Jets WR Brandon Marshall on his emotions after the loss. He sighed, looking around a room full of reporters. The sloppy play, penalties, turnovers … it reminded me of another coach who was often panned for his team’s lack of discipline and playing down to the level of their opponent. “I was trying to beat (Drake) to the end zone”. This season has been full of heartache and disappointment for the Jets. The drive took 6:34 off the clock and was helped by a third-down interference penalty on Miami linebacker Jelani Jenkins.
Advertisement
AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak in NY contributed to this report.
Next, up for the Dolphins (4-4), they will go on a two-game road trip to California as they will face the San Diego Chargers and then Los Angeles Rams the week after. And Kenyan Drake’s 96-yard kickoff. In a fourth quarter full of thrilling, insane plays, this was the final haymaker.
If the Miami Dolphins want to win they will have to continue to keep on pounding the rock with the running game. The only previous time they faced Ajayi, he carried three times for 6 yards. “The hole is deeper”. As far as I see it, it is the only right way forward.
It wasn’t just that they lost, it was how they lost.
Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said the constant jawing didn’t throw Marshall off his game.
The Jets will win or lose today’s game on the back of their defense.
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (3-4): Cornerback Byron Maxwell dismissed allegations by Marshall that the veteran holds “every single play”.
The Jets ran for 110 yards on 17 carries in the first half, including 7-for-73 for Forte. Both interceptions were bad and one was in the red zone.
This week the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick continued to struggle in the red zone, with Fitzpatrick throwing his fifth red zone interception of the season. A pick to a wide open Dolphin defender in the endzone exemplifies this problem. “It was a miscommunication”.
FAST FACTS: Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed merely 47.1 percent (16-for-34) in Week 8, his second game this season with at least 30 pass attempts and a completion percentage less than 50 percent.
The Dolphins got a new lease on life, Drake took it to the house and it essentially buried the Jets’ hopes of making an awesome second-half playoff surge. But after the Jets defense forced a three-and-out, punter Matt Durr fumbled the snap and the Jets recovered on the 18 yard line.
This outstanding return put the Dolphins back up on top with a 27-23 lead with about four-and-a-half minutes remaining.
The joy, however, was short-lived. On the ensuing play, Nick Folk aimed the ball at Drake, not Grant, and Drake wasted no time taking it to the house. There are game-changing stars on that line. Fortunately, the Jets didn’t become the No. 1 rushing defense in the league by relying on one or even two players.
Advertisement
“It’s infuriating”, Bowles said.
