The New York Jets hosted the Miami Dolphins in the first ever Black Friday game in NFL history. Tim Boyle got the nod as the starting quarterback with the benching of Zach Wilson earlier this week. Gang Green found out prior to the game that offensive lineman Mekhi Becton was out with an ankle sprain. Allen Lazard was a healthy inactive that was a surprise to many even though he has not played up to snuff this year.
New York received the opening kickoff, and the Tim Boyle era was underway. After just five plays, however, Thomas Morstead punted the ball away. The Jets defense electrified the crowd on the first play dropping Raheem Mostert for a loss but an unnecessary roughness call once again on this team came back to bite them.
Tua Tagovailoa connected with Tyreek Hill for 35 yards and the Miami offense was in business. New York’s defense stood tall and forced the Dolphins to go for it on 4th and 2 from the 4-yard line. Sauce Gardner knocked the ball out of Hill’s hands in the end zone to force a turnover on downs.
Another quick 3-and-out for the Jets offense and within a few minutes the Dolphins offense was back to work. The defense once again bent but did not break stopping the Miami offense in the red zone and forced them to settle for a Jason Sanders 38-yard field goal. Miami jumped out to a 3-0 lead late in the 1st quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Breece Hall fumbled the first play, was able to recover but lost 5 yards. A short completion and a false start on the offense set up a 3rd and 15 as the 1st quarter came to an end. A failed screen attempt sent Morstead out for his third punt of the day and it looked to be more of the same from this sluggish Jets offense out of the gate.
Miami got into the end zone after they drove down the field and finished the drive off with a touchdown reception by Tyreek Hill making it 10-0 Dolphins. After more sluggish drives from the offense, the New York defense was able to find paydirt right before the end of the half. Brandin Echols stepped in front of Tua’s pass and made a house call to cut the deficit to 10-6 after the PAT was no good. Tua was picked off again giving the Jets a chance at a 'hail Mary'. Boyle launched the ball down field but it was picked off at the 1 and Jevon Holland took it all the way back and scored with time expired in the half. New York trailed 17-6 as we headed into the break.
Miami received the opening kick of the 2nd half and was able to tack on 3 more points with another Sanders field goal, this one from 54 yards out. After a quick drive again by the Jets offense Miami went on a long 15 play 92-yard touchdown drive that took nine minutes off the clock. Mostert scored on the first play of the 4th quarter making it 27-6 Dolphins.
New York in what was now garbage time finally got a drive together and got into Miami territory for the first time all night. After converting on a few 3rd and 4th downs Boyle has a pass batted in the air and intercepted to end the one promising Jets drive.
New York did get in the board with a Tim Boyle touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson, but Miami quickly responded with another Mostert touchdown run. The final whistle blew and the Jets fell 34-13.
For the Jets, it is their 4th straight loss and they continue to look terrible on the offensive side of the ball. From the Jets perspective you have to think is it worth it for Rodgers to come back and risk injury on a season that is all but lost at this point with the way this team looks. New York will have a chance at a bounce back game next week when they host the Atlanta Falcons.
