The Jets have their second matchup of the season against the Dolphins this week, and it looks like we will not be seeing Tua this time around either. Fitzmagic is expected to make the start for the 6-4 Dolphins. The Jets are marked as +7-point underdogs, with a game total of 44.5.
The first time around, the Dolphins easily handled the Jets 24-0. However, if you look at the box score, it seems like it should have been a closer game. The Jets were an astonishing 2-17 on third downs while the Dolphins were 1-9. This inability to sustain drives resulted in a huge field position disparity, which was the story of the game. The Dolphins average starting field position was the MIA 37 compared the Jets average starting position of NYJ 19. Accumulated over the 14 drives for each team, that’s a difference of more than 250 yards, which the Jets could not overcome. The Jets passing game was totally inept with Joe Flacco peppering Jamison Crowder with 13 targets and Frank Gore solidly in the mix with 15 touches. The passing game produced 3.1 YPA, which I presume to the be the worst mark of the season and perhaps the history of the NFL.
The Jets get Darnold back today, and while he’s not good, he is a slight upgrade over Flacco. The team is quite obviously horrible, but I have not yet seen the team quit, which is surprising to me. Gase will want to beat the Dolphins because they dumped him two years ago and are quite obviously much better off for having done so. Hopefully the Jets learn from that lesson. This will be the first game that Darnold will play this season with Crowder, Mims, and Perriman all active. Unfortunately, we will also get 20 touches from Frank Gore. I do think the Jets will show up in this one and potentially flirt with an outright win, but we’ll take the points.
Pick: Jets +7
Big Hank’s long-shot of the week – Will there be OT? Yes +800
Big Dogs Betting 