Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Jets’ 38-20 win over the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins
– The Dolphins had a lot of problems yesterday, but QB Ryan Tannehill (+0.8) was definitely not near the top of that list. That’s not to say he had a great day, but just a very average one. He was the victim of seven drops, which is a big number for any quarterback to overcome. Tannehill was actually very successful when he was blitzed (21% of his dropbacks), going 8 of 13 for 140 yards and a touchdown. It was when the Jets dropped everyone into coverage that he had some difficulties; his completion percentage dropping to 55.6% and his YPA from 10.8 when blitzed to a mere 4.7 when not. While the Dolphins aren’t paying Tannehill to be just an average QB, they have had far bigger issues than his play yesterday.
– Many defenders struggled for the Dolphins, but not DE Olivier Vernon (+4.4) or DT Ndamukong Suh (+3.2). Vernon actually had a poor game run defending, finishing with a negative grade there, but it was his pass rushing that really stood out. Vernon finished with a superb sack, two hits and five hurries. His +6.2 pass rush grade was the highest on either team. Over his last three games, Vernon has two sacks, 11 hits, eight hurries and a +18.6 pass rushing grade. Suh had a hit and three hurries, and also was very disruptive in the run game. He frequently took on double teams that allowed his teammates a chance to make a play (not that they actually made said play, but the chance was there).
– To the surprise of nobody who watched the game, CB Brent Grimes (-2.1) finished with the lowest coverage grade on either defense. Grimes matched up against Jets’ receiver Brandon Marshall for nearly the entire game, and was beaten soundly to the tune of nine receptions on 12 targets for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Grimes did have a pass defense, but that came against Eric Decker, on the only target he saw against him. The rest of the Dolphins defense combined to allow 13 of 23 passes to be completed for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Top performers:
DE Olivier Vernon (+4.4)
DT Ndamukong Suh (+3.2)
WR Jarvis Landry (+2.6)
SS Reshad Jones (+2.2)
T Brandon Albert (+2.1)
New York Jets
– QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (+5.5) had himself a heck of a day throwing the football. Of his 15 incompletions, five of them were dropped, two were batted at the line and another two were on great defensive plays. So he was only really inaccurate on five throws all day. He was able to pick the Dolphins apart when they were unable to get pressure, going 16 of 25 for 199 yards and three touchdowns when faced with a clean pocket. Even when under pressure, his 50% completion rate and 6.5 YPA aren’t bad numbers. A large part of his success can go to WR Brandon Marshall (+3.7) who was seemingly always open, but that shouldn’t take away from the great game Fitzpatrick played.
– What a day it was for the Jets’ outside corners. With no Darrelle Revis, they really needed to step up and they absolutely answered the call. The combination of Antonio Cromartie (+1.4), Marcus Williams (+1.7) and Darrin Walls (+1.4), who took over for an injured Williams, saw Ryan Tannehill go 5 of 20 for 60 yards, an interception and two passes defended when targeting them. Walls did allow two touchdowns, but those were more good throws and catches than they were bad coverage. They made up for a very lackluster day from slot corner Buster Skrine (-1.9), who allowed nine catches on 12 targets for 119 yards, mostly to Jarvis Landry.
– It was a mixed bag day for the Jets’ offensive line, as most of them had a good day, but two performances really stood out for all the wrong reasons. LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson (-6.9) had a +2.0 run block grade, which is a good number. However, a -7.3 pass blocking grade sullied his day. He allowed a sack, two hits and six hurries, which made up 53% of all the pressure allowed by the Jets. He just could not block Olivier Vernon at all, and his season of struggles continued. RG Brian Winters (-5.2) also had a poor game in both run and pass blocking, although that isn’t a huge surprise given that he was going up against Ndamukong Suh. Still, the Jets definitely expected a better effort than the one Winters gave.
Top performers:
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (+5.5)
NT Damon Harrison (+4.2)
WR Brandon Marshall (+3.7)
T Brett Giacomini (+3.6)
HB Chris Ivory (+3.0)
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