to improve on his team-best two interceptions. The Jets have been serviceable against the pass this year, ranking 18th in NFL passing defense (217.3 yards per game).
The Dolphins received their first two rushing scores of the season last week, as running backs Sammy Morris (28 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD) and Travis Minor (3 receptions, 21 yards, 1 TD) both found the end zone via the ground. Morris (182 yards, 1 TD on the year) is listed as questionable for Monday with a wrist sprain. Despite last week's running successes, Miami continues to rank 32nd in NFL rushing offense (76.3 yards per game), and is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.
The Jets allowed New England's Corey Dillon to rush for 115 yards on 22 carries last Sunday, and will be glad to see Miami's less-threatening group of running backs. Linebacker Eric Barton (34 tackles on the year) led Edwards' squad with 12 tackles last week, and will have to continue his production on a linebacking unit that is unlikely to have the services of Sam Cowart (knee) once again. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson (20 tackles), who had four stops last week, has been the Jets' most reliable run-stopper in the trenches. The Jets rank 12th in NFL rushing defense (105.5 yards per game).
JETS OFFENSE VS. DOLPHINS DEFENSE
The Jets' offensive struggles against New England had their roots in a below- average rushing day for running back Curtis Martin (683 yards, 6 TD on the year), who was held to 70 yards on 20 carries last week. Martin will look to return to 100-yard form against Miami. The team might begin to give more touches to backup LaMont Jordan (6 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD on the year), who has played well when called upon in 2004. New York comes into Monday night's affair ranked sixth in NFL rushing offense (132.3 yards per game).
Miami has struggled against the run this season, with average personnel at the point of attack a top culprit in the deficiency. Jeff Zgonina (23 tackles) has been adequate in the trenches, and Jason Taylor (23 tackles) has pitched in as needed. Linebackers Zach Thomas (83 tackles) and Junior Seau (53 tackles) have done most of the team's run-stopping this season, but Seau is questionable with a groin strain going into Monday's game. The Dolphins allowed the Rams' pass-first attack to compile 103 ground yards last week, and the team is now 27th in NFL rushing defense (130.6 yards per game).
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington (1313 passing yards, 5 TD, 2 INT on the year) didn't play poorly in his team's loss to New England, but failed to execute the second-half touchdown drive the team needed to pull ahead. Pennington completed 19 of 30 passes for 162 yards, passing most often to No. 2 receiver Justin McCareins (6 receptions, 63 yards). Receivers Santana Moss and Wayne Chrebet combined for just three catches in the game, and neither has a touchdown pass in 2004. Backup tight end Chris Baker (12 receptions) leads the Jets with two touchdown grabs on the year, and caught three passes against New England. Pennington has been sacked just six times all year, and New England did not get to him last Sunday.
The Dolphins' strength this season has been pass defense, and the job they did on St. Louis receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce was directly responsible for the team's first win of the year. Holt and Bruce combined for just six catches on the day. Strong safety Sammy Knight had the team's only interception of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, which was the club's fifth pick of the year overall. The Dolphins have 16 sacks on the year, including three compiled against the Rams. Taylor and tackle Jeff Zgonina each recorded a sack, and are tied for the team lead with three sacks apiece. Miami continues to rank first in the league against the pass (143.6 yards per game).
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Miami comes off its first victory of the year, but there's nothing to suggest that winning will become a trend for the team. The Dolphins matched up well with the pass-first, defend-little Rams, but the Jets have the ability to run the football with Martin and play defense when necessary. The Fins are even weaker than they were when New York defeated them in Week 3, and it will show in a decisive Jets triumph on Monday night.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Jets 31, Dolphins 7
By Tony Moss, NFL Editor
(Sports Network) - A pair of longtime AFC East rivals will take to the field on Monday night, when the Jets welcome the Dolphins to the Meadowlands for a primetime battle.
New York will be looking to recover from its first loss of the 2004 season, a 13-7 defeat at the hands of defending Super Bowl champion New England last Sunday. The loss dropped Herman Edwards' club, which had posted its best five- game start in franchise history, to a game behind the Patriots in the division.
Miami, meanwhile, will be attempting to build upon its first victory of the season, a 31-14 triumph over NFC West-leading St. Louis. Dave Wannstedt's team, which had scored just 55 points in its first six games prior to last week's win, is vying to recover from a franchise-worst 0-6 start.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jets hold a 39-37-1 lead in their all-time series with Miami, including a 17-9 road win on Oct. 3. The Dolphins won in their most recent away contest against New York, taking a 21-10 decision at Giants Stadium last year. The Jets' last win over Miami at home came in 2002.
New York head coach Herman Edwards has a 4-3 career record against both Miami and Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt, while Wannstedt is 4-7 versus the Jets, including a 3-6 record while with his current team.
