The Buzz:Like the Jets, the Dolphins enter Week 9 on a two-game win streak. Under first-year head coach Adam Gase, Miami sits third in the AFC East with a 3-4 mark. The 'Phins are coming off their bye week and will conclude a four-game homestand on Sunday.
Offense
The Staples: Fifth-year QB Ryan Tannehill is making a transition under his third offensive coordinator, Clyde Christensen. After finishing No. 9 in the NFL in passing yards last season with 4,208, Tannehill is on pace for a sub-3,500-yard passing season, which what would be his lowest output since his rookie campaign. However, the Texas A&M product is heating up as of late, completing 67.5% of his passes and throwing for 456 yards during the two-game run.
Tannehill's top weapon is third-year WR Jarvis Landry, who No. 11 in the NFL in receiving yards (572) and tied for sixth in receptions (46). The LSU product has only registered one touchdown catch this season, but Landry is averaging 12.4 yards per catch and has hauled in 11 20-plus yard balls, ranking No. 5 in the league in that category.
Running Down a Dream: RB Jay Ajayi is chasing history against the Green & White's top ranked rush defense — he's looking to become the first player in NFL history to rush for at 200 yards in three straight games. Ajayi gained 204 yards and 214 yards in Week 6 and 7 victories over the Steelers and Bills respectively while averaging 26.5 carries and 7.9 yards an attempt. The second-year back leads the NFL's No. 7 ranked rushing attack.
Defense
The Anchors:In his second year in South Beach, DT Ndamukong Suh is putting together an impressive season. The 6'4", 305-pounder leads the team with 3.5 sacks, 9 QBH and 4.0 TFL while racking up 32 total tackles.
SS Isa Abdul-Quddus may not be a well-known name around the NFL, but he's a key cog in a Dolphins secondary that lost starting FS Reshad Jones for the season. Abdul-Quddus is extremely versatile as he leads the team in INT (2) and PD (4) while ranking No. 3 on the Dolphins with 34 total tackles.
Man in The Middle:The heart of the Miami defense is LB Kiko Alonso, whom the team acquired in March via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Alonso has excelled in Vance Johnson's defense, leading the Dolphins with 62 total tackles, four tackles for loss and two FR. The Oregon product is still seeking his first sack of the season.
