Behind Hall and Carter, Jets Roll Over Dolphins

 JETS 40 - DOLPHINS 17 

The New York Jets are on a roll. Behind a stellar ground game that produced 135 yards, and a even more stellar effort by rookie running back Breece Hall, the Jets closed the gap a bit in the AFC East with a thunderous 40-17 win over the Miami Dolphins. 

It was New York's first win in the division since 2019, ending a 12-game AFC East losing streak.  The victory also marked the first time in 63 games that the Jets scored 40 or more points in a football game. 

All of this was the result of the Jets young players, once again, contributing in big ways against a division opponent. 

Last week Zach Wilson was the hero for New York. This week it was Breece Hall. The rookie out of Iowa State rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries, and caught two passes for 100 yards. Michael Carter also got into the action scoring two of the Jets five rushing touchdowns on the afternoon. 

For a team that had been so maligned regarding the offensive line, a healthier unit produced big results. Duane Brown was back at left tackle for Gang Green, while second year pro Alijah Vera Tucker had flipped back over to right tackle.  

On the flip side, the Jets defense was all over Dolphins quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson from pillar to post. 

In fact, Ahmed Sauce Gardner's edge rush of Bridgewater resulted in a safety when the veteran quarterback tried to throw the ball away in desperation. Instead Gardner knocked him to the ground forcing an intentional grounding. Bridgewater got hurt and never returned. 

Later with the Jets leading 5-0, Wilson connected with an open Breece Hall streaking down the sideline at the 40-yard line for what turned into a 79-yard run to the goalline. Michael Carter finished it off with the touchdown to put the Jets up 12-0. 

Miami would storm back, slowly chipping away at the Jets lead cutting it down ti 19-17 midway through the third quarter. 

A missed field goal by Miami that would have given the Dolphins the lead proved to be the golden opportunity they needed as the Jets turned the Fish miss into points. 

First, Zach Wilson hit Corey Davis for 21 yards to the Miami 35-yard line. Four plays later, Wilson dumped it off to Breece Hall for 21-yards to the Dolphins' 1-yard line. Once again it was up to Michael Carter to finish it off with a touchdown plunge to put the Jets up 26-17. 

The score was the first of three consecutive touchdowns by the Jets who would go on to pull away 40-17. 

At 3-2, the Jets suddenly find themselves in second place in the AFC East, and in the thick of the AFC playoff conversation. Not bad for a young football team in the second year of a rebuild.