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Week 3 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 28, New York Jets 31
What you need to know
| Miami Dolphins |
Head coach Cam Cameron decided to scrap the RBBC idea -- for this game, anyway -- and let Ronnie Brown out of the doghouse. Brown responded with a career best 211 total yards, scoring three touchdowns off 23 carries for 112 yards and six pass receptions for another 99 yards. No other Dolphins running back had a carry. Coming into this game Miami ranked dead last in rushing, averaging just 65 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry.
Brown's ability to punch holes in the Jets' defensive line at 4.9 yards per carry opened up the secondary for Trent Green, who completed 23 of 36 for 318 yards. He threw one touchdown pass (to Brown) but also threw a backbreaking interception in the third quarter with Miami down just 24 to 13. Offensively, Miami gained 424 total yards, averaged 7.2 yards per play, and scored 28 points, but the Dolphins never led in this game.
After Ronnie Brown tied the game at 7--7, Leon Washington returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The Dolphin defense held the Jets to 256 yards, but gave up key plays at critical times. New York was able to convert eight of 13 third downs and scored a touchdown with :02 left in first half to extend their lead to 21--13.
On the Dolphins' first touchdown drive, all pro DE Taylor reported as an eligible receiver and lined up at split end. Eric Coleman, the 5' 10" cornerback, tried to cover the 6' 6" Taylor one on one. Green saw the coverage, threw the ball high, and Coleman was flagged for interference. Taylor then lined up at tight end on the left side and two plays later Brown scored the first Miami touchdown running left.
All pro middle linebacker Zach Thomas missed the game with what was described as a mild concussion. Channing Crowder replaced him in the lineup, but how does anyone replace Zach Thomas?
| New York Jets |
Chad Pennington returned to the Jets' lineup after missing their last game with an ankle injury and demonstrated once again that he is the emotional leader of this team. Heavy tape was visible through Pennington's sock but it did not affect his mobility, such as it is. He was able to slide around the pocket and scramble out of trouble when he had to. He completed 15 of 22 for 124 yards for two touchdowns and even scored a touchdown on a two yard quarterback draw.
Thomas Jones played perhaps the key role in the Jets' victory. He rushed 24 times for 110 yards, but 19 carries came in the second half with New York clinging to a lead. Leon Washington actually opened at running back but only carried a total of seven times for 18 yards in spot relief duty for Jones. After Miami tied the score in the second quarter, however, he returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for the go ahead touchdown.
The Jets were able to execute their conservative game plan of running the ball effectively while completing high percentage passes. Laveranues Coles caught three passes for 30 yards and one touchdown while Jerricho Cotchery added five balls for 54 yards. TE Chris Baker caught Pennington's other touchdown pass on a great catch in the back of the end zone with :02 left in the first half, extending the Jets' lead to 21--13 at halftime.
But if the Jets' are to make another run for the playoffs their defense needs to improve quickly. They registered just their first turnover of the season in the third quarter when Kerry Rhodes picked off a Trent Green pass intended for Chris Chambers but the Dolphins gained over 400 yards. Ronnie Brown gained a career best 211 yards and scored three touchdowns.
What you ought to know
| QB Trent Green, Pass: 23 - 36 - 318 - 1 TD / 1 INT |
Green completed 23 of 36 for 318 yards and one touchdown, but also threw a costly interception with Miami down 24 to 13. He is trying to gel with his new team and the offense is improving. Miami gained over 400 yards, and if Ronnie Brown can continue to post big numbers the passing game will really open up. Green has a competent receiving corps headed by Chambers and Booker.
| RB Ronnie Brown, Rush: 23 - 112 - 2, Rec: 6 - 99 - 1 (7 targets) |
Brown returned to his role as the number one running back for Miami and he responded with the best day of his career, 211 total yards and three touchdowns. He carried 23 times for 112 yards -- a 4.6 yard per carry average -- and caught six pass for another 99. He kept finding big holes in the Jets' defense and no other Miami runners had a single carry. He also played a key role in the passing offense. His six receptions tied him for the team lead with Chris Chambers.
