The Jets have been stacking too many L's this season and not enough W's. Now the situation becomes more pressurized because, after recording a 3-5 first half for the third straight season, they enter the AFC East phase of their 2018 schedule with four division foes in the next five games.
This stretch begins Sunday when the Jets head south to take on their long-time AFL and AFC rivals, the Miami Dolphins, seven weeks after the Dolphins prevailed, 20-12, in the Jets' home opener in Week 2.
"We're a different team and they're a different team," head coach Todd Bowles said of the rematch. "I think they know who they are. We kind of know who we are. It's an AFC East bloodbath game. They're very tough to play down there. We're going to go in there tough, trying to win the game. So it'll be a tough ballgame."
It's a key game in a key stretch. Not to look too far ahead, but a win at Miami (4-4) and home next week against Buffalo (2-6) would lift the Jets to 5-5 by their bye week. And this is a sobering thought: Since 2002, only 29% of teams that started the season 5-5 made the playoffs (22 of 76), and those 76 teams' average record was 8.2 wins and 7.8 losses. And the numbers only get worse for 4-6 and 3-7 teams.
Here are seven more points of interest for Sunday's Jets-Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m. ET kickoff):
1. Sunny Road?
The Jets lead the overall series, 54-51-1, although lately Miami has had the upper hand with four wins in the last five meetings and two in a row at home. But as tough as Bowles says it will be, the Green & White always seem to fare fairly well in the land of Aqua & Coral. They're 25-27-1 overall on the road, 9-6 in the last 15, and in all 15 they've held a fourth-quarter lead. Considering that this season the 'Fins have given up 151 second-half points, most in the NFL, and 84 fourth-quarter points, third-most, this could bode well for the Jets finishing strong and repaying the Dolphins for the loss in the first home start of QB Sam Darnold's pro career.
2. Rev Up the Run
Where did Isaiah Crowell and the run-wild offense go? After his franchise-record 219 rush yards vs. Denver on Oct. 7, Cro, on a sore ankle, had 40, 29 and 25 yards as the Jets' rushing yards/game ranking slipped from sixth to 15th. But Crowell's finally off the injury report, Trenton Cannon and possibly Elijah McGuire could be ready to assist, and the Dolphins are a sight for sore legs. Their rush defense has fallen to a tie for 29th in yards/game and 25th in yards/carry. After they gave up 188 yards at Houston last Thursday, HC Adam Gase vowed to spend the long week "figuring out what's going on that we're giving up this massive amount of yardage in the run game."
3. Target: Darnold
A rejuvenated run game would be the best friend for Darnold as he tries to connect with his still banged-up WR/TE group. But which Dolphins defense will show up? Miami, led by CB Xavien Howard's three interceptions, is tied for second in the NFL with 11 picks ... but none the past two games. DEs Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn have a combined 156.5 career sacks ... but one apiece this season. Quinn said last week this first season with the 'Fins has been a "disappointment." And Gase said on Darnold: "If he gets in any kind of rhythm or starts moving around the pocket making some plays, it can become a nightmare for the opposing side real quick."
4. Brock Steady
QB Brock Osweiler is directing the Dolphins' offense for the fourth straight game for Ryan Tannehill and his ailing right shoulder. Interesting that in Osweiler's seven seasons with Denver, Houston and now Miami, he's never played the Jets. In his last three starts, he's 1-2 but with 380 passing yards in a home win over the Bears followed by 240-ish-yard games in the losses. He hasn't been perfect but he's been pretty prolific, especially throwing for the first time last week to now-healthy WR DeVante Parker (six catches, 134 yards). And Brock's confidence is growing: "To be doing some positive things right now, yeah, absolutely, it feels good."
