Dolphins (9-4) vs. Jets (5-8), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 9 points
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record 9-4): Dolphins 24, Jets 17
The Dolphins beat this bad Jets team on the road a few weeks ago, 34-13. One bad game by the Dolphins on Monday and one good half by the Jets on Sunday shouldn’t overcome that previous margin. Miami’s top-ranked offense was held scoreless in the first half against the Titans in Monday night’s meltdown, but should rebound against the Jets with so much on the line.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (Season record 8-5): Dolphins 21, Jets 14
I’m not sure what to expect from the Dolphins’ offense. I think the defense will steady itself. But if Tyreek Hill is slowed in any way, and he’s been getting nicked up recently, it’s hard to believe the offense can be productive. But the Dolphins should have enough against the Jets, whose offense struggled all season before last week’s breakout 30-6 win against the Texans.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record 10-3): Dolphins 23, Jets 16
I’ll go the route of wake-up call over all-out collapse loading for Miami. And the Dolphins better get this one with the Cowboys, Ravens and Bills coming up in the final three games. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa faced more pressure than usual against Tennessee with three starters missing on the offensive line. You can expect the Jets to also bring pressure, but Miami should win a close game in a defensive battle. Dolphins center Connor Williams being out for the season with a torn ACL won’t help matters.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record 10-3): Dolphins 24, Jets 20
All of a sudden, this game doesn’t look like a cakewalk for Miami, huh? The wakeup call that was the Monday night loss to the Titans will have the Dolphins extra focused this week on trying to right the ship after so many areas were so wrong. Tua Tagovailoa seems to be having some kind of confidence crisis, and that was the case before Tyreek Hill’s injury. The Dolphins defense should be able to bounce back quicker and have enough to stop resurgent Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. He was sharp in New York’s upset of the Texans on Sunday, but Wilson has never thrown at TD pass against the Dolphins — but has been sacked eight times in two games against Miami.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 11-2): Dolphins 23, Jets 20
After the Dolphins blew a seemingly insurmountable 14-point lead with three minutes left in Monday night’s home loss to the Titans, I’m not sure what to expect on Sunday against the resurgent Jets. But it’s hard to imagine the Dolphins blowing another home game against a sub-.500 team, especially with three brutal games to end the season: vs. Dallas, at Baltimore, vs. Bills. Injuries are mounting for the Dolphins, but every team has injuries this late in the season. Nevertheless, the Dolphins still have more talent than the Jets, even with star receiver Tyreek Hill slowed by an ankle injury.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record 8-5): Jets 17, Dolphins 16
The injuries are piling up, and now have bitten the by-far team MVP, Tyreek Hill. Additionally, the Dolphins also lost another huge offensive cog in center Connor Williams. Meanwhile, Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is coming off the best game of his career, roasting the Houston Texans for 30 points and a 117.9 passer rating. If the Dolphins, who were knocked out of the top spot in the AFC with Monday night’s loss, want to win the AFC East, this is a must-win.
