Setting the Stage for the Week 18 Dolphins-Jets Matchup

Breaking down all the details for the Miami Dolphins-New York Jets matchup at MetLife Stadium

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) makes a catch for the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The Miami Dolphins will look to finish the regular season with a winning record, but more importantly keep their playoff hopes alive when they face the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Here's all the pertinent info for this Week 18 Dolphins-Jets matchup.

---

MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-8) vs. NEW YORK JETS (4-12)

• Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025
• Time: 4:25 PM ET
• Site: MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, N.J.
• Weather Channel Forecast: The temperature in East Rutherford 4 and 8 p.m. ET on Sunday is expected to be between 30-33 degrees with clear and mostly clear skies and almost no chance of precipitation. The wind is expected to be 8-13 mph.
• TV: CBS
• Announcers: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (color analyst), Pam Oliver (sidelines)

Additional content:
-- Tua Talks: "Hell yeah I'm frustrated!"
-- Calais Campbell's long history with Aaron Rodgers
-- All Dolphins Podcast Behind Enemy Lines Episode

---

FINAL INJURY REPORT

• Dolphins — LB Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) is out; QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) is doubtful; T Terron Armstead (knee), DT Calais Campbell (neck), WR Dee Eskridge (finger), WR Tyreek Hill (wrist/illness), S Jevon Holland (wrist) and WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) are questionable.

• Jets — CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) is out; DL Leki Fotu (knee) is doubtful; TE Tyler Conklin (calf), OL Morgan Moses (knee), OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and DL Quinnen Williams (hamstring) are questionable.

---

DOLPHINS-JETS REGULAR SEASON HISTORY

Regular Season Series History: Dolphins lead 60-56-1

Last Five Meetings:

1. December 8, 2024 at Miami — Dolphins 32, Jets 26 (OT)
2. December 17, 2023 at Miami — Dolphins 30, Jets 0
3. November 24, 2023 at New York — Dolphins 34, Jets 13
4. January 8, 2023 at Miami — Dolphins 11, Jets 6
5. October 9, 2022 at New York — Jets 40, Dolphins 17

Series Superlatives:

• Dolphins' Largest Margin of Victory: 43 (1975 at New York; Dolphins 43, Jets 0)
• Dolphins' Largest Margin of Defeat: 27 (2004 at New York; Jets 41, Dolphins 14 ... 2007 at Miami; Jets 40, Dolphins 13)
• Highest-Scoring Matchup: 96 points (1986 at New York; Jets 41, Dolphins 45, OT)
• Lowest-Scoring Matchup: 16 points (1976 at Miami; Dolphins 16, Jets 0 ... 2010 at New York; Dolphins 10, Jets 6)

Connections:

• Former Jets Players with the Dolphins: RB Raheem Mostert (time on practice squad), DB Elijah Campbell
• Former Jets Coaches with the Dolphins: Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, DB coach/pass game specialist Ryan Slowik
• Former Dolphins Players with the Jets: LB Sam Eguavoen, P Thomas Morstead, Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer
• Former Dolphins Coaches with the Jets: WR coach Shawn Jefferson, senior defensive assistant/CB coach Tony Oden

---

JETS SCOUTING REPORT

While the Dolphins still have something at stake in the regular season finale, the Jets will be thankful to end what was (again) a miserable season. The Jets will end the season with double-digit losses for ninth time in the past 10 years and their streak of seasons without a playoff appearance has moved to 14 years. Along with simply being bad on offense and mediocre on defense, the Jets perfected this season the art of losing close games, starting with a 10-9 home loss against the Denver Broncos when they had a chance to get to 3-1 on the season. Another glaring example came in the Week 14 game at Hard Rock Stadium when the Jets had a first-and-10 from the Miami 27-yard line with 1:14 left in a 23-23 game with the Dolphins down to two timeouts and managed to give them 52 seconds to tie the game in regulation.

---

THE BIGGEST REASON THE DOLPHINS WILL WIN

Just as we said before the Week 14 game: Because they're playing the Jets. When it comes to season finales, the team with something at stake always should be considered a strong favorite, particularly when the opponent seems to have checked out the way the Jets have. While the Dolphins (almost assuredly) won't have Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, there's every reason to believe they'll be able to move the ball against a Jets defense that will be without key starters Sauce Gardner and likely Quinnen Williams, who didn't practice all week. Aaron Rodgers had arguably his best performance of the season in that Week 14 matchup, but he also made enough mistakes to help the Jets lose another game, and it's easy to see him doing it again.

---

THE BIGGEST REASON THE DOLPHINS WILL LOSE

It's entirely possible this will be Rodgers' final game in the NFL because one would think the Jets are done with this experiment and we're not sure making teams will be knocking on the door of a 42-year-old quarterback who commands as much attention despite declining skills as Rodgers does, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time a future Hall of Famer goes out with a memorable performance. There's something unnerving also about looking back at that Week 14 game when Rodgers looked like vintage Aaron Rodgers for most of the way. Rodgers needs one touchdown pass to reach 500 for his career, which provides even more incentive. On the other side, we expect Tyler Huntley to have another solid outing at quarterback for the Dolphins, but to suggest it's a given would be a reach. What if he struggles and the passing game can't get going?

---

FINAL DOLPHINS-JETS PREDICTION

It's going to be cold at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, but there's not expected to be any rain or wind with which to be concerned, so the passing games shouldn't be affected very much. It's always important to get off to a good start, but it's especially so in a game like this because the Jets very well could start unraveling once they face adversity in this game. A great example came last Sunday when the Jets played the Buffalo Bills tough until midway through the third quarter — it was 12-0 and the Jets had a first-and-10 at the Buffalo 32 — until things got out of control and it became 33-0 before the end of the quarter. So the Jets hanging around should surprise no one, though we'd expect the Dolphins to pull it out at the end regardless.

Final Score: Dolphins 23, Jets 20