MetLife Stadium, 1 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The Dolphins are still looking for their first win and arrive rested off the bye. The Jets beat Cleveland two weeks ago, lost in Foxborough last Sunday, and would love a get-well game. Carla Ruiz talks Miami like a front-office insider who has seen two Lombardis and a few rebuilds. Mike Lasker speaks for the Jets, contrarian by birth, and he'll take any argument you've got.
Mike: Carla, welcome to New Jersey.
Carla: I thought we were playing the New York Jets.
Mike: We are. In New Jersey. Long story. We also share the building with the Giants, so if you see blue paint in the hallway, don't panic.
Carla: We'll manage. We flew in from a place where nobody owns a winter coat. And we still have the perfect season. You know the one. You have one Super Bowl, and it's a great one, I'll give you that.
Mike: Super Bowl III. The most famous upset ever, and a quarterback who guaranteed it out loud before kickoff. Contrarian to the core. You're 0-5. That's the only perfect thing about Miami this year.
Carla: Ouch. Fair, but ouch.
Last game, Dolphins: Before the bye, against Cincinnati, rookie receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. caught a fourth-quarter touchdown and made a 23-yard grab to set up another score. Miami's young secondary had a rough day against Joe Burrow, who completed passes to nine different receivers.
Carla: This is a teardown, and teardowns hurt. Jeff Hafley is building it with young players, and you can see pieces: Coleman, running back Ollie Gordon II. Willis said afterward the offense had to rethink what it does well, and the bye gave the staff two weeks to do it. I'm watching to see what they came up with.
Last week, Jets: New York lost 26-19 at New England, its fourth straight loss to the Patriots. David Bailey stripped TreVeyon Henderson to set up a field goal. But Smith threw his first interception of the season, the Jets went 0-for-3 in the red zone, and they were stopped on fourth-down runs on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter.
Mike: Aaron Glenn said afterward the Jets handed New England two touchdowns. I agree. But here's my contrarian take: that's the best the offense has looked in weeks. Cooper is a real weapon, Garrett Wilson is still Garrett Wilson, and Geno went 165 throws without an interception to start the year. Keep feeding Braelon Allen, who ran for 78 yards, and finish drives, and this team wins games.
The matchup: Miami's pass rush has been quiet. The Dolphins get to the quarterback on only 2.8% of dropbacks, and the Jets' blockers have allowed sacks on 9.7% of dropbacks. If Miami can't generate pressure, Smith will have all day to find Cooper and Wilson. On the other side, Miami runs for 5.0 yards a carry and the Jets allow 4.3, so expect plenty of Gordon. Bailey, Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick lead a Jets defense that would love to make Willis hold the ball.
The numbers: Miami has scored 70 points in five games and allowed 132. The Jets have scored 112 and allowed 122.
Mike: I'll be gracious. Come early, Carla. Our tailgates are legendary.
Carla: I'll bring sunscreen. Old habits.
Mike: You won't need it. It's New Jersey in late October.
Carla: Then I'll bring hope. It's the only thing a 0-5 team packs in every bag.
Two teams desperate for a turnaround, one division rivalry that goes back to the AFL, and a chance for somebody to feel good on Monday.
My call: Jets 24, Dolphins 16.