FINAL CALL FOR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS

Today is the day we find out if the Miami Dolphins make the play-offs, it will be surprising if they do, but miraculously they are still in with a shout. As seems to be the case more often than not they are not in control of their own destiny, they have to take care of business against the New York Jets at Metlife, but the Kansas City Chiefs have to beat the Denver Broncos. The big problem is that it seem as though Kansas will be sitting six defensive starters along with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, that and RT Jawaan Taylor and RB Isiah Pacheco are officially out. Carson Wentz is the obvious choice at QB but he probably won’t have a full supporting cast to make the most of.

It is all very well deciding to rest your starters but it is baffling, from Andy Reed’s viewpoint who would you rather face in the play-offs. This isn’t a slight on the Dolphins but out of the Broncos, Bengals and Dolphins who would you rather face in the play-offs, a much improved Denver team that they just squeaked past thanks to a blocked field goal as time expired, the league’s most prolific offense with the leagues worst defense that is showing signs of life, or a team that may not have their starting QB, struggles to run the ball and don’t play well in the cold. There is obviously risk of injury, but surely having to face the Bengals or Broncos is an equally daunting proposition considering the Chief are one of only the three teams that haven’t scored more than 30 points in a game all season long.

Irrespective of what happens in snowy Denver, the Dolphins need to sweep the Jets in their house, and it looks as if Tyler Huntley is going to be starting again because for the second straight week Tua is listed as doubtful as he continues to deal with a hip injury that may or may not need surgery at the end of the season. Continuing with the injuries Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Terron Armstead, Dee Eskridge, Calais Campbell and Jevon Holland are all down as questionable and Anthony Walker Jr has been ruled out. We will have to wait and see who makes it come game time but losing the services of any of them may prove to be too much.

As for the Jets they are relatively healthy as TE Tyler Conklin, RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, RT Morgan Moses and DT Quinnen Williams are down as questionable. The one player they won’t be with is Sauce Gardiner as he is finishing the season on IR, that helps if Huntley has time to throw the ball. The last time the teams met the game went into overtime with the Dolphins running out eventual winners’ courtesy of a walk-off touchdown by Jonnu Smith.

It was a lot closer than expected and this game will be no different, in fact it could be harder as Breece Hall will be playing this time around. He hasn’t been setting the world on fire and has only broken the 100-yard barrier once this season, but he will pose more of a threat running the ball and coming out of the backfield. The Dolphins defense will have to account for him, which in turn could potentially open things up for Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson. They caused problems last time and that was with Kendall Fuller manning one side of the secondary, that won’t be the case this time as he is on IR, so Storm Duck will be tested often. It will be intriguing to see how Anthony Walker covers up the inexperience of the rookie against the dynamic duo.

The previous week the Jets were beaten up by the Bills, so much so that Aaron Rodgers was benched. Tyrod Taylor game out and saved New Yorks blushes by putting together two touchdown drives in what was effectively garbage time as Buffalo had a significant advantage when he came out. Was the benching a blip or will Taylor get the nod today, it is unlikely, but then the Jets haven’t got anything to play for apart from the potential joy of putting the final nail in the coffin of the Dolphins 2024 campaign. That is enough in itself to play hard for the win, so Miami can’t take this game likely.

Rodgers had a torrid time last week, but then it was the Bills, he went to the bench with 112 yards and 2 interceptions and a QB rate of 44 which is one of the lowest of his career, other QB formulas had him down with a rating of 1.2 or 34.3. Which ever way you spin it he had a bad day at the office so he will look to bounce back today. Questions were asked as to whether the Jets had thrown in the towel as there seemed to be very little effort, that is probably enough to light a fire under the team.

Let us not forget the Jets defense can still cause problems as they are strong up front, in the first meeting they stopped the Miami ground game in its tracks. De’Von Achane had twenty-four yards on fourteen carries, which is poor, not that it has been good n reality. Aside from the games against the 49ers, Cardinals and the first Bills encounter the Miami ground game has been anaemic and there is no reason why it will change today.

If Miami want to win they are going to have to give Huntley enough time to throw the ball and cut out the penalties which were rife last week against the Browns. There is no room for error, anything less than a win and the 2024 season is over, simple as that, and let us not forget the Chiefs have to win….simple.