What We Saw: Week 15

New England lost themselves the #1 overall seed with their debacle in Indy

Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Chiefs @ Chargers
Patriots @ Colts
Cowboys @ Giants
Texans @ Jaguars
Titans @ Steelers
Jets @ Dolphins
Cardinals @ Lions
Panthers @ Bills
Bengals @ Broncos
Falcons @ 49ers
Packers @ Ravens
Saints @ Buccaneers

Jets @ Dolphins

Final Score: Dolphins 31, Jets 24

Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

 

“Wait, is that Duke Johnson?” The answer is yes, yes it is! The former Cleveland Browns pass-catching specialist came from oblivion to go off for 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns to give the Miami Dolphins a narrow win against the New York Jets, who somewhat ignorantly showed signs of life for the first time in a long while.

Tua Tagovailoa shrugged off a couple of horrible mistakes to bounce back and lead his team on a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to seal an important win that keeps the Fins in touch in the playoff picture in the AFC. Tua has shown his ability to drive this franchise forward recently and we saw flashes of that today. However, we also saw reasons for concern and understood a little bit about why some people think he is not the answer in South Florida. One thing that isn’t in question is the kid’s determination and heart to lead his team to the win.

 

Zach Wilson spent most of this game scrambling around pressure to keep plays alive for the Jets. It was an admirable performance from the rookie who has been less than impressive in his debut season. What we did find out today is that the rest of the team hasn’t helped him one bit. A less-than-average supporting cast and a poor defense once again paint a negative picture of Robert Saleh‘s first, miserable season as a head coach.

There is a mood in Miami everyone wants to be a part of. Roll on a huge game against the Saints next week.

 

New York Jets

 

Quarterback

 

Zach Wilson: 13/23, 170 yards, 6 sacks, Fumble (Lost) | 4 carries, 12 yards, TD | 1 target

 

If there was a play to sum up the entire Jets offense under the tutelage of rookie Zach Wilson, this is it. At first it looks ok, then it perks your interest, then it goes terribly wrong, then Wilson is running for his life as his offensive line disintegrates, things then get crazy and we take a breath to see how a broken, fun, exciting, reckless, 50/50 play might end.

 

Wilson kept things interesting for the neutral that is for sure but Mike LaFleur‘s offense does not seem to fit Wilson’s skillset and looks too complex for the young quarterback to comprehend and execute. Too many trick plays, deep progression plays and low-percentage options do not help a quarterback who is drowning trying to adapt to NFL life.

Wilson did save his fantasy day with a QB sneak for a score but as the game played out you always felt like he would make a crucial mistake that would hand his opponents the advantage. That happened at the start of the fourth quarter in Fins territory with the Jets down by a score. A comeback killer.

 

By the fourth quarter the Miami defense was just all over Wilson, sacking him at will as the poor offensive line crumbled under pressure from a middling Dolphins pass-rush. Wilson made some nice throws on most drives but when it got bad, it got ugly quickly.

 

Running Backs

 

Tevin Coleman: 8 carries, 50 yards

Michael Carter: 8 carries, 18 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards

Austin Walter: 2 carries, 12 yards

Trevon Westco: 1 target, 1 reception, 19 yards

 

Up there with one of the most uninspiring backfields in the league, Tevin Coleman led the line for the Jets as rookie Michael Carter returned from the injured reserve and was limited to a snap count and workload. Coleman and Carter were at best average, plodding along and running into a wall with what seemed like every touch. Coleman is averaging double-digit touches in the past three games and looks the favorite to handle early down work until Carter returns to full fitness. Not that it matters to anything or anyone for the fantasy playoffs!

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Jamison Crowder: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 40 yards

Ryan Griffen: 2 targets, 2 reception, 39 yards

Tyler Kroft: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 35 yards

Braxton Berrios: 1 target, 1 reception, 22 yards | 2 carries, 10 yards, TD

Keelan Cole: 2 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards

Denzel Mims: 3 targets

 

It’s not pretty but it’s at least interesting with this Jets receiving corps. Focussed exclusively on trying to establish throws over the middle for short to intermediate gains, Wilson was never really given a chance to push the ball downfield – not that he had the time as his revolving door of an offensive line let the Fins defense through at will. It feels like this offense should be working on routine, move-the-sticks plays rather than whatever this is/was…

 

Indeed, Jamison Crowder led the team in targets (8), catches (5) and yards with all of…40! These catches averaged just eight yards. Yuck! There was more joy on the ground with these receivers than through the air – slot guy Braxton Berrios continuing his busy involvement in this offense with a nice touchdown run.

 

What else is there to say about this dumpster fire offense. It’s grim. Give Denzel Mims a shot, I mean come on!

