Jets, Dolphins to battle for first in wild AFC East

Pro Player Stadium,
Miami, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 13

AT A GLANCE: The wild AFC East title chase comes to a head Sunday night in Miami, where Bill Parcells’ Jets and Jimmy Johnson’s Dolphins will battle for sole possession of first place.

The Bills and Patriots certainly can’t be counted out of the race for the AFC East title, but Sunday night’s game between the Jets and Dolphins could very well decide which team will claim the division crown.

The Jets and Dolphins are both 9-4, one game ahead of the Bills and Patriots. The winner of this Sunday-night showdown can take the division by winning its final two regular-season games.

With so much at stake, you can bet that Jet head coach Bill Parcells and Dolphin head coach Jimmy Johnson will pull out all the stops. The chess match between Parcells and Johnson, widely regarded as two of the NFL’s best coaches, should prove to be fascinating.

If this critical duel between the Jets and Dolphins is anything like their earlier meeting in the Meadowlands, fans are in for a defensive struggle. Back in Week Five, the Jet defense held the Dolphin offense to 153 net yards, enabling the Jets to pull out a 20-9 win.

The Dolphins have won seven of their last nine games against the Jets, covering the spread in five of those games.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL:

When these teams met earlier in the season, Jet RB Curtis Martin ran for 108 yards and a TD, but he averaged only 3.0 yards per carry in that game and was shut down in the second half.

When the Jets run, big Dolphin DT’s Tim Bowens and Daryl Gardener, who are both having fine seasons, will try to occupy Jet C Kevin Mawae and OG’s Matt O’Dwyer and Todd Burger, giving MLB Zach Thomas a clear path to the ball. It’s critical that Gardener and Bowens tie up Mawae, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber year and is highly effective when blocking on the move. The Jets did a fine job against Thomas in Week Five, blocking him from every conceivable angle.

Jet QB Vinny Testaverde is having a career year. Testaverde has thrown 22 TD passes and only five interceptions, but he faces a Dolphin defense that includes ball-hawking CB’s Terrell Buckley and Sam Madison, who both rank among the league leaders in interceptions. Buckley and Madison will have their hands full with Jet WR’s Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet. Johnson is not only a superb pass catcher, he’s also a terrific blocker. The reliable Chrebet will sometimes line up in the slot in an attempt to draw a matchup with a linebacker or safety.

Speedy Dolphin DRE Jason Taylor will try to put the heat on Testaverde, but Taylor must contend with Jet OLT Jumbo Elliott, who’s having a strong season. Miami’s Trace Armstrong has been highly effective as a situational specialist, playing left end on passing downs. He faces Jet ORT Jason Fabini, who is having a fine rookie season.

The Jets will be without FB Keith Byars, who broke his arm last week.

The Dolphins have yielded only 40 points in six home games this season.