The Jets will miss the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season.
The Dolphins (6-7) rushed for 239 yards as they cruised past the Jets (3-10) 34-10 on a dreary, 40-degree cold day at MetLife Stadium to sweep the season series. Miami also defeated the Jets in Week 4.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 13-of-21 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jaylen Wright had 107 rushing yards on 24 carries and a touchdown run in the victory. The win was Miami’s fourth straight after beginning the season 2-7.
Tagovailoa also improved to 7-0 as a starting quarterback against the Jets.
The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010, when they reached the AFC Championship, which is the longest playoff drought in North American sports. Additionally, they have not finished with a winning record since 2015, which is also the NFL’s longest drought. The longest streak without a winning record in NFL history is held by the Buccaneers, who went 14 consecutive seasons without a winning record (1983-96).
“This game was definitely disappointing. It’s really hard to try to put this into words,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “The only thing that I can say, I didn’t have these guys ready to play. That was obvious by the way we went out there and played.
“I have to take a look at myself, take a look at the staff, look at the players and come back next week and get ourselves really ready to play against a team that’s playing well right now. This was a tough one, you have to eat it, you have to move on. That’s the only thing that we can do.”
As depressing as the weather was, the Jets were equally as dull, especially in the first quarter.
Sunday’s game, to sum it up, was an unmitigated disaster for the Jets on both sides of the ball in the first quarter as they were bullied and punched in the mouth by the Dolphins. Miami scored on each of its first three drives of the game to take an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter after just 15 plays of offense.
The Jets defense, which has improved recently, looked like the unit it was earlier this season under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Players missed several tackles on Dolphins running back De’Von Achane and the secondary was often out of position on passing downs. Achane rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown in the first half before leaving the game after suffering a rib injury.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Achane was available to return in an emergency, but decided not to put him back in the game with such an insurmountable lead.
However, after the Dolphins’ initial three scores, the Jets defense hunkered down and allowed just 13 points the rest of the way. The Jets defense also had several opportunities to intercept Tagovailoa, but failed to record a turnover. They remain the only team in the league to not register an interception this season.
“We knew they were going to come out fast,” Jets linebacker Quincy Williams said. “The biggest thing was us coming out fast, too.
“We didn’t do that the first series. A lot of movement, a lot of smoking mirrors to get us off our spot and we didn’t show up earlier.”
Gang Green’s offense was just as bad early in the game. Tyrod Taylor threw an early interception to Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson and then left the game due to a groin injury. He did not return.
The Jets offense continued to struggle with rookie Brady Cook under center after he replaced Taylor with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. He bobbled multiple snaps and almost lost the ball inside the Jets’ five-yard line before jumping back on it to preserve the possession.
Right before halftime, it appeared the Jets would score to make a two-possession game. But Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was aggressive with his playcalling, going for a possible touchdown, and Rasul Douglas intercepted Cook’s pass, and the Jets trailed 24-7 at the break.
Cook was elevated this week from the practice squad after Justin Fields was ruled out due to a knee injury he suffered last week in practice. With the undrafted rookie free agent at quarterback, the Jets tried to lean on their rushing attack with Breece Hall, but the Dolphins stacked the line of scrimmage to limit Gang Green from getting anything going on the ground.
“We just didn’t execute in all parts in the run game, the pass game,” Hall said. “Once Tyrod gets hurt, I gotta do a better job of rallying guys and getting everybody just that much more ready to execute for Brady.
“I feel like from an offensive standpoint, we could have all been better for our QBs today.”
The Jets had just 47 offensive yards at halftime, fewer than the 78-yard punt-return touchdown by Isaiah Williams in the first quarter. Cook looked every bit of an undrafted free agent after completing 14-of-30 passes for 163 yards and two interceptions
Adonai Mitchell, who had eight catches for 102 yards in the win against the Falcons, had one catch for 24 yards. Hall, who has been the bellcow for the Jets offense all season, finished with 43 yards on 14 carries against the Dolphins.
Jets rookie defensive lineman Tyler Baron injured his knee on Tagovailoa’s touchdown to Jaylen Waddle and did not return. Rookie linebacker Kiko Mauigoa was cleared from concussion protocol, but also didn’t return to the game.
The Jets will start their first of two straight games on the road. They visit EverBank Stadium to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.
