Dolphins dominate Jets and Tim Boyle with 99-yard INT

Miami Dolphins dominate New York Jets in a 34-13 victory, maintaining their top spot in the AFC East standings.

The Miami Dolphins maintained their lead in the AFC East standings after a 34-13 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. With a game and a half lead, the Dolphins are hoping to secure their first division title since 2008.

The game was a mismatch on paper and the Dolphins lived up to the hype by outclassing the Jets in every facet of the game. Miami outgained their division rival by over 200 yards and sacked quarterback Tim Boyle seven times while intercepting him twice. However, a late-game injury to Jaelan Phillips sent the linebacker back to the locker room on a cart. Phillips suffered a non-contact leg injury in the fourth quarter and was ruled out with an Achilles injury. The 2021 first-round pick played in eight games this season and finished with a team-high 6.5 sacks.

On the offensive side, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled, turning the ball over three times, including a pick-six by Jets cornerback Brandin Echols. Miami finished with 395 yards, below their season average of 435 yards per game, and also had their second consecutive game with three turnovers.

While Miami's defense has improved over the past month, their offense is in need of a turnaround as they enter the final month of the regular season. The 8-3 Dolphins will travel to Washington to play the Commanders next week, still in the running for the AFC's top seed with six games remaining in the season.

The pivotal play of the game came at the end of the first half when the Jets intercepted Tagovailoa and attempted a Hail Mary, only for Dolphins' safety Jevon Holland to intercept Boyle's pass at the 1-yard line and return it for a 99-yard touchdown. This play took the air out of the Jets' sideline and the game never felt close afterward.

While the Jets' quarterback change did not spark their offense, the new quarterback, Tim Boyle, did secure a place in Jets' lore for the wrong reason. Boyle's Hail Mary at the end of the first half was intercepted by Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and returned 99 yards for a touchdown, symbolizing the Jets' struggles this season. The Jets have now dropped four straight games and have scored only 37 points in that span.

The offensive issues go beyond the quarterback position, with a broken offensive line, a lack of talent in the receiving corps, and questionable playcalling. The Jets are headed toward their 13th straight non-playoff season, with little hope of turning things around.

Overall, the Dolphins' defense has been a bright spot, forcing nine turnovers in their past four games and recording 14 sacks. However, the lack of playmakers at wide receiver and a struggling running game have been troubling trends for the Jets.