Miami Dolphins (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) vs. New York Jets (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS)
Week 3 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 1PM EST
Where: MetLIfe Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: CBS
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: MIA -6/NYJ +6
Over/Under Total: 41.5
The Miami Dolphins face the New York Jets on Sunday in AFC East week three action from MetLife Stadium. The Dolphins were held back for an extra week after Hurricane Irma dashed their week one game. But they were able to notch a hard-earned win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, 19-17. The Jets haven't had it go so well thus far in the young season, losing at not covering the spread against the Bills in week one and then in a week two loss to the Raiders in Oakland, 45-20. They hope for better this week in their home opener after starting the season with two road games.
The Jets are handcuffed by deficiencies on their roster, exacerbated by injuries already putting the hurt on them early in the season. They would at least have a chance if they were at sea-level, but the injury list is already a long one, with a big chunk of their defense already shelved. The offense is devoid of game-changing talent. A young offensive line isn't helping and all in all, it's not going to be easy for the Jets to win games this season. Can they summon some competitiveness in a division home game after getting pounded by the Raiders?
It's just not all that promising to see an offense starting a 38-year old journeyman with a 2-22 record in his last 24 starts in Josh McCown. It doesn't get much better when your starting receiver package is Jermaine Kearse and Robby Anderson, along with tight ends Will Tye and Brent Qvale. The line has lost key pieces over the years and it's going to take some time to bring this group around to speed. McCown wasn't so awful on Sunday numbers-wise, with Matt Forte having some useful moments. First-year Jet Jermaine Kearse caught two touchdowns. But the picture is only so rosy when you lose by 25 and don't even come close to covering the two-touchdown spread.
The Jets' defense fared better in week one with a somewhat-gritty effort against the Bills. Against the Raiders, they were in over their heads. Oakland was able to maintain a balanced offense, with 230 yards passing and 180 on the ground. The Jets' defense got zero turnovers and the D-line, with Leonard Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Steve McLendon have officially grown stale, as they barely made a ripple on Sunday, not even touching Derek Carr, and allowing 6.7 yards a run. Their back seven could eventually come around if not constantly in atonement-mode for the issues going on up-front.
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To gut out a tough win on Sunday was a good development for the Dolphins. They were understandable rusty, with weather having made it so they've been out of real action for close to a month. And if not for a missed 44-yard FG by a rookie kicker, they would have lost. But they also showed some guts in rallying from behind with just over a minute left with K Cody Parkey nailing a 54-yard kick to take the two-point lead.
Some good signs were seen on the Miami offense. First-year Miami QB Jay Cutler threw for 230 yards with a TD on 24-for-33 passing. Another good sign was RB Jay Ajayi running for 122 yards with a workmanlike 28 carries. Their three best receivers all had moments of production, with DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Jarvis Landry. It was a nip-and-tuck game with Miami facing a Chargers' defense that is pretty good. What counts is the win. With the game on the line and in his first game, Cutler was able to boost his stock among the team by putting his team in a position to win, which they did. After leaving home early for the Chargers game and now facing another road game, will that be an issue?
The Miami defense looked a bit winded late in letting the Chargers rally for what could have been the game-winner. And they did give up 331 yards to Philip Rivers. But they also kept the run-game and Melvin Gordon in check for the most part. And despite giving up yards, especially in the air, they were able to perk up when necessary, holding a pretty potent home Chargers offense to just 17 points on the day. They gave up some plays, but not too many big plays. Up-front, DT Ndamukong Suh had a big game, with LB Kiko Alonso typically disruptive in the middle. Overall, the "D" is going to need better play from corners Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard and safeties Reshad Jones and Nate Allen.
The first two games have not painted the Jets in a very positive light. Expectations were already low and it seems like even those were too high. We could see a different type of game than what the first two weeks would suggest with them finally having their home-opener, which is also a division game. And the way the early season has started for the Dolphins with a tough opener and all the hassle with the hurricane drama, could they maybe be a tick off, especially knowing that they can maybe afford to be with this down Jets' team? It might take a leap of faith, but I like the Jets to cover the number this week.
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