The Jets defense did all it could early in Friday's game against the Dolphins, but the offense – decimated by injuries up front and starting Tim Boyle at QB – never got a post-Thanksgiving spark in a 34-13 loss. Despite forcing the Dolphins into three turnovers, the Jets fell to 4-7 while Miami improved to 8-3.

"We'll keep digging," head coach Robert Saleh said. "We have to keep digging. We have to keep preparing, keep coaching, keep playing. We just have to try keep finding ways to move the ball and score."

Boyle, the third Jets QB to start this season, threw a late TD to Garrett Wilson and finished 27 of 38 for 179 yards with 2 INTs. Working behind a new starting line combination and with the Jets trying a pair of undrafted free agents (Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee) at WR with Wilson, Boyle was often under duress and was sacked 7 times. The Jets first TD came from the defense that nearly vaulted the home team into contention only for a self-inflicted offensive wound at the end of the second quarter.

With the Green & White trailing, 10-0, CB Brandin Echols stepped in front of a Tua Tagovailoa sideline pass intended for former Jet Braxton Berrios and raced down the sideline 30 yards to paydirt. Then D.J. Reed intercepted Tagovailoa a minute later to set up a Hail Mary attempt to the end zone. Boyle uncorked a 50-yard heave and Dolphins star safety Jevon Holland picked off the ball. Benefiting from an open field with five offensive linemen and Boyle left for a shot at a tackle – Holland did the unthinkable and took it the distance for 99 yards. The Jets had about a minute of momentum before the 'Fins were swimming comfortably at halftime with a 17-6 advantage.

"Going into the locker room, felt good about the momentum we had gathered," Saleh said. "Took our shot off the interception to try to get one more. Just a very unfortunate play at the end of the half. When we felt like we had captured momentum, cut it to a four-point game and gave it right back to them. Obviously it took away the momentum we had built."

Miami widened its lead in the second half on a Jason Sanders 54-yard field goal and Raheem Mostert's 13-yard scoring run. Both Tyreek Hill (9-102), who gave the visitors a 10-0 lead in the second quarter with a 7-yard TD, and Jaylen Waddle (8-114) eclipsed 100 yards while Mostert pitched in 94 yards on the ground.

The Jets got into scoring territory in the fourth quarter following a 17-play, 7:01 drive but Boyle's short pass was tipped and intercepted by LB Jerome Baker. Down by 27-6, Ashtyn Davis gave the offense another shot at the Miami 35 by recovering a ball that Tagovailoa dropped on a shotgun snap. Six plays later, Boyle hit Wilson for the 1-yard TD as the Jets picked up their 10^th offensive score this season. Mostert's 34-yard TD with 3:35 remaining put the game away for the division leaders.

Jetcetera
Prior to Brandin Echols' pick-six against Tua Tagovailoa in the second quarter, the Jets last pick-6 came in 2021 at Miami with Echols returning a Tagovailoa pass back 20 yards for a score. … Both Jets DL Micheal Clemons and Dolphins T Austin Jackson were ejected early in the fourth quarter following Jason Sanders' extra point that made it a 27-6 contest. … Garrett Wilson led the Jets with 7 receptions (10 targets) for 44 yards with 1 TD. On defense, captain C.J. Mosley had 14 tackles. With Mekhi Becton (ankle) inactive, Carter Warren made his first career start for the Jets. The Jets eighth' line combination in 11 games from left to right was LT Carter Warren, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Joe Tippmann, RG Xavier Newman and RT Max Mitchell. … Dolphins defender Jalelan Phillips was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an Achilles injury. … During the final minutes of Amazon's broadcast, sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung discussed QB Aaron Rodgers' speed bridge repair to his Achilles tendon that allowed a more aggressive rehab. … WR Allen Lazard was one of the gameday inactives and QB Zach Wilson, who appeared in the first 10 contests, was the team's emergency third QB.