The Miami Dolphins are surely happy to be back home.
The Dolphins (5-7) play host to the New York Jets (3-9) on Sunday in a battle between AFC East franchises nowhere near the destination set when the season began in September.
Miami is coming off a 30-17 loss at the Green Bay Packers. After the game, Dolphins linebacker and leading tackler Jordyn Brooks said the cold weather was a factor in Miami’s defeat.
“I thought we were soft,” Brooks said after the Dolphins missed 20 tackles that gave Green Bay an extra 132 yards. “Simple as that.”
After several days to reflect, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said the team’s toughness is there.
“I expect any and all things to be on the table when we don’t first and foremost fulfill our own expectations,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “Holding people accountable is an example of how you can impact toughness.”
“All I know is dudes are aggressively tackling each other, taking on hits. And all I assess is the tape.”
Miami is two games behind idle Denver for the final AFC wild-card playoff berth. The Dolphins likely have to win out, going 5-0 down the stretch, including the Jets again in Week 18, to have a realistic shot at the postseason. The New York Times playoff simulator gives Miami a 13 percent chance of making the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Jets are out of contention — though not yet mathematically eliminated — in what has been a season of disasters. The Jets enter Sunday having lost eight of their past nine games, including three in a row.
Coach Robert Saleh was fired on Oct. 8 after a 2-3 start. Jets general manager Joe Douglas was fired on Nov. 19.
Nothing has been able to fix the Jets, who have not made the playoffs since 2010. Interim coach/defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who is 1-6 since Saleh was fired, said Aaron Rodgers will remain at quarterback despite a season that is way below the 10-time Pro Bowl player’s high standards.
Rodgers turned 41 this week. He knows his mobility is a shortcoming at this stage of his career, but he can still show flashes of his amazing arm talent.
“I want to finish off as well as we can,” Rodgers said. “It’s been a rough season. But we get paid for 17 weeks — not 10, not five. If you are a starter, you want to play all the games. I want to battle. I have a lot of pride.”
Rodgers has played every game while his much younger Dolphins counterpart, Tua Tagovailoa, 26, missed time with yet another concussion. Tagovailoa has been limited to eight games, and Miami is 4-4 in those contests. Since he returned from injury, the Dolphins have scored at least 23 points in five of six games.
As for offensive playmakers, the Jets have wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams; running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen; and tight end Tyler Conklin. Wilson ranks seventh in the NFL with 74 receptions and he’s on pace for 1,080 yards. If he gets there, he would become the first Jets receiver to record three straight 1,000-yard seasons since George Sauer Jr. was catching bullets from Joe Namath (1966-68).
Hall, a third-year pro, is averaging a career-low 4.2 yards per rush. And, after just three fumbles in his first two seasons combined, he has fumbled six times this year. He was one of several players who missed Wednesday’s practice. Hall is dealing with a knee injury and two offensive linemen — tackle Morgan Moses (knee, shoulder) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) — also did not practice for New York.
Miami’s top playmakers are running back De’Von Achane (4.1-yard rushing average), and wide receivers Tyreek Hill (654 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (601 yards). Tight end Jonnu Smith (648 yards) has been a stellar addition. Hill didn’t practice Wednesday with a lingering wrist injury but plans to play this week.
Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), defensive tackle Calais Campbell (rest) and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) sat out Wednesday’s workout for Miami. All still have a chance to play in Sunday’s game.
The Jets could be taking on the Dolphins without CB Sauce Gardner. He was unavailable Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.
The Jets are 1-5 on the road this season. Miami is 3-3 at home.
–Field Level Media