Jets Look to Avoid a Letdown in Miami After Statement Win Over the Colts
The New York Jets enter Week 12 sitting alone atop the AFC, fresh off their biggest win of the season — a 7–2–versus–9–1 showdown where they dismantled the Colts to take sole control of the conference and the AFC East.
This week isn’t about hype.
This week is about handling business.
A road trip to Miami in late November has all the makings of a classic trap game. The Dolphins are inconsistent but dangerous, boasting elite defensive talent and home-field humidity that can grind down even the league’s best. Miami’s record may not show it, but their personnel absolutely can cause problems if the Jets aren’t locked in.
New York has dominated all season with discipline, physicality, and balance. Week 12’s mission is simple:
stay sharp, stay focused, and avoid the post-Colts emotional letdown.
Jets Offense vs. Dolphins Defense
Curtis Martin vs. Miami’s Defensive Front
Curtis Martin enters Week 12 on a historic tear:
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276 carries
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1,784 yards
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6.4 yards per carry
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23 rushing TDs
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1 fumble
Miami counters with one of the most physical defensive interiors in football.
Tim Bowens (DT): 11 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 knockdowns
Daryl Gardener (DT): 20 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 hurries, 1 forced fumble
Jason Taylor (DE): 14 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 knockdowns, 4 hurries
If anyone can slow Martin’s downhill burst, it’s Miami’s front four. But stopping him for four quarters? That’s a different question.
Vinny Testaverde vs. Madison & Surtain
Vinny enters Week 12 with:
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118/235 (50%)
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1,972 yards
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19 TD / 12 INT
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8.3 YPA
He’s been a big-play machine behind the threat of Martin’s ground game.
Miami’s strength lies in its corners:
Sam Madison: 26 tackles, 5 INTs, 8 knockdowns
Patrick Surtain: 31 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 knockdowns
Brock Marion: 23 tackles, 2 INTs
J. Wilson: 26 tackles, 1 INT
If Martin forces Miami into single-high looks, Vinny will have the matchups he wants.
Jets Receivers vs. Dolphins Secondary
Wayne Chrebet: 35 rec, 628 yds, 17.9 avg, 9 TD
Dedric Ward: 22 rec, 434 yds, 4 TD
Laveranues Coles: 17 rec, 380 yds, 22.3 avg
Miami’s corners are elite, but the Jets’ receiving trio has been quietly lethal on limited volume. Expect play-action shots early to test Madison and Surtain outside the numbers.
Dolphins Offense vs. Jets Defense
Damon Huard Under Pressure
Huard’s season:
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187/336 (55%)
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2,130 yards
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9 TD / 12 INT
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6.3 YPA
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34 sacks taken
He’s been hit more than almost any QB in the conference. Now he faces the league’s stingiest run defense and a front seven that lives in the backfield.
Jets pressure makers:
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Eric Ogbogu: 13 tackles, 4 sacks, 14 hurries
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Bryan Cox: 30 tackles, 2 sacks
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Rick Lyle: 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
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Jason Ferguson: 1 sack
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John Abraham: 1 sack
This matchup heavily favors New York.
Miami’s Rushing Committee vs. Jets’ Wall
Miami spreads carries around:
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J. Johnson: 377 yds, 5 TD
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Konrad: 321 yds
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T. Thomas: 221 yds
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Denson: 148 yds
None have cracked 400 yards.
None have over 90 attempts.
And now they face the Jets, who’ve allowed just 536 rushing yards all season.
Miami will have no choice but to throw.
Dolphins Receivers
Tony Martin: 63 rec, 789 yds, 12.5 avg, 1 TD, 205 YAC
O.J. McDuffie: 50 rec, 674 yds, 6 TD
These two are Huard’s lifeline, but they’ll see plenty of Aaron Glenn, Otis Smith, and Victor Green — and they’ll need to win early in the down to help Huard avoid pressure.
Special Teams
Jets – John Hall: 12/12 FG (100%)
Dolphins – Olindo Mare: 17/22 FG (77%)
Hall has been perfect. Mare has been good, but not elite.
Keys to the Game
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Avoid the emotional hangover after beating the Colts
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Let Curtis Martin dictate tempo
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Protect the football against Miami’s ball-hawking corners
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Force Miami into 3rd-and-long — something they’ve struggled with all season
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Stay disciplined in the Florida heat
Prediction
Miami’s defense is strong enough to make this competitive, especially early. Bowens and Gardener will win their share of battles, and Madison or Surtain might get their hands on a pass.
But across 60 minutes, the Jets are simply more complete. Too physical. Too efficient. Too disciplined.
This isn’t the week New York slips.
Jets 27, Dolphins 17
New York improves to 10–1 and maintains the AFC’s top seed heading into December.
