The Miami Dolphins took down the New York Jets on Monday, 16-13.
The Miami Dolphins came from behind to take down the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, 16-13. Miami trailed for much of the game, as they were initially unable to stop the Jets from running the football. But the field goal game wasn't enough to keep the Jets ahead, and a Lamar Miller touchdown late in the fourth gave Miami the boost they needed.
New York had an opportunity to grab the lead right back with under six minutes to go, but kicker Nick Folk missed his second field goal of the day, leaving the game at a 13-13 tie and giving Miami the chance to put the deciding points on the board. They did that, with Caleb Sturgis kicking a 26-yard field goal at the two-minute warning, leaving the Jets with little time to put points on the board.
The Jets started to drive downfield, when Geno Smith threw his first interception of the game, effectively sealing the win for Miami.
It was pretty clear from the beginning of the game that the Jets wanted to run the football, and run it they did in the first half. Six different players had carries for the Jets in that opening half, with 29 total carries for 210 yards and the Greg Salas touchdown. The Salas touchdown came on a reverse handoff, and went for 20 yards. Few expect that kind of thing out of Salas, who is certainly not the fastest player on New York's offense.
New York would have had a 13-3 lead to take into halftime if Nick Folk hadn't missed a 48-yard field goal. That came with under four minutes to go in the half, and the Dolphins managed to put together a long drive to kick their 43-yard field goal as time expired to make it 10-3 going into halftime.
They managed to maintain that lead for most of the game. Miami managed a field goal early on in the third quarter, but the Jets responded with another of their own to make it a seven-point game. But the Dolphins made it interesting early on in the fourth with a 4-yard touchdown run from running back Lamar Miller, tying the game at 13-13.
New York attempted to tie things up on the following drive, but Folk missed another field goal. Miami once again took advantage and drove downfield, this time putting up the game-winning points with two minutes to go. It might have been enough time, but the aforementioned Smith interception sealed the deal.
Three things we learned:
1) Geno Smith is not in the gameplan
The Jets made yet another switch at the quarterback before this game, benching Michael Vick for Geno Smith, a few games after benching Smith for Vick in the first place. But it was obvious from the get-go that New York was eager to get the ball out of Smith's hands as quickly as possible. The Jets ran 35 offensive plays in the first half, and Smith attempted just six passes. Six different players ran the football, including three wide receivers. Obviously, that move was paying off early, as the Jets took a 10-3 lead into halftime.
2) The Jets' defenders aren't good at catching footballs
The Jets had just three interceptions coming into Monday's game. That's the lowest in the NFL, well behind everyone else. To contrast, the Cleveland Browns lead the league with 17 interceptions on the year. But what exactly is the problem? Maybe there's just not many opportunities for them to get picks -- balls out of reach and things of that nature.
Oh ... Well, nevermind. The Jets just aren't very good at snagging interceptions.
3) Then again ...
Sometimes, miraculous interceptions do happen, and even a team like the Jets can make something happen with them. Such a thing occurred late in the third quarter, when Lamar Miller tried to catch a pass low, let it get out of his hands and ... right in to the Jets defender:
That's a pretty lucky play for the Jets. You can't really tell at full speed, but Miller actually gets his hands under the ball and starts to lift -- it doesn't just bounce off his hands or anything -- before he loses control and it gets away from him. It was a lucky break for the Jets, who moved to four interceptions on the season.
Source SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1rQq81w
No comments:
Post a Comment