Game-day details
Sun., 4:15 p.m. ET, Giants Stadium
Weather forecast from AccuWeather.com:
Mostly sunny. High: 76. Low: 53.
Why To Watch
We figured one team would be 1-0 and the other 0-1 coming into this game, but we're all surprised as to the winner and loser. Miami manhandled favored Denver. The Jets were hammered by the Chiefs.
Jets coaches know running back Curtis Martin will bounce back from Week 1's sub-par performance and figure wide receiver Laveranues Coles can only improve from a dismal game that included several dropped passes. But nobody is certain about quarterback Chad Pennington. In his first game back from shoulder surgery, Pennington fumbled six fumbles, losing two, and threw an interception.
The Dolphins aren't as good as their Week 1 win implies, but new coach Nick Saban proved he always will have his team ready to compete and will get his players in position to make plays. The Dolphins' change to the 3-4 defense was supposed to render Pro Bowl end Jason Taylor obsolete, but he had his fifth career fumble return for a critical touchdown.
Dolphins Keys For Success
1. Establish the run. The offense cannot rely on Gus Frerotte to throw for 275 yards and two touchdowns every week. Look for coordinator Scott Linehan to give rookie running back Ronnie Brown a heavy workload. Brown's three-week holdout slowed his progress, but the offense must establish a running game to neutralize an aggressive defense. Do not be misled by the Dolphins' Week 1 stat sheet -- 61 of the team's 151 yards rushing came on a wide receiver reverse.
2. Pressure Pennington. Best advice: Follow the Chiefs' lead by blitzing Pennington often. That plan fits well for a defense that tends to be aggressive, attacking upfront and playing bump-and-run outside. Pennington did not handle Kansas City's pressure well and struggled when in shotgun formation. The defense must limit Pennington's time to go through progressions and force him to throw downfield and prove his arm strength is back to normal.
3. Be conservative to reduce mistakes. The team lacks the talent to dominate on offense, defense or special teams. Expect Saban and his coaches to use a conservation scheme, looking to keep the game close and then strike off a mistake. The defense will blitz periodically, but the offense will remain vanilla as long as the deficit isn't too much. If forced to open up, the offense will expose Frerotte's limitations and the line's poor pass protection.
Jets Keys For Success
1. Make Pennington comfortable. Pennington plays his best when he establishes a rhythm and controls the tempo. He dislikes the shotgun formation, and center Kevin Mawae doesn't like it either. Pennington hates having to take his eyes off the field to catch the snap, and the dropback sequence helps his timing and rhythm. Jets coordinator Mike Heimerdinger should stop messing with success and scrap the shotgun. He should allow Pennington to line up under center and get into the flow of the game, gain momentum and re-establish his confidence.
2. Establish Martin early. Martin has been the focus of the offense for his eight-year run with the Jets, regardless of the quarterback or center. The offensive line can wear down the Dolphins' front seven, which lacks the ideal personnel to play the 3-4 scheme. Martin has been given more freedom to make decisions behind a new zone-blocking scheme, but this week the Jets should pound it up the gut.
3. Pressure Frerotte without blitzing. Denver could pressure Frerotte much in Week 1, allowing him to sit in the pocket and go through his reads. The defense must generate pressure with four down linemen and force Frerotte to make quicker decisions. End John Abraham must shake off the rust from his training camp holdout.
Injuries at a glance
Dolphins injuries
9/11/05 Gus Frerotte QB Finger Taken for X-rays
Jets injuries
No injuries reported
The Bottom Line
Defense remains the Dolphins' strength, but the Jets have worn them down in recent years. Martin will carry the load and take pressure off Pennington, who looks out of rhythm, and the Jets' defense will pressure Frerotte and stuff the run. The Jets should win going away.
Pick: Jets 27, Dolphins 13
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