Dolphins 30 Jets 25

Well the ‘Game of the week’ that you all voted for looked to be a really poor choice at half time as the score stood at 3 – 3. These two rush first, defensive minded teams were completely cancelling each other out, and I personally could not believe I was watching the same teams that just 3 weeks earlier had provided the 31 – 27 thriller at Land Shark Stadium.

The second half though was a completely different story. The game became littered with huge plays, and the excitement went right down to the last minute or so. The big news coming out of Miami before the game was that Ted Ginn Jr, the Dolphins former first round pick, and supposed game changing WR, was dropped in favour of Brian Hartline (a rookie, picked up in the 4th round of last years draft). Also my thought that the game was going to be a bad tempered affair was proven, as players were getting in each others faces, in the warm up. All set for the game of the week then.

As I said the first half was slightly dull and the 3 – 3 score summed that up. The Jets came out running hard in the second half. So much so they were lining up for virtually every play in a goal line set. The drive eventually stalled, but Jets kicker Jeff Feeley drilled a 55 yard FG, to give the Jets the 6 – 3 lead. Feely, who had made the tackle on Ginn on his previous 2 kicks in the game, kicked deep to Ginn who collected the ball on the goal line. Ginn bought the ball out, bounced outside, and outran the Jets coverage to score. This was a really explosive play, and lit the touch paper under the game. On the Jets next possession, they continued to pound the ball, to the annoyance of the home crowd. Shonn Green then took the ball, went between the tackles, but was hit hard by Phins D-lineman Paul Soliai. Soliai stripped the ball from Green which Jason Taylor collected, and took the ball back 48 yards to put the Phins in control, up 17 – 6.

Their dominance looked to get stronger as the defence forced a 3 and out, and the Jets had to punt away. Davone Bess was under the punt; his hands let him down though as he put the ball on the ground, and the Jets recovered at the 29 yard line. The Jets finally started to air the ball out and got the ball down to threw 1 yard line. Everyone was expecting the Jets to try and run this in, put Sanchez kept the ball on a bootleg, and ran the ball in completely unopposed. In fact some of the Dolphins players were fighting for the ball on the ground, as they thought it had been fumbled. With the score at 17 – 12, the Jets wanted to go for 2, to bring them within a FG. But a false start penalty meant they decided to just kick the extra point. Feely, for some unknown reason, kicked the ball deep to Ginn again, and he took the ball from 1 yard inside the end zone, sidestepped 2 tackles, and went the distance to tie the NFL record of 2 kick returns in 1 game.

The Jets, now realising they needed points fast, continued to throw the ball against the very young Dolphins secondary. A 53 yard Sanchez pass took them to the 20 yard line, and on the next play, Sanchez threw to Braylon Edwards, who fighting against 2 Dolphins defenders, fell backwards into the end zone (24 – 19). The Jets decided to go for 2 again, but Sanchez’s fade pass was intercepted by Vonte Davis.

The Dolphins knew they had to take control of this game the best way they know how to, they ran the ball, and ran down the clock. With just 8.48 on the clock, Joey Haynos caught a Henne pass, to give the Phins a 30 -19 lead. Sanchez hit Keller for a 16 yard TD, and with the score 30 – 25, they failed again at the 2 point conversion. The Jets got the ball back and drove to the 12 yard line with 2 minutes left. So here we are, the Jets need to get in from 12 yards, or they lose to the Dolphins (again!). First down - Thomas Jones runs for 4 yards. Second down – Sanchez keeps the ball, dropped by Randy Starks. Third down – Starks sacks Sanchez back at the 16 yard line. So its 4th and 14, from the 16 yard line. Sanchez, obviously worried about the pass rush, drops to the 30 yard line, throws to the endzone, but it goes out the back, and the Dolphins are able to run out the remaining 1:06, to get a big divisional win.

A great game people, good choice.

Lee’s prediction: Dolphins 24 Jets 20, correct winner and pretty close with the score.