The New York Jets are off to a horrible start that should be getting people fired on the team. They have not had a 0-5 start since 1996 until this season and they are facing the prospect of going 0-6 if they lose to the Miami Dolphins this week. The Dolphins are coming off a surprising upset win against the San Francisco 49ers and will look to win back-to-back for the first time this season.
The Jets are a wasteland right now. And they seem to be embracing their atrociousness, as evidenced by their decision to let expensive running back Le’Veon Bell go days after the team suffered a 30-10 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Moreover, the Jets have made a quarterback switch, with veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco having taken over the duties under center. Sam Darnold, who missed the Cardinals game with a shoulder injury, has already been ruled out for Week 6. Flacco went 18 of 33 for 195 passing yards and a touchdown without an interception against Arizona. Flacco should continue heaving passes at Jamison Crowder, who’s one of the few bright spots on the Jets. After missing Weeks 2-3 with an injury, Crowder has amassed at least 104 receiving yards in each of his last two games, including the Arizona game, wherein he had 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on just eight catches. Someone has to step up downfield for the Jets outside of Crowder to make New York’s passing attack.
The under is 2-1 in the Jets’ last three games on the road.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing with house money. Knowing that he’s not part of Miami’s long-term plan and that he’s eventually going to cede his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa have allowed Fitzpatrick to play carefree football, which at least in Week 5, looked beneficial to the team. Fitzpatrick passed for 350 yards and three touchdowns with zero turnovers on 22-of-28 completions in a 43-17 annihilation of the San Francisco 49ers on the road last Sunday. Miami is definitely having more fun than the Jets and playing more consistent football, especially on offense. Fitzpatrick has seven touchdowns against two interceptions in the last four Miami games. After roasting the 49ers’ banged-up defense, Fitzpatrick should be able to slice and dice the Jets’ defense that is allowing 32.2 points per game (30th in the NFL) and 265.6 passing yards per game (25th). Against that kind of horrible defense, expect Preston Williams and DeVante Parker to put up significant productions in Miami’s passing attack this Sunday.
The Dolphins are 3-0-1 against the spread in their last four meetings with the Jets.
