Jay Cutler and the new look Miami Dolphins (1-0) travel up the east coast to face their old rival, the New York Jets (0-2) in a game that some of you will be forced to watch by your local CBS station. The rest of us get to avoid this one completely.
The game is at 1 p.m. EST.
The Game: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (+6)
O/U: 43.0
The History
The rivalry goes all the way back to the old AFL. While the Jets were one of the original American Football League teams in 1960, the Dolphins were their first expansion franchise, originating in 1966. The Jets hold a 53-49-1 advantage in the series.
New York won the first eight games between the two franchises, their longest win streak, from September, 1966 to December, 1969.
The longest streak for the Dolphins was seven games from September, 1982 to November, 1984. That streak includes a 14-0 Miami victory in the only playoff game between the two teams.
The series is one of continual streaks, with games won back-to-back and three to four in a row constantly. Rarely do the teams split in the same season or even across seasons. Miami won both match ups last year and before that, the Jets won three in a row.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0)
Jay Cutler got to finally hit the field after the Dolphins had to move their Week One match up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a later date because of Hurricane Irma. Cutler put forth a solid performance in what some are calling an upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, but one I expected and called. Cutler finished 24 of 33 passing for 230 yards and one touchdown.
Jay Ajayi had 28 carries for 122 yards and I don’t see any way this Jets team will slow him down. Cutler spread the ball around between his playmakers, with Jarvis Landry catching 13 passes for 78 yards. Kenny Stills caught the winning touchdown and Devante Parker had four catches for 85 yards.
On defense, Miami was a victim of Philip Rivers’ quick release and only got through for one sack from former Los Angeles Rams William Hayes. Josh McCown will be a significantly more inviting target and won’t have the offensive line in front of him to slow Ndamukung Suh and Cameron Wake down.
NEW YORK JETS (0-2)
Try as they might, the Jets are still an NFL team with a handful of legitimate NFL players so that’s going to make them dangerous the whole way. Jermaine Kearse caught four passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns and is the only downfield threat McCown has to send the ball to.
Of all the disappointments of this young season, the slow start for New York running back Bilal Powell is really a problem for the flex position on my fantasy team. I expected more from him after a surge in the second half of 2016. Evidently, Todd Bowles is still thinking he’ll have a job at the end of the season and futilely plays his most complete back, Matt Forte, on most downs. They produced 20 points on offense against the Oakland Raiders, something I didn’t think they would do all season.
The real talent left on this Jets roster, and there isn’t much, is on the defensive side of the ball, but last week against Oakland they contributed all of jack and a little bit of shit. No sacks, no turnovers and only five tackles for a loss in the entire game.
The Pick
The Jets are a gift to any team they’re going to play and I don’t see any way the Dolphins don’t start their season off 2-0. New York’s backfield will be filled with white and blue Miami jerseys all game and Jay Cutler should have plenty of time to fire the ball around to the best group of wideouts he’s had since he was in Denver. I expect another big day from Jay Ajayi too. Dolphins 31, Jets 19
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 11-5
Against the spread: 8-8
Season
Straight up: 21-10
Against the spread: 16-15
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