THE JETS STILL SUCK

At last, the Dolphins win. Miami came out of the bye looking sharper, tougher and far more composed, beating the New York Jets 28–25 at MetLife Stadium for the first win of the Jeff Hafley era. The late rally made every Dolphins fan sweat, but Miami never trailed, controlled long stretches of the game and finally delivered the sort of finish that had been missing. Here are the five biggest reasons the Dolphins got it done.

1. Malik Willis Gave Miami Exactly What It Needed

Willis played with control rather than desperation. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 208 yards, threw two touchdowns to rookie Caleb Douglas and added a rushing score of his own. Just as importantly, he protected the football and kept drives alive with his legs, something that has been missing the first five weeks games of the season. He didn’t attempt deep throws down the field, never really testing the Jets secondary, but that was fine, so many times before, the ball falls incomplete or intercepted, which then sets the offense behind the sticks.

2. The Ground Game Set the Terms

Ollie Gordon II was the engine of Miami’s ground-control approach, carrying 25 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins finished with 156 rushing yards and held the ball for 34 minutes and 36 seconds, keeping the Jets’ offense on the sideline and allowing Willis to operate without having to chase the game. Miami’s willingness to stay patient—especially during the long scoring drives in the first half—gave the offense an identity it had lacked during the 0–5 start. Miami didn’t have it all their own way though as the offense found it hard going in the second half, letting the Jets back into the game.  

3. Caleb Douglas Supplied the Spark

Douglas only caught two passes, but both went for touchdowns. His seven-yard score finished Miami’s opening drive and gave the team immediate belief. Then, with the Jets closing to within four in the final quarter, the rookie broke a tackle and raced 63 yards for the touchdown that restored breathing room at 28–17. Two catches, 70 yards, two scores: that is the definition of making every opportunity count.

4. The Defense stepped up when called on

The final yardage totals were not dominant, but Miami’s defense made the biggest first-half play. With New York threatening at the Dolphins’ 21-yard line, safety Michael Taaffe intercepted Geno Smith. That was the only turnover of the afternoon, and Miami played the entire game without giving the ball away. The defense also held the Jets to 114 total yards before half-time, helping the Dolphins take a 21–7 lead into the break. There were lapses in coverage and TE Mason Taylor found himself open to many times, maybe as it was tight end day they felt like being generous, but they have struggled to against the position thus far. The goal line stand at the start of the fourth quarter was another big-time moment as the Jets were looking to tie the game up, three attempts to punch it in from the one and they had to settle for a field goal.

5. Hafley Trusted His Team to Finish

This win meant more than a mark in the standings: it was Hafley’s first as an NFL head coach, and it came in his home state against an AFC East rival. His boldest decision captured the difference between this performance and the previous five defeats. Rather than punt on fourth-and-one from the Jets’ 49, he put the game in the hands of his offensive line and quarterback. Miami converted, moved to 3-for-3 on fourth down and ran out the clock. The Jets had produced a frantic late comeback, but the Dolphins did not retreat. They closed.

Final Verdict

No Dolphins fan is pretending one win erases a 0–5 start, and the second-half defensive lapses still demand attention. But beating the Jets always feels good, and doing it with a physical run game, mistake-free quarterback play, a rookie breakout and a fearless call to seal it feels even better. Miami finally showed resilience with a result attached. The season still has a long way to go, but for the first time in 2026 there is something to smile about.