David Steele
Pick: Dolphins, 33-24
The Dolphins found an identity and an offensive strength the last two weeks with Jay Ajayi toting it. They have a dilemma this week, though: The Jets have the best rushing defense in the NFL, and the worst passing defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick gets another chance to not hand the opposing team opportunities all game long. This is the rare week that the Dolphins offense can be trusted more than their opponent's.
Pete Prisco, Senior NFL Columnist
Pick: Dolphins, 27-20
The Dolphins come out of their bye with the thinking they can make a playoff push. They have won the last two thanks to a power run game. They will continue that here with Jay Ajayi and keep rolling against a Jets team playing consecutive road games.
Chris Simms, NFL Lead Analyst
Pick: Dolphins, 28-24
Put on your big-boy pads for this South Beach slugfest.
On one end, you have a Jets defensive line that's still talented. Inside or outside, Muhammad Wilkerson can devastate a blocking scheme. And something tells me we'll see a motivated Sheldon Richardson after trade rumors swirled this past week, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
On the other end is the most complete offensive line in football. The last two Dolphins games were an indication of what Laremy Tunsil, Branden Albert and Co. can do as a unified and healthy group—particularly in blocking for Jay Ajayi.
Ajayi is the key here. Can he make it three straight games with a breakout performance? After watching his film, I have no reason to doubt his skills.
Elliot Harrison, NFL Media Analyst
Pick: Dolphins, 29-23
How many times have you heard, or read, about the talent on the Jets' defensive line? Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams are supposed to dominate. They're not dominating anything. Perhaps the loss of "Snacks" Harrison was a bigger loss than we all thought. OK, so opponents are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, which is great. But the defensive front can't get to the quarterback fast enough to cover for a secondary that sucks right now. So while all the pregame talk will be about Jay Ajayi and the pair of 200-hundred yard games he can boast about, this will be Ryan Tannehill's deal to win or lose
