Preview of the New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins Week 11 Matchup

The New York Jets play host once again this week for their Week 11 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. After a rough couple of weeks, inside of a rough 2021 season, they look to get back on track against a Dolphins team coming off a big win. Here is a preview of the New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins Week 11 matchup.

Joe Flacco Gets the Start

Joe Flacco is once again starting for the Jets, half a year after the team let him walk in Free Agency. After trading a conditional sixth-round pick for Flacco, the Jets will once again employ him as the starter. Mike White mania ended abruptly in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, and Zach Wilson has been declared as doubtful for Sunday’s game, leaving Flacco as the starter.

In his few games starting for the Jets in 2020, Flacco actually played decently well. He threw for 864 yards across four games started, adding six touchdowns and three interceptions. One thing in particular that he was able to do well was push the ball down the field. When he was starting, it felt like Breshad Perriman, primarily a deep-threat, could be an All-Pro. Hopefully he can recapture that this season with receivers like Corey Davis and Elijah Moore.

White will serve as the backup once again, and hopefully he doesn’t have to see the field. Not that he is super bad — two weeks ago fans were crowning him as the savior of the franchise — but fans should hope that Flacco is not playing poorly enough that White has to come in.

How Will the Defense Look?

The main question on everyone’s mind is a simple one: how will the defense look? After a historically awful four week span, can the defense rebound against a vulnerable Dolphins offensive line? The defensive line has been missing for two weeks, and the back end simply can’t hold up against the better passing attacks in the NFL. Thankfully, Tua Tagovailoa is starting for the Dolphins, and he isn’t quite as good as All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen.

The defense should not sleep on this Dolphins offense, however, as they have some weapons all over. First round pick Jaylen Waddle has been electric in spurts this season, Mike Gesicki has enjoyed a coming out party this season, and Myles Gaskin is a player that can gash your defense, assuming he isn’t tackled in the backfield.

The offensive line has been, by far, the weakest link of the Dolphins offensive line, so the Jets should look to exploit that as much as they can. Maybe John Franklin-Myers will be more impactful this week, after a couple weeks of being completely invisible on the field.

Injury Report

As mentioned above, Wilson is listed as Doubtful for this week, and will probably not dress up. Aside from him, though, Alijah Vera-Tucker is also listed as Questionable with a toe injury. Vera-Tucker has been steadily improving week after week, looking like a key piece of the offensive line. Should he be out, new Jets guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif could see the field. If Duvernay-Tardif doesn’t fill in, it will likely be Dan Feeney.

Also showing up on the injury report is Shaq Lawson, who did not practice on Friday and is listed as ‘resting.’ In the wake of this, the Jets have called up Kyle Phillips, who should fill in on the edge nicely.

The Jets desperately need to get healthy, and STAY healthy. They simply can not afford to lose anyone else to big injuries, especially after Carl Lawson and Marcus Maye went down with season-ending injuries.

Score Prediction

Jets – 24

Dolphins – 23

In a close game, the Jets just edge out the Dolphins. Joe Flacco injects some juice into the offense, and the defense does just enough to keep the Jets on top. The Jets use their momentum to continue this win streak next week against the Houston Texans. This has been a preview of the New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins Week 11 matchup.