With playoffs hopes already gone, the Dolphins suffer disappointing loss in final game to Jets
The Miami Dolphins had a lot to play for Sunday.
A potential postseason appearance. A record above .500. Pride.
And while the playoff hopes died around the time that the Denver Broncos took a 24-0 lead into halftime, the Dolphins still had chance. Instead, Miami’s offense – the calling card for franchise since coach Mike McDaniel’s arrival – had a turnover-laden performance that resulted in a 32-20 loss to the wayward, Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets.
In what could’ve been the future Hall of Fame quarterback’s last game, Rodgers seemingly turned back the clock, finishing with 274 yards passing and four touchdowns through the air, the first of which was number 500 for his career. Meanwhile, just one week removed arguably the best performance of his NFL career, quarterback Tyler Huntley regressed considerably, completing roughly 61% of his passes for 227 yards. He also was responsible for three – two interceptions and one lost fumble – of the Dolphins four turnovers.
“That’s a way you don’t want to go out,” Huntley said Sunday. “I had some costly turnovers today. That’s not how we wanted to end the season.”
Huntley’s dismal outing affected the rest of the Dolphins offense as receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 64 yards on just six catches. Tight end Jonnu Smith finished with nine catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Outside of tailback De’Von Achane, who led all rushers with 121 yards, most of which came on a 61-yard scamper to set up the Dolphins’ second field goal, the run game once again looked inefficient. Remove Achane’s 61-yard run and Miami rushed for 75 yards on 24 attempts.
The Dolphins defense started hot with linebacker Tyrel Dodson, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week, snagging his third interception of the season on the Jets’ first offensive play deep in New York territory. Despite the drive beginning at the Jets 15-yard line, Miami could barely move the ball and had to settle for a field goal. That would start a pattern for the first half: on the Dolphins’ three red zone trips, they didn’t gain a single yard, walking away with just two field goals and an interception.
“They did a good job,” Huntley said of the Jets defense. ”They had a nice little plan for us, and we just didn’t take advantage of all our opps.”
It took awhile but the Jets offense finally found a spark in the second quarter. After three consecutive drives ended in a punt following Rodgers’ interception, the 41-year-old led the Jets down the field, tossing his first touchdown pass since Week 16 and the 500th of his career.
“Today seemed like a vintage battle,” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said. “He played a heckuva game.”
The Dolphins’ next three drives ended in turnovers, one of which was Huntley’s fumble near midfield that the Jets recovered on the Dolphins’ 39-yard line. Rodgers needed just three plays to punch in his second touchdown of the day.
“It wasn’t up to his nor I’s expectation to start the game,” McDaniel said of Huntley.
The second half didn’t begin favorably for the Dolphins. Three plays into their first possession, Smith fumbled near midfield. The Jets would drive the ball to the Miami 2-yard line before ultimately kicking a field goal to put New York up 18-6.
Miami would respond with a touchdown to cut the Jets’ lead to five. Then Rodgers did Rodgers things: a 43-yard bomb to receiver Allen Lazard that put the ball on the Miami 13-yard line. After a 9-yard pass to Garrett Wilson, Rodgers would subsequently find longtime teammate Davante Adams for yet another touchdown.
The Dolphins would show some fight, scoring another touchdown with roughly five minutes left but with Rodgers at the helm, the Jets managed to run out the clock to secure the victory.
“We found success in the later half of the season playing complementary football and this felt anti-complementary,” McDaniel said, later adding that “we got a bunch of stops early in the game. when that was occurring, we couldn’t get the ball in the end zone or score points. Then in the second half, when we’re able to put together some drives, we couldn’t get the stops.”
With the season officially over, the Dolphins now have some tough questions to answer. Was this roster well-constructed? Who’s at fault for the sub-.500 record? How can this team remain competitive considering it has have more free agents than players under contract in 2025?
And as if these questions were not tough enough, Hill, who didn’t play a single snap in the fourth quarter, seemingly questioned whether he even wants to stay in Miami.
“This is the first time I haven’t been in the playoffs,” Hill said Sunday evening. “For me, I have to do what’s best for me and my family if that’s here or wherever the case may be. I’m finna open that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out. It was great playing here.”
Some of these questions will be answered in the coming days, however, most will have to wait. In any case, the 2024 Dolphins season has officially come to a close, something that many fans are happy to see.
This story was originally published January 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM.
