The Dolphins have won three straight games and they are well on their way to a fourth.
Running back Jaylen Wright ran for a two-yard score with 3:39 left in the first quarter to put the Dolphins up 21-0 on the Jets. The score was set up by an interception by linebacker Tyrel Dodson that gave the Dolphins the ball inside the 30-yard line.
The Jets returned to the field with a new quarterback. Rookie Brady Cook made his NFL debut with a handoff to running back Breece Hall after Tyrod Taylor went to the locker room with a groin injury.
Justin Fields is inactive with a knee injury, so it could be Cook the rest of the way in what’s shaping up to be a long day for the Jets.
The chilly weather in New Jersey was no problem for the Dolphins on their first offensive possession.
It took them four plays to cover 69 yards and take a 7-0 lead over the Jets. The touchdown came on a three-yard Tua Tagovailoa throw to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Tagovailoa delivered the pass despite taking a hit from behind by Jets defensive lineman Jowon Briggs.
The Dolphins got a 21-yard run from Waddle on an end around and running back De’Von Achane went for 39 yards on the next play to set up the touchdown.
Miami is 0-7 in games started by Tagovailoa that kicked off with the temperature under 46 degrees, but they’ve never lost to the Jets with the quarterback in the lineup.
The Jaguars will be without their leader in receptions against the Colts in Sunday’s battle for the top of the AFC South.
Wide receiver Parker Washington is inactive for the game. Washington, who leads the team with 36 catches this season, was listed as questionable to play with a hip injury.
There’s better news for Jacksonville on the other side of the ball. Defensive linemen Arik Armstead (hand) and Travon Walker (back) are both active after joining Washington with questionable tags.
Colts at Jaguars
Colts: CB Sauce Gardner, RB DJ Giddens, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, S George Odum, T Luke Tenuta
Jaguars: WR Parker Washington, S Andrew Wingard, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Walker Little, TE Johnny Mundt, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Austin Johnson.
Dolphins at Jets
Dolphins: QB Quinn Evers, WR Tahj Washington, T Kendall Lamm, DT Matthew Butler, LB Andre Carter, CB A.J. Green
Jets: QB Justin Fields, WR Tyler Johnson, S Tony Adams, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, EDGE Braiden McGregor, DT Mazi Smith, TE Jelani Woods
Steelers at Ravens
Steelers: WR Roman Wilson, DT Derrick Harmon, S Kyle Dugger, T Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, QB Will Howard
Ravens: WR Devontez Walker, DT Aeneas Peebles, G Ben Cleveland, T Joseph Noteboom, QB Cooper Rush
Saints at Buccaneers
Saints: S Justin Reid, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, T Taliese Fuaga, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, G Elijah Klein, S Kaevon Merriweather, CB Benjamin Morrison, DL Elijah Simmons, T Tristan Wirfs
Titans at Browns
Titans: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Jerrick Reed, OL Drew Moss, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT Shy Tuttle
Browns: G Wyatt Teller, DT Adin Huntington, T Jack Conklin, TE Brenden Bates, RB Raheim Sanders, WR Jamari Thrash
Commanders at Vikings
Commanders: QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, T Trent Scott, DE Jalyn Holmes, T George Fant, DE Drake Jackson
Vikings: QB John Wolford, S Theo Jackson, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, G Joe Huber, T Walter Rouse, TE Ben Yurosek, DL Elijah Williams
Seahawks at Falcons
Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Cam Akers, LB Jared Ivey, LB Connor O’Toole, OL Mason Richman
Falcons: WR Drake London, CB Cobee Bryant, RB Nathan Carter, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington
Bengals at Bills
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Jordan Jefferson
Bills: T Spencer Brown, WR Josh Palmer, LB Terrel Bernard, DE Joey Bosa, DB Darnell Savage, DT Phidarian Mathis, OL Chase Lundt
The Jets announced on Friday that Brady Cook will be their backup quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins and they announced the roster move to make him available on Saturday.
Cook has been signed off of the practice squad, which suggests that this may not be his only week in the No. 2 role behind Tyrod Taylor. Justin Fields is going to miss the game with knee soreness that presented itself during the practice week.
Cook signed with the team after going undrafted and has not appeared in a regular season game yet this season.
The Jets also signed defensive back Jordan Clark off of the practice squad. Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball were placed on injured reserve in corresponding moves.
Defensive backs Tre Brown and Nik Needham were elevated from the practice squad to round out Saturday’s transactions.
With the temperature in New Jersey expected to be around 40 degrees on Sunday, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s record in chilly weather came up this week.
Tagovailoa is 0-7 in games when the temperature is below 46 degrees, but that poor record is mitigated by how well things have gone for him against the Jets over the course of his career. The Dolphins are 6-0 in games that Tagovailoa has started against their AFC East mates and head coach Mike McDaniel emphasized the opponent rather than the weather at a Friday press conference.
“I think each team’s unique to itself. Not disregarding it, but you have to make sure opponent is the Jets not the weather,” McDaniel said. “I think we have a lot of reasons to not have any concern for elements of temperature and moisture. Realistically, these guys have all played football in those elements. It will be about playing the Jets and it won’t be about playing the cold.”
One thing that should help this Dolphins team in any kind of inclement weather is their running game. De’Von Achane was named the AFC offensive player of the month for November in recognition of his role as the centerpiece of an attack that has produced 530 yards over the team’s three-game winning streak.