Top Throwback Photos of the AFC Division Rivals
New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet, right, scores a touchdown as Miami Dolphins safety Brock Marion (31) defends during the second quarter Monday, Oct. 23, 2000, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John T. Greilick)
New York Jets' Bernie Parmalee (34), scores the first of two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 19. 2000, at the Pro Player Stadium, in Miami. (AP Photo/ Bill Harrington)
New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington drops back for a pass in the first quarter of the Jets' 17-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Pennington completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 190 yards with two touchdowns in the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets running back Thomas Jones, center, runs between Miami Dolphins linebacker Donnie Spragan, left, and safety Renaldo Hill, right, as he picks up 11 yards during fourth quarter NFL football Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jones rushed for 110 yards as the Jets beat the Dolphins, 31-28. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath (12) drops back to pass as fullback Mark Smolinski (30) sets up to block during an AFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Shea Stadium in New York, Dec. 15, 1975. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau finally gets a sack in the fourth quarter as he pulls down Miami Dolphins quarterback Kyle Mackey for a fourteen-yard loss in East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 18, 1987. This sack at Giants Stadium was Gastineau's first since 1985. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)
New York Jets defensive lineman Mark Gastineau (99) and Joe Klecko, rihgt, sack the Miami Dolphins quarterback David Woodley in the second half of their 16-15 win over Miami at New York's Shea Stadium, Nov. 23, 1981. Among the league leaders in sacks, Klecko has 16 and Gastineau 15 1/2. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
Punter Louie Aguilar (4), of the New York Jets, holds for kicker Raul Allegre as he kicks the winning field goal in overtime to defeat the Miami Dolphins 23-20 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Fla., Dec. 22, 1991. The Jet's victory allowed them to capture the final NFL wildcard playoff slot. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
New York Jets running back Leon Washington (29) carries the ball through the line during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath of the New York Jets fires downfield during a 17-14 win over the Miami Dolphins on November 24, 1974 at Shea Stadium in New York, New York. Joe Namath - New York Jets - File Photos (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New York Jets running back Curtis Martin (28) makes a move around Miami Dolphins safety Shawn Wooden (22) during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Martin rushed for 75 yards leading the Jets to a 28-20 win over the Dolphins. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets kicker Jim Turner (11) kicks a field goal from the hold of quarterback Babe Parilli (15) as Miami Dolphins cornerback Dick Westmoreland (25) closes in during an AFL game in New York, Nov. 2, 1969. The Jets defeated the Dolphins 34-31. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Kicker Raul Allegre of the New York Jets, center of group, is mobbed by his teammates after his winning field goal in overtime against the Miami Dolphins, in Miami, Fla., Dec. 22, 1991. The win gives the Jets a wildcard berth in the upcoming playoffs. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet outruns Miami Dolphins cornerback Calvin Jackson (38) and safety Shawn Wooden (22) on a 70-yard pass play during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 12, 1997 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets Ronnie Lott (42), right, and Jeff Lageman (56) bring down Miami Dolphins Mark Higgs (21), center, during first half action at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami , Sept. 12, 1993. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)
New York Jets running back Curtis Martin heads down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown run against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 in East Rutherford, N.J.. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New York Jets tight end Chris Baker, left, scores a touchdown on a 1-yard catch against Miami Dolphins' Morlon Greenwood, center, and Derrick Pope during the third quarter Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 in East Rutherford, N.J.. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
New York Jets' Laveranues Coles celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown as Miami Dolphins' Travares Tilllman lies on the ground in the Jets 20-17 football victory at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Miami Dolphins Dan Marino, left, fumbles the ball as he is sacked by New York Jets Mark Gastineau during the second quarter of NFL game, Nov. 4, 1984 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (23) runs towards a touchdown during the first quarter against the New York Jets during an NFL football game in Miami, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre prepares to pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. At right is Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter. (AP Photo/Jeffrey M. Boan)
