Dolphins Offense Sparks Win, Hill’s Injury Dampens Victory Over Jets

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you’re not acquainted with the expression “Pyrrhic victory,” the Miami Dolphins’ 27-21 result Monday night versus the New York Jets should illustrate its meaning.

Without a doubt, the Dolphins secured their initial triumph of the season, preventing them from suffering three divisional losses before September concluded, but they lost prominent receiver Tyreek Hill in the process.

Hill sustained what the squad suspects is a dislocated left knee early in the third period and was promptly escorted off the premises and transported to a nearby medical facility for further assessment. It’s a concerning ailment to one of Miami’s most resilient athletes — not solely due to its distressing nature but also due to his significance to this team’s offensive scheme.

Only Justin Jefferson has totaled more receiving yardage than Hill since 2022, and only Malik Nabers, A.J. Brown and Davante Adams have commanded a higher percentage of his team’s targets.

The Dolphins surmounted a challenge Monday night in halting a losing sequence that stretched into the 2024 season. The Fins are now presented with fresh hurdles as they ready themselves for a period without Hill.

Crucial Juncture: The Dolphins haven’t experienced much game time without Tyreek Hill since acquiring him in 2022; he was absent for only one contest in his initial three seasons with the franchise. But that statistic will notably rise following Hill’s knee incident Monday. Miami answered with successive scoring possessions, however, supplying a ray of optimism for an offense predicated on its best player.

Most Remarkable Performance: If you predicted Darren Waller securing two touchdown receptions in his inaugural game appearance since January 2024, you might consider purchasing a lottery ticket. Waller was an imposing figure in the red zone, elevating to secure Tua Tagovailoa’s initial touchdown toss of the evening and precisely placing his feet in the back of the end zone to finalize the catch. Waller also hauled in a 9-yard scoring reception in which he generated nearly 4 yards of separation, according to NextGen Stats. With Hill anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Waller’s introduction suggests he’s prepared to assume a substantial role in Miami’s offensive operations.

Trend Under Observation: The Dolphins were unsuccessful in containing Justin Fields the previous occasion he faced them, when he amassed 178 rushing yards as a member of the Chicago Bears in 2022. He spearheaded a potent Jets rushing attack Monday night, gaining 81 of the team’s 197 yards on the ground — including a noteworthy 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Monday’s game signified a season high in rushing yardage surrendered by a Dolphins team that has permitted a minimum of 120 rushing yards in all four games this season — and exceeding 150 yards in three of them.

Upcoming Game: at Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 5)

There was no celebrating by coach Aaron Glenn along the sidelines this week. He displayed a somber demeanor for a significant portion of the game, as the Jets resembled a disorganized collection of players in a careless, mistake-laden defeat.

The sobering truth for Glenn: He joins Adam Gase and Lou Holtz as the singular coaches to commence their Jets tenure with four consecutive defeats. If you possess any understanding of the Jets’ history, you comprehend that this speaks volumes: No coach has initiated with 0-5.

No individual anticipated Glenn to perform miracles, but this is concerning because the team is progressing in an unfavorable direction. Confronting a previously winless Miami, the Jets committed three turnovers and 12 infractions for 101 yards, encompassing six pre-snap penalties on the offense.

The Jets operated with a limited offensive approach and were frequently misplaced defensively. They are deteriorating, not improving. Furthermore, they lost running back Braelon Allen to a potentially severe knee injury.

Trend Under Observation: The Jets trailed at halftime 10-3. So, what else is expected? Throughout the preceding three contests, they’ve been outscored in the first half 50-12. It’s challenging for any team to thrive in that circumstance, particularly a Jets team that isn’t designed to execute rapid catch-up plays. This instance, they were fortunate to be down by only one score.

Statistic to Note: The Jets relinquished three fumbles in a game for the first time since 2023. Ball-security drills, anyone? The errors resulted in 14 points for Miami. This was perplexing, considering the Dolphins commenced the game with zero takeaways this season. The culprits were Allen, Justin Fields and kickoff returner Isaiah Williams. The Jets have lost two fumbles on kickoff returns this season, more than the remaining teams in the league combined. The previous return specialist, Xavier Gipson, was released. Williams should be concerned.

Interpretation of the Quarterback’s Performance: Fields furnished the Jets’ solitary highlight: a 43-yard scramble for a touchdown. It was remarkable. In actuality, he traversed 86.5 yards, according to Next Gen Stats, presenting a comprehensive display of his exceptional running capabilities. Regrettably for the Jets, he accumulated more rushing yards through three quarters (73) than passing yards (65). One can succeed in that manner at the high school level, but not in the NFL.

Significant Deficiency in the Game Plan: Wide receiver Garrett Wilson was an afterthought with merely three receptions for 37 yards through three quarters. He attracted additional coverage, which was anticipated, but offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand must improve his efforts to devise methods to involve him in the game.

Upcoming Game: vs. Dallas Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 5)