The Jets served as the sacrifice for Miami’s playoff berth.
A South Beach slog concluded the New York Jets’ 2022-23 season, as the Miami Dolphins took home an 11-6 decision at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 18 action.
With the combination of their victory and a New England Patriots loss in Buffalo, the Dolphins (9-8) advanced to the AFC playoffs, where they’ll partake as the No. 7 seed.
Highlights were at a premium throughout the game, with all points earned through Jason Sanders and Greg Zuerlein field goals. It was Sanders’ 50-yard field goal with 18 seconds to go that helped punch the Dolphins’ ticket and more or less end the Jets’ season.
Garrett Wilson was a rare silver lining for the Jets, capping his season off with a game-best 89 yards on nine receptions. His longest of the day was a 36-yard reception that set up Zuerlein’s field goal.
That boy @GarrettWilson_V!!!#NYJvsMIA pic.twitter.com/kr7FSQeIQU
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 8, 2023
Quincy Williams was the star on defense for the Jets (7-10), earning a team-best 10 tackles, including three for a loss and one sack of Skylar Thompson.
HELLO Quincy Williams. You want to talk about filling in the run. pic.twitter.com/cMpTqr54ln
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) January 8, 2023
Those happenings were far from anything to sustain the Jets in the season final against the equally listless Dolphins down to starting a seventh-round rookie under center. Blessed with decent field position after a short 42-yard punt from Braden Mann (his only boot of five that did not end up inside the opponent’s 20), Miami earned an extra boost when Williams was flagged for a 15-yard horsecollar tackle penalty. Moving the affair up to the Jets’ 32, Sanders’ long boot allowed the Dolphins to inch closer toward their first playoff berth since 2016 before Buffalo took care of the Patriots for them.
Wow. Jason Sanders gives the Miami #Dolphins a 9-6 lead with 18 seconds to go pic.twitter.com/lOYqDGIyON
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) January 8, 2023
Granted one final, desperate chance to deny the Dolphins, the Jets’ embark on a series of laterals that only ended up in the back of their own end zone, mercifully ending both the game and another New York season from the football underworld.
JETS (+3.5) IS A BRUTAL BEAT 🤮
Dolphins cover on the safety on the last play of the gamepic.twitter.com/SbgPi00fMQ
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 8, 2023
The Jets end the season on a six-game losing streak. Even though they earned their best win total since 2019, tying the mark at seven, they’ve lost at least 10 games in six of the last seven seasons.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
