As the cold weather moves in at 1 Jets Drive, the Green & White (3-9) will fly south in Week 14 for a matchup with the Miami Dolphins (5-7) at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. The Jets have not met their expectations in 2024 but remain focused on leaving the Sunshine State with a win and fulfilling a "great obligation."
"At this point, we know where we're at in the season," RG Alijah Vera-Tuckersaid. "We are at a point that we want everyone to play for each other. I'm going play my best to feed your family, and I hope you do the same for me. That's kind of the mindset we got right now, trying to get a win while upholding that greater obligation to your teammates."
S Tony Adams added: "You bleed with these guys, and you put your blood, sweat and tears into this game. You talk about your deepest, darkest secrets and then go out there and play hard for them. That is most important thing and the reason we are going to go out there, play our hardest for each other."
The Morgan Moses Mentality
There is no quit in the 2024 Jets and no quit in veteran T Morgan Moses. Moses, 33, has made 10 starts this season while battling a knee injury he sustained in Week 3 and a shoulder injury he sustained last week vs. Seattle.
"Morgan, he's just, as we all know, he's just one of those tough guys," interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said. "He's a throwback NFL player that is willing to play with about anything, so it's a guy we're so fortunate to have in that way."
Moses has set an example for the rest of the locker room, and his teammates have responded accordingly. Despite the standings, they are encouraged by what they can accomplish over the final 5 games of the season.
"Every guy in this locker room has an injury or is banged up," Tony Adams said. "But you don't see any of these guys throwing in the towel. You see guys that play with the injuries. Morgan Moses, at his age, is still going out there playing and setting the example for the rest of us. Because he has got the money, but it just goes to show you how much you care about this team and this game, and we continue to play that way."
'Finding a Rhythm'
The Jets will play Miami twice over the final 5 weeks, on the road this week and at home for the regular season finale in Week 18.
Jeff Ulbrich, however, from his time as the Jets defensive coordinator, and his team are already familiar with Miami's explosive offense headlined by All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill and second-year standout tailback De'Von Achane. Hill leads the team with 654 receiving yards while Achane has accumulated a team-high 6 receiving touchdowns to go with 1,005 scrimmage yards, good for 19th most in the NFL.
"They are a great challenge and a divisional opponent we know very well," Ulbrich said. "Very explosive from an offensive perspective, not just speed, but schematically they're going to challenge you in every way."
Miami's offense is averaging 27 points per game in its last 6 games. The catalyst for the recent surge has been the play of QB Tua Tagovailoa, who, since his returned from injury in Week 8, has thrown 13 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Miami's defense, on the other hand, has a new look, led by defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who took over a unit led by Vic Fangio this season and has seen little drop off. The Dolphins rank seventh in yards allowed and have 5 takeaways in the last 3 weeks.
"Defense, they got a new look and they're finding their rhythm I feel like as of late," Ulbrich said. "They are very aggressive, a lot of fronts, a lot of pressure. They're going to bring a lot of stuff at us so we're going to have to be on our stuff."
With a win, Miami would improve to 6-7 and stay in the hunt for the final wild-card berth in the AFC. The Dolphins are currently 2.5 games behind the Broncos for the seventh and final spot.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
A key focus for the Jets will be playing with a more-disciplined approach. The Jets' defense played a strong game against the Seahawks in Week 13 – a 26-21 loss – allowing 19 points and 259 total yards, Seattle's second-lowest yardage total this season.
On Seattle's game-winning drive, however, the Jets gifted the Seahawks 45 yards on 4 penalties, including 2 that resulted in first downs and another that turned a fourth-and-6 into a fourth-and-1. For the year, the Jets average the third-most penalties per game (7.4) in the NFL.
"A disciplined player is one that executes his job to the best of his ability every single play and you see that," Jeff Ulbrich said. "That doesn't necessarily mean they win or lose the down, it means they are executing, that is what we're trying to teach here."
Six of the Jets' 9 losses this season have come by one score.
"We just need to go out there and execute at the highest level," Tony Adams said. "There has to be a trust in your teammates to execute, play without penalties, play fast and play relentlessly. I appreciate all my teammates, and I trust that regardless of our record, we are going to go out there and execute."