OH BOY, HERE WE GO. ANOTHER TALK ABOUT THE JETS IN MIAMI. LET ME TELL YOU, BACK IN MY DAY, YOU DIDN’T NEED ALL THESE FANCY STATS AND PERCENTAGES TO KNOW WHO’S GONNA WIN A GAME. YOU JUST LOOKED AT THE LINE IN THE TRENCHES AND THE SIZE OF THE RB’S SHOULDERS!! CURTIS MARTIN? NOW THERE’S A GUY WHO CAN CARRY A TEAM ON HIS BACK. NOT LIKE THESE AIR-FAN DANCERS THEY GOT RUNNING NOW. AND DON’T GET ME STARTED ON THE DOLPHINS – EVER SINCE MY MAIN MAN MARINO LEFT, IT’S BEEN LIKE WATCHING FLUFFY KITTENS TRY TO PLAY FOOTBALL. JETS D IS GONNA SNACK ON HUARD LIKE A SUNDAY BBQ. MARK MY WORDS. JETS ARE GOING 10-1, AND NO HEAT OR HUMIDITY IS GONNA CHANGE THAT. FOOTBALL USED TO BE PLAYED IN THE MUD. THAT’S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, FOLKS! AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAGUE TODAY.
Let me preface this by announcing at the top of my lungs:
CURTIS. FREAKING. MARTIN.
If anyone’s still wondering why we’ve got a hold on the AFC throne, look no further. The man’s out there playing chess with the defense while everyone else is struggling to connect four. He’s on such a tear, you’d think he was running through the Miami humidity like it’s a cool autumn breeze back home. Absolute legend. 23 freakin’ touchdowns and only one fumble? Just slap him in the Hall already.
But…. oh man… then there’s Vinny. Our resident QB with the emotional range of a panicked squirrel. Seriously, this guy keeps putting me through more emotional roller coasters than a Six Flags season pass. I’ve got a PhD in shattered hopes and “AGAIN, VINNY?!?” moments. I swear, he’s like that unpredictable guy in a heist movie — heroic one moment then bungling it the next.
Miami’s no slouch on defense, and frankly, I’m terrified what Vinny’s feeling going into this one. Can he complete passes against the likes of Madison and Surtain without looking like he’s confused about which jersey color we’re wearing? We all know who’s got the real highlighting role: Curtis Martin. If we let him set the pace, we’ll walk out of Miami with a win and some mild sunburns.
Here’s to hoping I’m not throwing my remote at the wall again this week. Jets, let Curtis run wild and muzzle Vinny when necessary. No more of his pick-and-roll shenanigans, please. Ever.
Let me get this off my chest right away:
CURTIS. FREAKING. MARTIN.
Doing what he always does, carrying this team like it’s his personal hobby. Meanwhile, we’re rolling into Miami like we’re about to film a sequel to “Mission: Impossible” — avoiding emotional letdowns in that Miami heat.
But here comes the part that might give me a migraine: VINNY. TESTAVERDE. He’s going to need to stand less like a deer in headlights and more like a guy who knows which team he should be throwing to. And oh, the thought of Madison or Surtain snagging a lazy pass just makes me wince. Vinny, my man, quit treating the ball like it’s a hot potato.
But hey, this defense! Bunch of wild beasts. Let’s get that Miami offense to crumble faster than a sandcastle in a hurricane! As for that rushing “committee” they’ve got, we’ll just call them “The Not-So-Furious Four.”
Prediction? Jets by 10. Curtis Martin will yet again play hero, and if Vinny doesn’t trip over his feet, we may finally have a relaxing Sunday. But then again, what’s being a Jets fan without the stress and love-hate relationship with our enigmatic QB, right? Tailgate on, my fellow Jets faithful! 🍻✈️
The Jets need to stick to their core strengths to avoid the so-called “trap game” syndrome in Miami. It’s not rocket science, folks—just control the line of scrimmage and handle your route trees with discipline. Curtis Martin’s ground game is a masterclass in patience and gap recognition. If he can force Miami to respect the box, Vinny’s play-action shots will be lethal.
On the defensive end, the Jets’ front seven is built to collapse pockets—you watch those defensive tackles eat up double teams, freeing up linebackers to plug holes. Miami’s committee approach in the run game won’t cut it against a unit like this. They’ll end up in third-and-longs, and that’s when the secondary can sit back, read the QB’s eyes, and jump routes.
If Huard aims short throws to avoid sacks, the Jets need to tighten those underneath zones—Cover 3 can morph into Tampa 2 to cut off those quick outs and slants. This isn’t just good defense; it’s intelligent football. Let’s see if New York plays with that level of cerebral focus to stay on top.
Ah, the classic trap game scenario! While everyone’s fixated on skill position matchups, the real story is in the trenches. Miami’s interior defensive line is no joke, and if they collapse the pocket, it’s going to be a long day for anyone making plays in the backfield. But let’s get to the rhetorical elephant in the room: can the Jets’ O-line handle those stunts and shifts with the discipline they’ve shown so far? You know, it’s always the gap integrity and leverage at the line of scrimmage that ultimately dictate the flow of the game. If they can sort out the protection schemes and bounce Curtis Martin outside of Miami’s front four, this game might not even be close. Frankly, strategy buffs like us await these battles. And sure, Vinny loves to go deep—if Miami goes single-high to stop Martin, the chess match begins. Let’s hope they’ve all been watching film, because recognition is key!