Here are five takeaways from the Dolphins’ 32-26 OT victory over the Jets
Maybe the Miami Dolphins should force Jonnu Smith the ball.
At the end of regulation, the tight end had just one target. In overtime, he notched three catches for 44 yards and the game-winning, walkoff touchdown as the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 32-26 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Smith’s dismal performance in regulation comes on the heels of three consecutive great games in which he caught 30 balls for 301 yards and three touchdowns.
Here are four additional takeaways from Sunday’s victory.
2. Vintage game from receivers
It has been a while since both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both had really good games.
You have to go back to the season opener for the last time Hill and Waddle recorded at least 90 yards in the same game.
The receiver duo, however, came alive against the Jets. Hill finished with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Waddle had nine catches for 99 yards.
When the two play like they did Sunday, the Dolphins offense looks unstoppable. Add in Smith’s overtime contributions and this offense looks elite at times...
3. Lackluster run game
The Dolphins have now failed to run the ball effectively for more than a month.
Against the Green Bay Packers? 39 yards rushing. Against the New England Patriots? 65 yards. Against the Las Vegas Raiders? 82 yards. Against the Los Angeles Rams? 67 yards.
Notice a pattern?
Sunday was no different as Miami finished with 19 attempts for 44 yards rushing.
De’Von Achane led the way with 14 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown while Jaylen Wright finished with two rushes for seven yards. Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa and Jeff Wilson each added a single carry for six, four and three yards, respectively.
Rodgers’ best game of the season
Aaron Rodgers hadn’t thrown for 300 yards all season.
That changed Sunday when he completed 68% of his passes for 327 yards and a touchdown.
This was arguably Rodgers’ best game of the year. Although he looked slow at times, Rodgers did more than enough to put his team in a position to win.
Jets receivers unstoppable
The Dolphins secondary had one job: Don’t let Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams go crazy.
Well, they failed in that regard.
The elite receiver duo killed the Dolphins, accounting for roughly 68-percent of Aaron Rodgers’ 327 passing yards.
Adams finished with nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Wilson had seven grabs for 114 yards.
This story was originally published December 8, 2024 at 4:55 PM.
