Brandon Marshall Goes off on Dolphins as Jets win

JETS 38
DOLPHINS 20

Inspite of some early offensive struggles the New York Jets found a way to pull away from the putrid Miami Dolphins, 38-20, at MetLife stadium thanks to Brandon Marshall's best game of his Jets career, combined with the fact that the Dolphins are ... just that ... the Dolphins.

Marshall so dominated against the Miami secondary and cornerback Brent Grimes that it became an afternoon of pitch and catch between the Jets wide receiver and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Marshall who has been haunted by countless drops in big situations caught nine passes for 131yards and two scores in the Jets victory.

Early on it looked like the Jets were on their way to an ugly affair against the Fish. Miami had the football at the Jets 19 yard line and looked poised to put some points on the board before Darrelle Revis stand-in, Marcus Williams, picked off Ryan Tannenhill handing New York renewed life.

The Jets would get a huge break when the officials granted the Jets a first down on third and one at their own 37 yard line when it appeared that Chris Ivory was actually stopped for a loss.  The Dolphins did not challenge, and the Jets drive continued. On the next play Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall for 20 yards to the Miami 42.

That would not be all for the former Dolphins wide out. Fitzpatrick would find Marshall again on the sideline for a 16-yard completion on second and 15 to move the ball to the Dolphins 17, Finally, Fitz hit Marshall once more, this time in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.

The score would remain 7-0 for predominantly the entire first half as neither offense could do anything substantial. That was until he Jets broke the ice with Fitzpatrick leading a 92-yard scoring drive that culminated in Devin Smith's first ever NFL touchdown on a 16-yard strike. Smith, who has also taken plenty of criticism this season needed that touchdown for his confidence. The Jets went into the half up 14-0.

From this point on it would be pretty smooth sailing for the Jets. The Dolphins had no answer for Gang Green's battered defense. Miami would punt on three of their first four possessions of the second half while the Jets put the game on ice with touchdowns to Eric Decker and Marshall, blowing it open at 28-7.

Chris Ivory who struggled to get anything going on the ground all afternoon broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run after breaking free of tacklers for the final score of the day for the Jets with 9:29 left in the game.

Fizpatrick was 22-of-37 for 277 yards and four touchdowns. He did't throw any interceptions. The Jets didn't put the ball on the ground at all in this game.

While it was a much needed win for the Jets, it was against the Dolphins, so there has to be a grain of salt taken from this game. The Jets (6-5) keep their very slim playoff hopes alive for at least another week. Next Sunday Gang Green matches up against their co-tenants the New York Giants (5-6) who are in similar dire straits.

Comments