Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks to pass against the Bengals on Sept. 29 in Cincinnati. (Matt Patterson, AP)
Dolphins (3-1) at N.Y. Jets (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Latest line: Dolphins are favored by 3 points; over/under is 42.
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 3-1): Dolphins 24, Jets 20
Teddy Bridgewater as the insurance policy at quarterback pays off with a win on the road against a Jets team with young talent that plays young right now. Check back next year to see where the Jets are, but for now the Dolphins have the better team.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 1-3): Dolphins 20, Jets 16
I’m usually wary of a team going on the road with its backup quarterback. And let’s face it, the Jets are a .500 team, a bit more respectable than many figured. But Teddy Bridgewater is a veteran quarterback, and I’m giving this Dolphins early-season magic another game.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 3-1): Dolphins 27, Jets 20
It’s a tumultuous week for Miami with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out due to his concussion. Meanwhile, the Jets are no pushover like in past years. They’ve started off 2-2 and may be starting to build something in East Rutherford, N.J. Teddy Bridgewater is a more-than-serviceable, experienced backup. He was 7-7 with the Broncos last year, and I like this Dolphins roster better than that of Denver a season ago. Bridgewater also went 5-0 when he filled in for Drew Brees on the 2019 New Orleans Saints. Dolphins make it five in a row and nine of their last 10 against their rival Jets.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 3-1): Dolphins 24, Jets 17
Dolphins have had a few extra days to get Teddy Bridgewater more reps (thanks for Thursday night game), and the defense has a little more time to rest and get injuries healed. The Jets see their opportunity — facing a backup quarterback in their own stadium — and will be determined to not waste a good chance to get another win and climb to 3-2. The Dolphins should have enough to get it done, though.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 1-3): Jets 20, Dolphins 17
The improved Jets rallied for their second big comeback on the road in three weeks in Sunday’s 24-20 win at Pittsburgh. In that game, Zach Wilson also became the first quarterback in Jets history to catch a touchdown when he caught a 2-yard pass from former Miami Hurricanes standout receiver Braxton Berrios. The Dolphins have won eight of the last nine meetings against the Jets, who will be up for the challenge playing at home.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 2-2): Dolphins 17, Jets 16
The Dolphins’ miracle fourth quarter in Baltimore has painted over four significant problems that have been showing up. First, the run game has produced 277 yards in the first four games, and it isn’t even efficient, with a paltry 3.5 yards a carry, which is the same as last year. That is putting way too much pressure on the passing game and has led to the reality that, other than the 28 points in the final quarter against the Ravens, Miami has had a brutal go of it, with only 4.2 points per quarter in the other 15 — and that number is aided by the defense turning the ball over at the Bills’ 6 to set up seven of those points. Next in line is the absence of a pass rush on the road. In Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Dolphins have logged a combined one sack and three quarterback hits. Not a misprint. And, finally, the Dolphins are in stretch where each of the past three games have seen at least one special teams disaster (103-yards kickoff return in Baltimore, the punt debacle for a threatening safety vs. Buffalo and a blocked field goal attempt and a missed extra point in Cincinnati. If the Dolphins clean up three of those four problems, they win in New York. Hopefully memories of sacking Zach Wilson six times the one time they have faced him helps to this end.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service