NFL Week 9: Jets Get a Second Chance in Rematch with Dolphins

This is a different Miami team than the Jets faced at the beginning of the season. After a strong start, Miami has gone 1-4 since Week 3. Can Todd Bowles find an answer for the Fins this time around?

Despite their skin-grating skid, home-field advantage and inconsistencies with the Jets have led oddsmakers to list the Dolphins as 3-point favorites on Sunday. For those of you are new to this column and would like to learn more about spreads and totals, you can check this quick how to bet on sports guide.

Gurneys Collide

Somebody bring out a stretcher; we’ve got injuries! Both of these teams are beat up, Let’s start with the Gang. Bilal Powell, Quincy Enunwa, Neal Sterling, Robby Anderson, and more were all out against Chicago and are still questionable for Week 9. Who is Sam Darnold supposed to go to at this point? The Jets only converted on three third-downs and boasted the leagues worst yards per play for Week 8.

The NY defense is also a little black and blue. The water has been drained out of linebacker pool with Kevin Pierre-Louis questionable and Josh Martin on IR. Then back at the third level, Buster Skrine is still out at CB with a bruised brain, and Trumaine Johnson is questionable with a quad contusion. Adding to the pile, DT, Steve McLendon came out of the game against the Bears with an ankle injury and is still listed as questionable to play in Miami.

Luckily for us, Jets fans, the nurse’s office has a line going out the door for the Dolphins as well. For starters, it is looking highly doubtful that Ryan Tannehill will play. Adam Gase was optimistic about Tannehill’s impending recovery, but stated that is ‘slow progress.’ He isn’t officially listed as out, but there is a good chance the Jets will be facing Brock Lobster instead. Miami’s No. 1 receiver, Kenny Stills is also questionable. TE, AJ Derby, and Guard, Ted Larsen are dinged up as well.

But the biggest issue that the Dolphins have faced is their battered defense. They started the season allowing just a hair over 17 points per game but over the last five games have averaged 33 points allowed. That’s almost a 100% increase in opponent scoring.

Return of the Mac

With Bilal Powell out the run game has been lacking. With Isaiah Crowell and Trenton Cannon in the backfield, the Jets have only been able to come up with around 64 rushing yards per game. Like Anthony, Keidis said, ‘Never been a better time than right now,’ the return of Elijah McGuire is badly needed. It’s been a while, and he’s coming off surgery to repair his foot, so we can’t expect his productivity to be at 100% in his first game back. But the added depth and different looks at RB could prove to be just what the Jets need to get the ball moving on the ground again. Since their slide, the Dolphins now the worst in the league at stopping the run, getting gut-busted for 143 yards per game. So if the Jets can finally get some ground productivity going, they have a legitimate shot at getting one back from the Fins.

There Will Be Sweat

The weather is predicted to be hot and humid. It looks like it will be a balmy 83 degrees with a chance of thunderstorms. This could slow the Jets down later in the game. Northern teams tend to pitter out in the 4th quarter while playing in Miami. That said, the Miami defense is buckled at the knees, and I like the Jets’ chances to keep it within three on Sunday.

Wait out the line and see if you can get the Jets at +3.5. If the line doesn’t move naturally, the Jets are +3 (-105) at 5Dimes and (-101) at Bookmaker, so you should be able to buy the half-point for ten cents to get Gang Green at +3.5 (-115).

Justin Hilbert

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