5 things we learned from yesterday’s game

MCDONALD QUIETLY HAVING CAREER YEAR FIRST-POSSESSION SCORING WOES REACHING HISTORIC PROPORTIONS

With Matt Haack’s 37-yard punt with 13:08 left in the first quarter, the Dolphins expended their first possession of a game without putting points on the board for the 12th consecutive game, dating back to Dec. 11 against the Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Researching through pro-football-reference.com’s play-by-plays – which are available back through the 1994 season – the Dolphins have gone at least a quarter-century since putting up zero first-drive points over a dozen straight games.

DOLPHINS PATCH UP LEAKY RUN DEFENSE

The Dolphins allowed 600 rushing yards in the past three games, two of which turned into losses, and the struggles motivated Miami to sign defensive linemen Ziggy Hood and Sylvester Williams last week. The end result was Miami holding the Jets to 73 rushing yards on 20 carries, which was the defense’s second-best performance against the run this season.

GASE KEEPS BURNISHING HIS CLOSE-GAME CREDENTIALS

The win on Sunday improved Gase's Dolphins to an incongruous 18-5 (78.3 win percentage) in games decided by one score (eight points or fewer). Conversely, he is 3-16 (15.8) in games with a final spread on nine or more points.

ROOKIE QBS DON’T ALWAYS TRANSFORM FRANCHISES

Former USC standout Sam Darnold was expected to be the best of the rookie quarterbacks in the 2018 draft class, which explains why the Jets used the third-overall pick on him and gifted him the starting spot this season. Problem is a rookie quarterback typically struggles in their first season, and Darnold did just that against the Dolphins, throwing four interceptions directly to Miami defenders. Darnold’s could blossom later in his career, just like fellow USC alum Carson Palmer did. But he could also turn out to be Matt Leinart.