Still in the hunt for a playoff berth, the Miami Dolphins need to come up with a win over the New York Jets in Week 15, and they need to do it with their backup quarterback and backup center. The Jets are currently last in the AFC East, with a 4-8 record and loads of players and coaches fighting for their jobs these last few weeks.
Dolphins vs. Jets 2016: Time, TV schedule for Saturday football
This AFC matchup has one team fighting for the postseason and the other for their jobs.
The Dolphins are taking no chances following Ryan Tannehill’s sprained ACL and MCL, and signed quarterback T.J. Yates earlier in the week to back up now-starter Matt Moore.
Currently in his sixth season in Miami, Moore last started a game in 2011. He came in focused when Tannehill went down in Week 14, leading the Dolphins in the second half with a game-winning drive over Arizona. He has talent downfield with a burgeoning wide receiver corps that includes Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills.
Moore will need all the help he can get from the offensive line, which will be a considerably tougher task with so many injuries. Starting center Mike Pouncey has been placed on IR, meaning the already-injured Anthony Steen will be the starter yet again this season. He earlier replaced Pouncey for an eight-game stint.
The Jets are having their own quarterback crisis and finally benched Ryan Fitzpatrick for Bryce Petty. With Fitzpartick sidelined, Petty was able to lead the team to an overtime win against the 49ers last week — their first win in fives games — with the young passer throwing for 257 yards and one interception.
Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa have been plagued by quarterback inaccuracy all season, but had considerably fewer targets under Petty. As the quarterback gets settled as the starter, he could get more comfortable spreading out the offense, but last week it was a ground-and-pound game plan.
Running back Bilal Powell was the star of the game, rushing for 145 yards on 29 carries, along with 34 receiving yards, and two touchdowns — including the overtime winning score. With Matt Forte leaving early with an injury, Powell saw most of his touches, and can expect to continue that workload for the rest of the season.
The Jets’ run game will be tested against the Dolphins, whose defense held Arizona’s David Johnson to just 80 rushing yards. Despite being riddled with backups, Miami snagged two interceptions against Carson Palmer, and forced him to rush in the pocket all day. Powell will still be New York’s best shot at an offense that drives the field.
Who’s in and who’s out in the playoff picture?
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Which teams will join the Cowboys in the postseason? Check out the complete standings.
Jets head coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan are both on the hot seat following a losing season that was meant to be “the year.” The team was built to win this year, but has since started shifting its focus to building the young talent. The change might not be enough for either of the top brass to keep their jobs.
The last time these two teams met, Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi had 111 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Jets’ defense is coming off a performance that allowed running back Carlos Hyde to rush for 193 yards. Ajayi is closing in on his first career 1,000-yard season and should hit the milestone Saturday.
How to watch
Time: 8:25 p.m. ET
Place: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: NFL Network
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie, Heather Cox
Online: Sunday Ticket
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