In addition to their regular season history, the Jets and Dolphins met in the 1982 AFC Championship, which went to Miami by a 14-0 score.
DOLPHINS OFFENSE VS. JETS DEFENSE
Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler (838 passing yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) comes off his most efficient outing of the season, a 13-17, 203-yard, two-touchdown game against the Rams. Fiedler, who was sacked six times, faced constant pressure as usual, but was able to burn St. Louis for deep TD passes to wideout Chris Chambers (3 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD) and tight end Randy McMichael(4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD). Chambers and McMichael have combined for 60 of the team's 125 catches on the year, and five of Miami's six receiving touchdowns. Dolphins QBs have been sacked 26 times on the year, worst in the league.
The Jets' best defense of Tom Brady last week was its pass rush, which dropped the New England quarterback for three sacks on the day. Ends John Abraham and Shaun Ellis combined for a sack-and-a-half, and have now combined for 11 sacks on the season. The New York secondary did little of note last week, as Brady completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards. Free safety Erik Coleman chipped in with a team-best eight solo tackles in run support, but failed to improve on his team-best two interceptions. The Jets have been serviceable against the pass this year, ranking 18th in NFL passing defense (217.3 yards per game).
The Dolphins received their first two rushing scores of the season last week, as running backs Sammy Morris (28 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD) and Travis Minor (3 receptions, 21 yards, 1 TD) both found the end zone via the ground. Morris (182 yards, 1 TD on the year) is listed as questionable for Monday with a wrist sprain. Despite last week's running successes, Miami continues to rank 32nd in NFL rushing offense (76.3 yards per game), and is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.
The Jets allowed New England's Corey Dillon to rush for 115 yards on 22 carries last Sunday, and will be glad to see Miami's less-threatening group of running backs. Linebacker Eric Barton (34 tackles on the year) led Edwards' squad with 12 tackles last week, and will have to continue his production on a linebacking unit that is unlikely to have the services of Sam Cowart (knee) once again. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson (20 tackles), who had four stops last week, has been the Jets' most reliable run-stopper in the trenches. The Jets rank 12th in NFL rushing defense (105.5 yards per game).
JETS OFFENSE VS. DOLPHINS DEFENSE
The Jets' offensive struggles against New England had their roots in a below- average rushing day for running back Curtis Martin (683 yards, 6 TD on the year), who was held to 70 yards on 20 carries last week. Martin will look to return to 100-yard form against Miami. The team might begin to give more touches to backup LaMont Jordan (6 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD on the year), who has played well when called upon in 2004. New York comes into Monday night's affair ranked sixth in NFL rushing offense (132.3 yards per game).
Miami has struggled against the run this season, with average personnel at the point of attack a top culprit in the deficiency. Jeff Zgonina (23 tackles) has been adequate in the trenches, and Jason Taylor (23 tackles) has pitched in as needed. Linebackers Zach Thomas (83 tackles) and Junior Seau (53 tackles) have done most of the team's run-stopping this season, but Seau is questionable with a groin strain going into Monday's game. The Dolphins allowed the Rams' pass-first attack to compile 103 ground yards last week, and the team is now 27th in NFL rushing defense (130.6 yards per game).
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington (1313 passing yards, 5 TD, 2 INT on the year) didn't play poorly in his team's loss to New England, but failed to execute the second-half touchdown drive the team needed to pull ahead. Pennington completed 19 of 30 passes for 162 yards, passing most often to No. 2 receiver Justin McCareins (6 receptions, 63 yards). Receivers Santana Moss and Wayne Chrebet combined for just three catches in the game, and neither has a touchdown pass in 2004. Backup tight end Chris Baker (12 receptions) leads the Jets with two touchdown grabs on the year, and caught three passes against New England. Pennington has been sacked just six times all year, and New England did not get to him last Sunday.
The Dolphins' strength this season has been pass defense, and the job they did on St. Louis receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce was directly responsible for the team's first win of the year. Holt and Bruce combined for just six catches on the day. Strong safety Sammy Knight had the team's only interception of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, which was the club's fifth pick of the year overall. The Dolphins have 16 sacks on the year, including three compiled against the Rams. Taylor and tackle Jeff Zgonina each recorded a sack, and are tied for the team lead with three sacks apiece. Miami continues to rank first in the league against the pass (143.6 yards per game).
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Miami comes off its first victory of the year, but there's nothing to suggest that winning will become a trend for the team. The Dolphins matched up well with the pass-first, defend-little Rams, but the Jets have the ability to run the football with Martin and play defense when necessary. The Fins are even weaker than they were when New York defeated them in Week 3, and it will show in a decisive Jets triumph on Monday night.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Jets 31, Dolphins 7
Comment