DOLPHINS GAMEDAY

NFL WEEK 12 DOLPHINS AT JETS | 1 P.M. SUNDAY | METLIFE STADIUM | CBS

KEYS TO THE GAME

Five things the Miami Dolphins (6-4) need to do to secure a victory on the road against the New York Jets (0-10):

Apply pressure on Jets’ QB

There’s a chance Sam Darnold comes back from the shoulder injury that has forced him to miss the past two games, but the recipe for success is the same if backup Joe Flacco plays. The Dolphins need to rattle the cage of whoever is behind center for the Jets, applying pressure with blitzes, twists and stunts. Flacco was hit early and often in Miami’s 24-0 victory earlier this season, and that led to him playing hot potato with the football and getting it out of his hands quickly.

Contain receiver Crowder

Jamison Crowder, who has pulled in 32 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns, is blossoming into a dangerous weapon for the Jets. But he can be taken out of the Jets offense if defended by a physical cornerback. Crowder was held to one catch for 16 yards in last Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. In the first game of this season series, he caught seven of the 13 passes thrown his way and turned them into 48 yards. Expect Crowder to be targeted in the double digits, and it’s on Nik Needham and Xavien Howard to effectively match up with him when he’s moved all around the field.

Attack Jets’ LBs with tight ends and tailbacks

The Jets feature an aggressive 3-4 defense that plays with an uphill style that coordinator Gregg Williams is known for, but they don’t exactly have the players to make it happen at linebacker because of injuries, and a

COVID-19 opt out. Former Dolphins linebacker Neville Hewitt leads the Jets with

85 tackles, but his coverage skills aren’t up to par.

Tagovailoa must be efficient

Tua Tagovailoa and Miami’s offense struggled against the Broncos, who took away his three-step-drop options and limited his ability to roll to his left. The Dolphins benched him in the fourth quarter for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he remains the team’s starter. Miami has to do a better job of protecting the rookie, who was sacked six times.

Establish a rushing attack

The last time the Dolphins faced the Jets, Miami gained

110 rushing yards and Myles Gaskin was responsible for

91 of them. There’s a chance Gaskin returns from injured reserve this week, and the Dolphins could definitely use him because Salvon Ahmed is nursing a shoulder injury that could force him to miss the game.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 7 points. Over/ under: 44.

Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 4-6): Dolphins 24, Jets 17

You can’t find a better antidote for a bad Sunday in Denver than a game against the winless Jets. The Dolphins are playing to get back in the playoff hunt. The Jets are playing to get the No. 1 pick and Trevor Lawrence in the draft. The Jets aren’t just losing — they’re a whopping minus-153 in point differential. Second-worst Jacksonville is minus-96.

Omar Kelly, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 4-6): Dolphins 24, Jets 20

The Dolphins have their backs against the wall and can’t afford any more slip-ups. That means Miami needs to take care of business against a Jets team that seems to be committed to securing the first overall pick to get Trevor Lawrence. Problem is, Miami has issues on the offensive line that can’t easily be fixed, and that could become problematic.

Safid Deen, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 6-4): Dolphins 27, Jets 17

Tua Tagovailoa, if healthy, will face a Jets defense that gives up the second-most points and fifth-most yards in the NFL. He’ll have to work for it, but the Jets game should offer him a nice opportunity to bounce back after being benched last week. The Dolphins defense should do well regardless of whether the Jets start Sam Darnold or Joe Flacco at quarterback.

Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 4-6): Dolphins 27, Jets 13

The Dolphins are sevenpoint favorites for good reason. The Jets (0-10) are off to their worst start in franchise history and are averaging an NFL-worst 14.9 points per game. The Dolphins dominated the Jets 24-0 in their first meeting this season at Hard Rock Stadium. The Jets will finish with four wins or fewer for the 15th time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 and will be hardpressed to crack the win column and match the 1996 team that finished 1-15.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 5-5): Dolphins 20, Jets 17

Sam Darnold’s time with the Jets appears to be coming to an end after three disappointing seasons. The Jets, who traded up to draft him No. 3 in 2018, seem destined to land likely No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, Clemson’s star quarterback. Darnold has missed four of the past six games with a right shoulder injury but is expected to return against the Dolphins. Miami should expect his best effort but can’t lose to an 0-10 team.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 5-5): Dolphins 17, Jets 16

The Dolphins’ offensive line comes off its worst performance of the season, and now will be without two of its starters for the game in New Jersey. Will the Jets be able to mimic Denver and keep Tua Tagovailoa hemmed in a collapsing pocket, not allowing his favored throws after rollouts to the left side? New York has 14 sacks in its 10 games. On the other side of the line in the Denver debacle, the Broncos put forth the best run offense Miami has faced. A fusillade of Lombardi-Packers sweeps decimated Miami on the right side for 138 yards on only a dozen carries while the result was in doubt. The good news for the Dolphins is that the Jets boast a much lesser run game, having averaged — like the Dolphins — fewer than 100 yards per game on the ground.