New York Jets (2-1) at Miami Dolphins (1-2)
Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, at Wembley Stadium, London – TV: CBS
*TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
*Keys to the game: The Jets’ lack of depth was exposed when QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three picks in 58 pass attempts after New York fell behind big in Philadelphia last week and Fitzpatrick did not have WR Eric Decker (knee) or strong support from the ground game minus RB Chris Ivory (quad/groin). TE Jeff Cumberland (concussion) is now expected to miss at least one game. Ivory’s status is key because the Dolphins are allowing 145 rushing yards per game and are getting very inconsistent play from their linebackers. If Ivory and/or Bilal Powell can be effective on early downs, Miami can’t be as effective in pressuring Fitzgerald into mistakes downfield.
The Dolphins’ offensive inconsistency stems from falling behind early, failing to stay committed to the ground game and watching QB Ryan Tannehill get pressured mercilessly on long passing downs. The holes simply haven’t been there for RB Lamar Miller, but Miami may be able to complement that fledgling ground game by testing the Jets’ linebackers in coverage against backs and tight ends. Due to the lack of protection, Tannehill has become overly reliant on looking for WR Jarvis Landry on underneath patterns and hoping he can make a play after the catch.
*Matchup to watch – Jets RG Brian Winters vs. Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh: Suh is coming off his best game of the season with four tackles, including two four loss, in last week’s loss to the Bills but has yet to register a sack as a Dolphin. Now Suh gets to work against Winters, a third-year pro who lost the battle for the starting job to Willie Colon in the preseason only to see Colon suffer a sprained MCL last week.
*Player spotlight – Dolphins CB Jamar Taylor: Taylor played 42 snaps (65 percent) last week and appears likely to take the starting right corner job from Brice McCain, who struggled against Buffalo and was on the bench in the fourth quarter.
*Fast facts: Marshall is on pace to set franchise records with 124 catches and 1,456 yards. No Jets receiver has ever caught 100 passes in a season while only one wideout – Hall of Famer Don Maynard – has surpassed 1,400 yards in a season. … The Dolphins’ defense has recorded only one sack on the season while allowing at least 120 rushing yards in every game.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Getting out of the country might be exactly what the Dolphins need after consecutive ugly losses served to ratchet up the heat under coach Joe Philbin’s seat. But the pressure will only continue to mount with the Jets’ physical ground game taking aim at a defense that has been pushed around since the middle of last season.
*Our pick: Jets 23-21.