Fantasy owners have been waiting for head coach Cam Cameron to let Brown run and the results were impressive. Even with Miami falling behind Brown remained very involved in the offense. In the fourth quarter he narrowed the Jets' lead to 31--28 when he scored one touchdown on the ground, another through the air, and added a two point conversion.
| WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 6 - 101 - 0 (13 targets) |
When the Dolphins fell behind in the second half Green targeted Chambers nine times. He gained 101 yards on six receptions but was held out of the end zone.
| WR Marty Booker, Rec: 5 - 60 - 0 (10 targets) |
Booker seemed to have the confidence of Green in the first half, but was only targeted once in the second half when Miami fell behind. He gained 60 yards on five balls but did not score.
| WR Derek Hagan, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets) |
Hagan caught one fourth quarter pass for nine yards.
| WR Ted Ginn, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (1 targets) |
The number one draft choice from Ohio State averaged 26 yards on three kickoff returns. In the third quarter he caught one pass for 15 yards on his only target of the game.
| TE David Martin, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (4 targets) |
Martin caught three passes as the primary TE target for Miami.
| TE Justin Peelle, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Peelle's reception came in the first quarter and was not targeted again.
| PK Jay Feely 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points |
Feely connected on both field goal attempts, from 31 and 39 yards, and converted all three extra points.
| MIA Rush Defense |
All pro middle linebacker Zach Thomas missed this game with what was described as a mild concussion. Even with Thomas in the lineup, however, the usually tough Miami defense has surrendered an average of 376 yards in their first two games. While they appear to have done a better job against the Jets -- allowing only 256 net yards -- Thomas Jones gained 110 yards on 25 carries and helped New York eight of 13 third down opportunities when Miami desperately wanted the ball back.
| MIA Pass Defense |
Pennington only attempted 22 passes but completed 15 for two touchdowns and 124 yards. The Jets were playing with the lead and did not need to open up the offense anymore than they had to, but Coles and Cotchery seemed to have no problem getting open.
| QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 15 - 22 - 124 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - -1 - 1 |
Pennington returned to the Jets' lineup with a heavily bandaged ankle and an attitude that demonstrated once again that he is the emotional leader of this team. He ran some no huddle offense at the Dolphins and managed to divide 15 completions among six different receivers. After he scored a touchdown on an unexpected two yard quarterback draw, Pennington pumped his fist and was immediately mobbed by teammates.
| RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 25 - 110 - 0, Rec: 2 - 1 - 0 (2 targets) |
The Jets needed Jones to grind out the tough yards, pick up first downs, and keep the clock moving. He responded with 110 yards, with 19 of his 25 carries coming in the second half and New York clinging to a lead. He also took advantage of the Zach Thomas missing the game for Miami.
| RB Leon Washington, Rush: 7 - 18 - 0 |
Washington opened at running back for the Jets and had the first three carries. From then on, he only spelled Jones occasionally. His main job was to replace all pro return specialist Justin Miller, and responded with a 98 yard touchdown return after Ronnie Brown had tied the score in the second quarter.
| WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 5 - 54 - 0 (7 targets) |
Just before halftime, a well covered Cotchery made a clean one handed catch just before he stepped out of bounds at the Miami four yard line, killing the clock with :02 left. It led to a New York touchdown on the next play and an eight point halftime lead. With the Jets ahead in the second half he was only targeted one more time.
| WR Brad Smith, Rush: 2 - 14 - 0, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (4 targets) |
The former Missouri quarterback caught three passes for 24 yards. He also gained 14 yards on two carries, both in the third quarter. Coach Mangini seems to be looking for creative ways of getting Smith involved in this offense, and his role may become more significant.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 3 - 30 - 1 (6 targets) |
Coles caught three passes for 30 yards, including a three yard touchdown grab in the first quarter to open the scoring. With the Jets never trailing in the game, the offense stayed conservative and relied more on Thomas Jones to grind out the victory.
| WR Justin McCareins, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
McCareins made an appearance in the fourth quarter and caught the only pass thrown to him.
| TE Chris Baker, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (1 targets) |
With :02 left in the first half, Pennington threw a high pass toward the back of the end zone. Baker reached up with his right hand, knocked the ball back to himself, grabbed it with both hands and got both feet down before tumbling over the end line. The touchdown staked New York to a 21 -- 13 halftime lead. It was his only target and it was a great catch.
| PK Mike Nugent 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points |
Nugent connected on a 21 yard field goal and converted all four extra points.
| NYJ Rush Defense |
Lost in the fanfare that the Jets won this game is the glaring fact that Ronnie Brown averaged 4.9 yards per carry and gained a career best 211 total yards. As a team, Miami gained over 424 yards.
| NYJ Pass Defense |
The Jets recorded their first turnover of the season when Kerry Rhodes intercepted a pass intended for Chris Chambers. Veteran Shaun Ellis registered the first Jets' sack of the year, but Trent Green threw for 306 yards and one touchdown.