New York Jets linebacker Victor Hobson, center, recovers a ball fumbled by Miami Dolphins running back Sammy Morris, lower right, in the third quarter of the Jets' 20-17 victory over the Dolphins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.,, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Jets Art Monk, left, tries to keep Troy Vincent (23) of the Miami Dolphins at arms length after taking a Boomer Esiason pass for a 19-yard gain in the first quarters on Nov. 27, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
New York Jets' Laveranues Coles, foreground, catches a pass in the end zone over Miami Dolphins' Travis Daniels, left, for the Jets first touchdown during the first quarter of the NFL football game at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets fullback Jerald Sowell, right, crosses the goal line for a touchdown as Miami Dolphins safety Tebucky Jones (24) gives chase during the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jets' Jason Fabini (69) and Kevin Mawae (68), left, signal the score as the Jets beat the Dolphins, 17-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, left, if pressured by Miami Dolphins linebacker Bryan Cox in the second quarter at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Sept. 18, 1994. Esiason threw an incomplete pass on the play. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins' Jeno James (78) and Leonard Henry, center, are taken down by New York Jets', clockwise from bottom left, Shaun Ellis, Dewayne Robertson and Bryan Thomas In the second quarter of their game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, in Miami. (AP Photo/Hillery Smith Shay)
New York Jets' Curtis Martin kneels in the endzone after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004 in Miami. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
New York Jets linebacker Marvin Jones (55) intercepts the ball in the end zone during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jets cornerback Marcus Coleman (42) and James Farrior (58) look on. The Jets beat the Dolphins 21-17. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, right, drops back to pass as offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson (60) blocks against Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 25, 2006, in Miami. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles, right, catches a pass for a 42-yard gain as Miami Dolphins safety Brock Marion (31) looks on during the fourth quarter Sunday night, Nov. 10, 2002, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Coles caught five passes for 80 yards as the Jets beat the Dolphins 13-10. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets' Aaron Glenn (31) returns an interception as Miami Dolphins James Mcknight (80) and Jets teammate Shaun Ellis (92) give chase in the first half Sunday Nov. 18, 2001 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. Glenn returned the Jay Fiedler interception for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
New York Jets' Aaron Glenn (31) keeps his eyes on the ball and is able to make the interception as Miami Dolphins James McKnight (80) is defended by Victor Green (21) and is unable to bring in the pass from quarterback Jay Fiedler in the first half Sunday Nov. 18, 2001 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. Glenn returned the interception 60 yards for a Jets touchdown. (AP Photo/Rick Silva)
New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet catches a pass and runs for a touchdown during the first quarter as Miami Dolphins Antuan Edwards chases after him Monday night, Nov. 1, 2004 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien throws a second quarter pass under pressure from the Miami Dolphins T.J. Turner Sept. 21, 1986 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. O'Brien threw for over 400 yards, and was 29 for 43, after the Jets 51-45 win. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
5. Positive D-velopments
The Jets still have secondary injury issues as they do battle with Brock, but they also has some things working in their favor defensively. Their third-down D is fourth in the NFL in conversion rate allowed while their red zone defense is sixth in TD rate allowed. Avery Williamson is the top tackler, Leo Williams the leader up front. But S Jamal Adams has been the glue with team highs in tackles for loss/no gain (9.5) and tackles to prevent third/fourth-down conversions (7). They'll all be needed to slow down the Dolphins runners, Frank Gore (4.6 yards/carry) and Kenyan Drake (4.9) and turn Osweiler's offense one-dimensional.
6. Jumping the Gun
Bowles called the five false starts in the Chicago loss "the most disheartening thing of the whole ballgame." Add two neutral zone infractions on defense and that made seven presnap penalties vs. the Bears. If it's any consolation, the Jets had more presnap flags back in 2013 — eight vs. New England, nine vs. Buffalo. What's more, both were wins. More encouraging is the hope that Sunday's flagfest was an anomaly, coming less than a month after the Jets had no presnap penalties in back-to-back games for the first time since 2006. Following this week's refocusing, the Jets need to show more concentration and less jumpiness at the Hard Rock.
7. Hot Foot
Jason Myers continues to look like one of the best August signings in franchise history. Despite the brisk winds of the past two weeks, the kicker has hit an NFL-leading 18 field goals on 19 tries, 11 in a row and all six of his tries on the road. By going 6-for-6 on FGs from 40 to 49 yards, he's tied with Graham Gano for the longest current streak of 40-49 kicks at 14 straight. And of course there are the kickoffs. Myers' 36 touchbacks are second-most in the league, on 45 KOs for an 80% TB rate. And with the warm weather ahead conducive to thumping K-balls long distances, Myers will be vital to containing Miami's Jakeem Grant, second in the NFL with his 32.3-yard average on 14 kickoff returns.
