EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Don't believe the window dressing.
Don't believe that late TD passes from Ryan Tannehill to Greg Jennings and DeVante Parker -- the one to the rookie came with five seconds to play.
Don't believe anything that happened after the New York Jets took a 35-7 lead on the Dolphins Sunday afternoon en route to a 38-20 victory.
OK, I'm wrong. Believe the strip sack fumble turnover the Dolphins gave up after recovering the ensuing kickoff. That's believable. That's so Dolphins.
But otherwise think only of the way the Jets, a team struggling in recent weeks, got to 35-7.
They did it running the football. They rushed for 138 yards.
They did it shutting down the Miami running game. Miami rushed for 12 yards.
They did it shutting down the Dolphins on third down. The Dolphins converted only four of 15 third down tries. They converted four of 27 on the season against New York.
They did it throwing time and time and time again to Brandon Marshall who was matched up against Brent Grimes and winning that match throughout the day while the Dolphins sideline did nothing to change strategy.
The Dolphins got nothing out of Ryan Tannehill who was outplayed by Ryan Fitzpatrick for the second time this season. Indeed, Tannehill threw an early touchdown that extinguished a potential scoring drive when the game was still in doubt.
Tannehill was 28 of 49 for 245 yards with two TDs and the INT.
Fitzpatick was 22 of 37 for 274 yards and four touchdown passes. Four.
This game was a mini playoff game for both teams.
The Jets continue to have playoff hopes. They are 6-5.
The Dolphins are 4-7. They are in last place in the AFC East and 0-5 against the division this season. Their season playoff hopes are zero. Zilch. Nothing.
Instead this team is going to be hiring a new head coach and coaching staff after this season is over.
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