Two missed kicks by Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter gave the Jets a lifeline in a 23-20 win in Miami. A Nick Folk 33-yard field goal in overtime gave the Jets an undeserved win.
What we learned …
1. Sanchez goes bust then boom
Against a weak Bills team in Week 1, Sanchez was hailed for his strong performance. He threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception. But in Pittsburgh last week and then in Miami on Sunday, Sanchez has not looked like a starting quarterback in the NFL — that is until the fourth quarter of this game. He started poorly, throwing an interception on the Jets’ opening drive. Then there was his third-quarter interception with the Jets down on the goal line. But Sanchez came alive in the fourth quarter and then in overtime, including a 38-yard pass over the top of the Dolphins secondary to set up Folk’s game-winning field goal.
2. Turning point
Heading into the locker room down 10-3, things were looking pretty grim for the Jets. But 44 seconds into the third quarter everything changed. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill rolled out under pressure and targeted tight end Anthony Fasano who was open down the sideline. But safety LaRon Landry read the play perfectly and broke toward Fasano as soon as Tannehill wound up to throw, making the interception and returning it 18 yards for the touchdown. It was redemption for Landry, who had two costly penalties at Pittsburgh last week and it was the deciding factor in the Jets getting momentum. On their next two drives Miami had a fumble and a punt and the Jets wrestled some sense of control in a wild, seesaw game.
3. The madness continues
After utilizing Wildcat quarterback Tim Tebow a scant 11 times combined in the past two games, the Jets used him more — just not in a position to succeed. Tebow ran three plays in the Wildcat which lost a one yard and lined up several times as a wide receiver. It didn’t work, including him being doinked in the head by a pass from Sanchez. The Wildcat failed to spell the Jets’ anemic passing offense. Tebow did have a first-down run in the second quarter while in as the personal punt protector, but his best play of the day was calling “heads” during the overtime coin toss.
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