The first step to having a successful season in the standings of any sport is to win within your division. By routinely being better than the teams you’ll face the most, logically you will set yourself up for success if you can find ways to translate that divisional success into even .500 play outside the division. For the Miami Dolphins, divisional successes have been a mixed bag for the past several years.
The Dolphins have flourished against their rivals from the Big Apple — Miami is 6-4 against the Jets since the 2015 season and an even more impressive 6-2 against New York if you trace the matchup back to 2016 instead. And the latest matchup between the teams, a 22-21 New York Jets victory, was made possible by a baffling defensive pass interference call in the final minute to extend the Jets’ game-winning drive.
What can the Dolphins call upon to ensure their string of success against the Jets continues?
For starters, coaching.
The difference between a Brian Flores coached team in 2019 and the Adam Gase tenure in Miami was startling — these two coaches could not be further apart as far as how they operate and how they task their players with performing. The Dolphins in 2019 saw their players put in positions to be successful: think about the usage of LB Raekwon McMillan, TE Mike Gesicki and WR DeVante Parker.
Furthermore, Miami’s coaching approach under Flores preaches discipline and intelligence. Adam Gase’s football teams have been some of the most sloppy and highly penalized teams in football over the course of the last three seasons. The little things that divide winners and losers in a closely contested football game all skew towards the Dolphins in a head to head comparison. The Jets are entering 2020 as a team with some “momentum” after finishing the season 6-2 over the second half of the year. But those 6 wins included a win over the Dolphins (one that was gifted to the Jets via a questionable penalty to extend New York’s game winning drive) and wins over the Washington Redskins (picked No. 2 in the 2020 NFL Draft), New York Giants (picked No. 4 in the 2020 NFL Draft) and the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 while sitting nearly ten starters for rest ahead of the Bills’ upcoming playoff game.
The Dolphins’ biggest advantage over the Jets is the false sense of security that New York has the right leadership in place to lead this team to victories on Sundays.