Passing game flourishes vs. Jets, but injuries causing concerns at linebacker and offensive line
Dolphins cruised to another divisional win but were dealt a big blow with the loss of outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after Miami’s 34-13 win at the New York Jets on Black Friday.
WHO’S HOT
Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle: Hill remains the most dangerous wide receiver in the NFL. However, the Dolphins’ offense is at its best when both Hill and Waddle get a healthy dose of touches. That happened Friday as they each exceeded 100 receiving yards in the same game for the second time this season and the sixth time since they became teammates.
Safety Jevon Holland: For much of the season, he has been an analytics darling as Pro Football Focus’ highestgraded safety. Secondary coach Renaldo Hill recently explained Holland’s value, despite a lack of splash plays.
“He’s the true quarterback” of the defense, Hill said. “He’s the maestro back there; he gets everyone lined up. He makes all the checks. Obviously, we know he can get the ball if needed. But right now, he’s been directing this and making sure that everybody’s in the right spot so we can play at a high level. And maybe the pitch count may not show it right now, but sometimes the numbers don’t really add up to what he brings to the table.”
But that changed against the Jets when Holland fielded quarterback Tim Boyle’s Hail Mary at the end of the first half and returned it 99 yards for a momentumswinging pick-six. Before the score, a pair of INTs thrown by Tua Tagovailoa gave the Jets a bit of life, but Holland’s play quickly put Miami back in control entering halftime with a 17-6 lead.
Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins: The fifth-year player’s price continues to go up by the game. Wilkins, who is due to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, sacked Boyle twice, bringing his season total to a career-high six sacks. His tackles are down, but he’s become a force as a pass rusher, ranking 12th in ESPN’s pass rush win metric, defined as how often a player beats his blocker within 2.5 seconds.
WHO’S NOT
Linebacker depth: The one negative from the convincing divisional win was the season-ending Achilles tendon injury Phillips sustained in the fourth quarter. He was in the midst of his best ball after overcoming an earlyseason injury; he had been very transparent in describing how that injury affected his mental health.
The Dolphins have capable players to help fill the void of Phillips in Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah. But Philips’ absence will have a domino effect. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has used Van Ginkel as an inside linebacker at times, but will probably have to lean more on him as an edge rusher for the rest of the season.
“When Gink is not playing stack ’backer, that means there’s very capable and ready [options] — I think David Long [Jr.] will have to step up as well and play a role that he’s been thirsting for anyway,” coach Mike McDaniel said.
“That’s why it’s kind of like a group of people. You don’t necessarily replace him, but it just gives different people opportunities and you kind of spread that out to do your best to compensate for that production loss.”
Offensive tackle depth: The Dolphins are used to shuffling players along the line, but in Friday’s game, the depth concerns became as dire as they have been all season. When Terron Armstead sustained a quad injury in the third quarter, Kion Smith had to enter the game. Austin Jackson’s ejection forced KenThe (Home team in ALL CAPS)
Team
DETROIT PHILADELPHIA INDIANA
New Orleans L.A.CLIPPERS
Favorite
XAVIER WISCONSIN FORDAM RUTGERS N’WESTERN Dixie St.
2½ (233½) 5 (231½) 10½ (240) 4 (231) OFF (OFF)
13½ 26½ 11 15 12 5
Washington LA Lakers Portland UTAH Denver
Underdog
Oakland W. Illinois Manhattan Saint Peter’s N. Illinois LINDENWOOD dall Lamm, who entered the game with a back injury, to go into the game in the fourth quarter.
McDaniel said Armstead’s status is week to week, so his status and that of Lamm will be under a microscope as the Dolphins prepare to visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Tua Tagovailoa’s ball security: The fourthyear quarterback is in the best season of his young career, but with an increase in production has come an uptick in turnovers.
His two interceptions Sunday increased his season total to 10, tying a career-high. In the last two games, he has four giveaways. Both of the picks Sunday came in the final minute of the first half and could have threatened the Dolphins’ control of the game if not for Holland’s pick-six.
Against better opponents, such mistakes could have major consequences. After the game, Tagovailoa acknowledged he has to be more careful with the ball.
“I think it’s doing much more than what is asked,” he said of his errors. “Trying to be a little too aggressive on certain things. You just can’t do that. With that pick-six, I ... kind of kept them in the game. Our defense played phenomenal up to that point and throughout the entire game. I just can’t do that.”
Team MINNESOTA 3 (43½)
Team Line Team Florida -130 OTTAWA N.Y. RANGERS -217 Buffalo COLUMBUS OFF Boston COLORADO -138 Tampa Bay CALGARY -104 Vegas Washington -28 SAN JOSE For the latest odds, go to https://www.scoresandstats.com
Chicago
Line +116 +175 OFF +123 -108 +184