So the NFL International Series began in ernest on Sunday and I decided to attend all three games this year seeing as I hadn't been for a few years. First up was the New York Jets against the 'home' side Miami Dolphins, who are fairly popular in the UK thanks to the Dan Marino lead sides back in the 80/90s. The Dolphins have struggled somewhat since the heady days twenty odd years ago though and had started this season with a 1-2 record so it was important they got a win against their dvisional rivals The Jets who were 2-1 to stop themselves from falling two wins behind early on so the pressure on Miami was much greater.
Anyway after all the razzmatazz and build up (pics above) to this divisional rivalry matchup the players took to the field so here is my quarter by quarter report:-
1st Quarter
The Dolphins had the ball first but their opening drive ended with just one first down and a punt so it wasn't a great start from the offence and this was compounded when the Jets opening drive saw them into the endzone after three plays! The Touchdown was reviewed due to a fumble on the goalline but it was ruled good and after the extra point was good the Jets lead 7-0. Ominous for the Dolphins.
Even more so when the Dolphins next drive was a three and out and again they had to punt as the Jets defence were all over the Dolphins offence. On their next drive the Jets strolled down the field to have a 1st and Goal on the nine yard line but this time the Dolphins managed to keep them to a field goal but the Jets lead 10-0.
Sadly for the Dolphins their offence was no existent and from their next drive the Dolphins went three and out again including a fumble from QB Tannehill although luckerly for him it was recovered by a teammate and from the Jets next drive, the final one of the Quarter, Miami managed to stop the Jets , the drive ending when the Jets went for it on fourth down but were done for delay of game so ended up punting. Miami had a couple of plays before the Quarter came to an end.
End of One Jets 10 Dolphins 0
2nd Quarter
The Dolphins offence started the 2nd Quarter much like the first, abysmally. Tannehill was sacked with their first play in the Quarter with no protection from his offensive line whatsoever meaning fourth down and another punt. The Jets then managed to get up to the Dolphins 30 yard line before they were finally halted by an improving Dolphins defence although the Jets were not helped by a holding call against them, backing them up.
However their field goal attempt was good so the Jets increased their lead to 13-0. And then Boom, finally the Dolphins offense got going and thanks to two big pass interference calls, both correctly called as well against the Jets defence, the Dolphins went down the field to score a Touchdown and with the extra point being good the Jets lead was cut to 13-7.
On the Jets next drive two good rushing plays from Ivory got them almost to midfield but then saw the Miami defence halt their charge and the Jets were forced to punt. So could the Dolphins offense fucntion again? Well not quite as after the first two downs got them nowhere they looked to have converted a big third down play but after a review the officials said otherwise so it was a three and out for the Dolphins and they were forced to punt yet again.
The Jets next drive should have been stopped way back in the Jets own half on third down but Miami missed a chance of a sack as QB Fitzpatrick wriggled free of would be tacklers to convert a fantastic third down rush and keep the drive going, a drive which ended with a throw to the endzone for a Touchdown with 0:33 left in the half. The extra point was good so the Jets lead 20-7. The Dolphins offense, true to form, then went three and out in less than twenty seconds meaning the Jets got the ball back with five seconds of half although back on their own nine yard line so they took a knee and that was the half completed.
Half Time Jets 20 Dolphins 7
Here is Miami scoring their Touchdown in 2nd Quarter
More 2nd Quarter Action
Half Time scoreboard shows how much work Miami had to do in second half
3rd Quarter
Miami knew they had to improve drastically, especially offensively, if they were to get anything from this game but from the Jets opening drive of the half it was too easy for their offence after the Miami defence had yet again missed a sack opportunity on Fitzpatrick and helped by the potent combo of Fitzpatrick giving the ball to Ivory to rush many yards for the Jets they drove up the field to score a Touchdown and convert the extra point and saw the Jets lead increase to 27-7.
Dolphins next drive saw two good plays get them to midfield and you thought maybe they could do something with this drive but they ended up having to go for it on fourth down and the pass was broken up so the ball was turned over on downs at the Jets 45 yard line. The Jets offence marched up to Miami's 23 yard line thanks to a personal foul on QB Fitzpatrick but they had to settle for a field goal attempt but this was missed so the Jets left with no points on the drive.
However as was the pattern in this game the Dolphins managd to get up to the Jets 41 yard line only to falter once again, go for it on fourth down, and turn over possession on downs after failing with the attempt. The Jets next drive saw Fitzpatrick try a long pass on third down but saw it intercepted, the first pick of the day, and Miami ran it back to the Jets 43 yard line. Elation for the Dolphins but guess what, Tannehill was sacked was the very next play, losing tons of yardage in the process. Oh dear, he has no protection at all from the Jets defence who just swamped him. The result was another three and out and the end of the third quarter.
End of third Jets 27 Dolphins 7
Pics above show some 3rd Quarter Action
4th Quarter
So the Dolphins trailed by twenty points going into the final Quarter so needed something special to even make a game of it. The Quarter started well for them though as after the Jets were forced to punt on their next drive the Dolphins returned the punt to the Jets 37 yard line for great field position, and they took advantage of this to score a Touchdown and after the extra point was good reduce the Jets lead to 27-14.
So could the Dolphins stop the Jets again and get the ball back to try and put more pressure on the New York side. Well yes they could as the Jets got nowhere with their next drive, not helped by an offensive hold backing them up on third down, and the punt return brought Miami to the Jets 41 yard line and decent field position.
There were just under 84,000 in in the stadium and most of those, including me, were hoping for a Dolphins score and making the final few minutes interesting. The Dolphins offence were knocking on the door but on fourth down from the four yard line Tannehill overthrew his pass but a holding penalty was given against the defence and so saw the Dolphins with first and goal on the two yard line and four more downs to get into the endzone.
From the first play Tannehill threw to a wide open receiver in the endzone and it was Touchdown Miami, or so we all thought, but it was chalked off due to a offensive penalty backing them up to 11 yard line and on fourth down Tannehill's throw was intercepted in the endzone and you would have thought that was probably the game with 4:59 left. Cue a mass exodus of fans as most of them probably thought that too. However with 3:51 left a fumble from the Jets saw a turnover and it was Dolphins ball on the Jets 44 yard line, but hang on a second they decided to review the play, and the decision was reversed as the runners knee was down by contact meaning it was still Jets ball, summing up Miami's afternoon.
The Jet's offence got nowhere on their next drive but Miami had to use up all there timeouts during that drive and also were called for Roughing the Kicker during the punt meaning the Dolphins were backed up to their own 16 yard line with only 3:09 left on clock. They knew a quick score and an onside kick to regain possession would give them a shot at vicorty and they drove down to the Jets 26 yard line, but on fourth down Tannehill's pass into the endzone was again intercepted and that was the game. The Jets took knees for the final 1:45 of the game and ran out deserved winners.
Full Time Jets 27 Dolphins 14
Teams take to the field at the end of the game to shake hands and congratulate each other
So the Jets now go to 3-1 on the season whilst Miami now are the reverse at 1-3 and sees more pressure heaped on their coach and team. They will have to improve drastically from this performance if they are to gain anything from this season. The Jets were ok if not spectacular although their star man was Chris Ivory who rushed for 166 yards in 29 carries. They did a job on the Dolphins and to be honest that's all that matters at the end of the day.
I'll be back with a report on Buffalo Bills Vs Jacksonville Jaguars on October 25th and I can't wait for that game already. Bye for now!!!
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