NFL News & Analysis

MIA-NYJ grades: No dip at the QB position for Dolphins

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 17: Matt Moore #8 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates with Jarvis Landry #14 after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the third quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 17, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins 34, New York Jets 13

Here are the top-graded players and biggest takeaways from Miami’s 34-13 win over the Jets in Week 15:

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback grade: Matt Moore, 82.2

Moore picks up where Tannehill left off

If there was supposed to be a dropoff at the quarterback position for Miami after Tannehill went down in Week 14, it didn’t occur Saturday night. Moore had one ugly arm punt on a third down, but outside of that he was efficient and accurate taking calculated shots down the field. Moore was a scintillating 6-for-7 for 158 yards on passes targeted 10-plus yards down the field. Maybe most impressive though is that Moore had a 120.2 passer rating on his eight dropbacks facing pressure.

Top offensive grades:

TE Dion Sims, 82.1
WR Jarvis Landry, 80.1
TE MarQueis Gray, 79.2
C Kraig Urbik, 75.9
RG Jermon Bushrod, 67.7

Tight ends get involved

Dion Sims and MarQueis Gray have been afterthoughts in the Dolphins offense that features myriad other playmakers. On Saturday night though, they got involved early and often. Gray had a crucial 19-yard corner route that got stopped at the 1-yard line setting up the Dolphins’ first score of the game that came three plays later to Sims. The duo hauled in all 7 of their targets for 59 yards and two touchdowns and added some quality work as run-blockers.

Top defensive grades:

CB Xavien Howard, 84.6
CB Tony Lippett, 83.4
DT Ndamukong Suh, 82.9
DE Cameron Wake, 81.4
LB Spencer Paysinger, 78.4

Cornerbacks shut down Jets’ passing game

The top two performances on the night came from the Dolphins’ starting cornerbacks, Xavien Howard and Tony Lippett. Lippett did not allow a single catch on 55 snaps in coverage, and came away with two interceptions on the night. Howard played in his first game since Week 4 and put forth an outstanding performance. He gave up one long catch, but overall allowed three catches on 10 targets and broke up two passes. Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh combined for seven total pressures on the night.

New York Jets

Quarterback grade: Bryce Petty, 57.5

Petty, in his third start of the season, made a few nice throws in the game. However, he did have issues with accuracy and ball placement that led to defenders being able to make plays on the ball. His misread of a zone blitz with Cameron Wake dropping into coverage was about as bad as it gets, throwing the ball directly to the defensive end for an interception. Overall he had an adjusted completion percentage of 71.4 percent after accounting for a throwaway and five drops.

Top offensive grades:

HB Bilal Powell, 85.6
LG James Carpenter, 80.6
C Wesley Johnson, 72.0
G Dakota Dozier, 89.7
WR Robby Anderson, 68.5

Powell excels in lead back role, again

Bilal Powell had a tremendous outing for the second-straight week. He had 27 total offensive touches for 162 yards and forced eight missed tackles on the night. Neatly 40 percent of his total offensive yards this season have come in the past two weeks. Outside of Powell, the rest of the offense did little to help Petty. The team combined for five drops, including two by Brandon Marshall. Marshall finished the game with just one catch for 16 yards on 11 targets.

Top defensive grades:

DT Sheldon Richardson, 81.6
DT Leonard Williams, 78.7
DT Deon Simon, 76.0
LB Darron Lee, 74.5
DE Muhammad Wilkerson, 74.4

Calvin Pryor a liability

Pryor, the Jets former first-round safety was an absolute mess with his pursuit angles against the shifty Dolphins receivers. He started by overrunning a dig route to DeVante Parker on a key third down on the Dolphins first scoring drive. Then he fell on his face on yet another route coming across this middle, this time from Jarvis Landry, on a 31-yard catch and run on the Dolphins first scoring drive in the third quarter. Pryor capped it off by being unable to chase down Landry again running a slant across his face when he was playing middle of the field safety.

PFF Game Ball: Dolphins cornerback Tony Lippett

PFF’s player grading process includes multiple reviews, which may change the grade initially published in order to increase its accuracy. Learn more about how we grade and access grades for every player through each week of the NFL season by subscribing to Player Grades.

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