Although the Jets’ season is technically over there are two games Rex Ryan always looks forward to. The Miami Dolphins(6-5) were in town looking for a much needed victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Rex and his team always prepare well for the Dolphins and love any chance they can get to spoil their division rival’s playoffs hopes.
In a game that brought freezing rain and seas of Dolphins fans to MetLife Stadium Monday Night, New York actually started of the game very well. The game plan for New York: NO Quarterback. Well at least it felt that way! The Jets quickly got on the board early in the first thanks to a huge run by Chris Johnson which brought the team near the Miami 2o yard line and a wrap around run from Salas. Miami would try to counter with a field goal but, were off the mark. The Jets then continued to pound and ground their way to a field goal to go up 10-0 early in the game.
Things changed after the half. That’s when Miami’s defense started to buckle down.
Miami safety Louis Delmas mentioned after the game that the Dolphins defensive players thought it would be better if they added a safety closer to the line in the second half and it did.
“We told them what we felt most comfortable with stopping the run,” Delmas said. “And the coaches believed in us. They put us in the right position to make plays.”
Miami came out of the half and decided to stack the box with, at times 9 guys. Geno Smith only attempted 13 passes the whole game, a NFL low.
Rex Ryan has mentioned his respect for the Miami defense plenty of times since becoming Jets coach and it was apparent that he wasn’t going to even give his quarterback a chance to try to make anything happen against the Dolphins pass defense. Then again, maybe he was right. After 10 consecutive Miami points late in the fourth, Geno was given a chance to get something going in a two-minute drill.
With 1st & 10 at the Jets 44, Smith tried to hit Jeff Cumberland across the middle. The pass was broken up by LB Jelani Jenkins and intercepted by Miami safety, Reshad Jones.
Miami went on to win the game 16-13 and claim the last wildcard spot in the AFC playoff race at 7-5.
It wasn’t all Geno’s fault though. The pass wasn’t a bad pass, but a better play by Miami on defense. Although both teams missed field goals, Jets kicker Nick Folk did however, miss two crucial field goals that could have changed the game for New York. As for Rex Ryan, well let’s just say he wasn’t happy.
“Can’t believe we’re 2-10,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said, shaking his head and pausing. “It’s a joke.”
“I feel sick,” Ryan said. “We can’t buy a win.”