 

 

Miami Dolphins

 

Quarterback

 

Tua Tagovailoa: 16/27, 196 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, Sack | 7 carries, 19 yards

Jacoby Brissett: 1 carry, 2 yards

 

We saw the best and worst of Tua Tagovailoa in this untidy, unconvincing win against a hapless Jets team. Tua struggled to get going without his star wideout Jaylen Waddle, who was absent due to COVID. His rhythm was terrible and he looked nervous when his first option failed to materialised. It took him a whole quarter of mistimed throws and poor decisions to finally put together a decent play. But what a play it was – this miraculous deep ball connected with Devante Parker to put the Dolphins inside the Jets’ 5-yard line, a play that would set up their first points of the day.

 

Before that marvel, we saw exactly why some people are nervous about Tua developing into an elite starting quarterback in this league. On this terrible throw for the interception, Tua gets twitchy and impatient in the pocket, forcing the ball errantly behind his receiver and into the arms of the awaiting Jets secondary.

 

Still, the qualities to admire about Tua are plentiful. He is a winner and accepts no other outcome, putting his body on the line for his team. He dragged the Fins back into the contest with a couple of well orchestrated drives that were finished off with solid throws and catches. The first was to big man and defensive leader Christian Wilkins! Love a big guy TD!

 

Just when you thought Tua had settled down and the Dolphins had nudged themselves in front, he looked shaky once again. The Fins defense had forced a strip sack fumble and given their QB the ball back, still Tua could not make it count and this dreadful late throw to the sideline was read all the way by the Jets defensive back. Tua needs to work on not staring down his receivers so obviously. His timing can also abandon him in games. Both were at fault for this pick-six that allowed the Jets to draw level.

 

There was certainly once again more hope than despair for Tua on this showing. The future remains unclear.

 

Running Backs

 

Duke Johnson: 22 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 20 yards

Myles Gaskin: 10 carries, 54 yards

Clayton Fejedelem (Safety) : 1 carry, 0 yards, Fumble (Lost)

 

Where on earth did he come from? Duke Johnson announced himself to the 2021 NFL season with a mammoth display, benefitting from a “less than 100%” Myles Gaskin after his recent COVID bout and making no mistake with his only two red zone carries of the day to hit pay dirt twice and put in the most complete performance by a Dolphins running back all season. Never give up on your dreams, baby!

 

Johnson has catapulted himself to the top of this week’s fantasy playoff waiver wire, the typecast back proving all the haters wrong with a display that will be now be known in Miami as “The Duke Johnson Game.” Showing tough running and a monumental second effort on both scores, Johnson’s contribution was just what Head Coach Brian Flores needed after the news about Waddle.

 

He also gave us the best stiff arm of the day! Take that!!

 

Myles Gaskin wasn’t a total wash, carrying the rock 10 times for 56 yards, but for those expecting something special for the fantasy playoffs, this sadly was not it.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

DeVante Parker: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 68 yards, TD

Isaiah Ford: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 51 yards

Mike Gesicki: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 43 yards

Albert Wilson: 2 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards | 1 carry, 1 yard

Durham Smythe: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards

Christian Wilkins (Defensive Tackle): 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard, TD

Mack Hollins: 1 target

Hunter Long: 1 target

 

With Tua having issues with his accuracy and mechanics and Jaylen Waddle missing, it was a tough ask for this unheralded receiving room to make a name for themselves. Safe to say, they failed. Only DeVante Parker looked to be a menace for the Jets throughout, consistently beating his man on routes and putting himself in windows for his quarterback to throw too. Parker finally made his big splash with the game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter, running a perfect route on a slant to give the Dolphins what turned out to be the winning touchdown.

 

Catch of the day from this receiving corps was by Isaiah Ford, a speedster who got separation right at the line of scrimmage before hauling in a perfect throw over his shoulder from Tua. It was a rare deep ball and a play design that was surprisingly lacking against a porous Jets defense.

 

Fantasy managers had a lot of hoped pinned on Mike Gesicki in this game but there just wasn’t the chemistry with Tua to make a big difference on the real life score or the fantasy numbers. He last scoreda touchdown way back in Week 7 and since then he has not mustered over 50 yards but once. A disappointing display once again from the tight end who is actually a receiver.

 

— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Chiefs @ Chargers
Patriots @ Colts
Cowboys @ Giants
Texans @ Jaguars
Titans @ Steelers
Jets @ Dolphins
Cardinals @ Lions
Panthers @ Bills
Bengals @ Broncos
Falcons @ 49ers
Packers @ Ravens
Saints @ Buccaneers

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