Roundup:

Week 9 Cheat Sheet by Kevin Patra

"One team will exit Week 9 on a three-game win streak feeling like a playoff berth is on the horizon. The other team will be back to the drawing board after another division loss drops them further into the abyss.
Jay Ajayi's two-game 200-plus-yard streak is remarkable for a player who was benched to open the season. Most teams don't even try to run on the Jets, which boasts the No. 1 ranked rush D. Will Adam Gase stick with what has been working or try to get Ryan Tannehill going against a limp Jetspass D, ranked 32nd? The matchup says pass, but it would be dangerous for Gase to scrap a rejuvenated run attack completely.
The Jets have also rediscovered their ground game the past two weeks. Matt Forte has 182 rushing yards and three rushing TDs in the last two games. Keeping Forte involved takes pressure off the streaky Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins own the 30th-ranked run defense in the NFL, despite Ndamukong Suh having a monster season (somehow an under-the-radar storyline). Expect the Jetsto mitigate any Fitzpatrick road disaster with a heavy dose of Forte and Bilal Powell.
Say what? Stat of the week: The Jets have 17 giveaways this season (T-2nd most in NFL). The Dolphins have forced six turnovers this season (T-30th in NFL)."


Madden Ratings and Week 9 Predictions by Daniel Williams

"Jay Ajayi has been on a tear. That stops against the Jets. Todd Bowles will force Ryan Tannehill to beat them in the air, and he will. I'm calling three passing TDs from Tannehill. Look for Jarvis Landry to be too much for an aging Darrelle Revis."



Steelers, Raiders, Dolphins among O-lines to watch in Week 9 by Shaun O'Hara

"The Dolphins look to keep the momentum they built prior to the bye week. They racked up 400-plus yards in each of their last two games, both of which were at home. Miami is 3-1 at home this season, averaging 26 points per game and 161 rushing yards per game in those contests. On the road, the Dolphins are 0-3 and average 13 points per game and just 65 yards on the ground.
The Dolphins are still riding high after back-to-back 200-yard rushing games by Jay Ajayi, but the Jets boast the No. 1 run defense, giving up just 74 yards per game. In the teams' two meetings last season, Miami rushed for 71 yards combined. Although the Jets are stellar against the run, New York ranks dead last against the pass. Gang Green has given up nine plays of 40 yards or more this season.
One player to keep an eye on is Leonard Williams. He has six sacks and 22 stuffs on the season and is a major threat to the entire Dolphins offensive line because the Jetsmove him around a lot. Lastly, the Dolphins must eliminate penalties if they want to improve to .500, as the O-line committed nine in the last
two games."


NFL Week 9 Game Picks by Elliot Harrison
"How many times have you heard, or read, about the talent on the Jets' defensive line? Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams are supposed to dominate. They're not dominating anything. Perhaps the loss of "Snacks" Harrison was a bigger loss than we all thought. OK, so opponents are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, which is great. But the defensive front can't get to the quarterback fast enough to cover for a secondary that sucks right now. So while all the pregame talk will be about Jay Ajayi and the pair of 200-hundred yard games he can boast about, this will be Ryan Tannehill's deal to win or lose. #NYJvsMIA"


Chris Simms (Bleacher Report)
"Put on your big-boy pads for this South Beach slugfest.
On one end, you have a Jets defensive line that’s still talented. Inside or outside, Muhammad Wilkerson can devastate a blocking scheme. And something tells me we’ll see a motivated Sheldon Richardson after trade rumors swirled this past week, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
On the other end is the most complete offensive line in football. The last two Dolphins games were an indication of what Laremy Tunsil, Branden Albert and Co. can do as a unified and healthy group—particularly in blocking for Jay Ajayi.
Ajayi is the key here. Can he make it three straight games with a breakout performance? After watching his film, I have no reason to doubt his skills.
Prediction: Dolphins 28, Jets 242

PFF

[FONT=&quot]"Prediction: Dolphins win by 5[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Dolphins come off a bye at home against a team that struggled early against the winless Browns last week. Miami running back Jay Ajayi has been on something of a tear of late, with an average of 4.1 yards per carry after contact thus far this season. His elusive rating of 88.6 is the highest of any qualifying running back, while his breakaway percentage of 34.6 is 11th. The Jets have some manpower up front to abate this trend, with second-year interior player Leonard Williams leading all 3-4 defensive ends in run-stop percentage. This game may come down to the New York’s—specifically Ryan Fitzpatrick’s—ability to take care of the football. Although the Dolphins have recorded just three interceptions all season, they should see enough turnover-worthy opportunities to cover this one at home."[/FONT]
ESPN Expert Picks:
All "experts" pick the Dolphins to win except for one - Caplan.


CBS Sports (John Breech):
"Jets at Dolphins (Opening line: Dolphins, -3 points)
Current line: Dolphins, (-3.5 points). No matter how bad the Jets look, they always play well in Miami. The Jets haven't lost in South Florida since their regular-season finale in 2011. Although the Dolphins are 3-1 straight-up at home this season, they're just 2-2 ATS. The Jets 2-3 ATS on the road. When the Patriots aren't playing, you bet AFC East games at your own peril."

NY Times:

[h=4]"Jets (3-5) at Dolphins (3-4)[/h]1 p.m. Line: Dolphins by 3 ½
In the first 13 games of Jay Ajayi’s career, his highest rushing total was 48 yards. With Miami off to a 1-3 start, the team gave Ajayi, a second-year running back, a greater chance. He responded by becoming the fourth N.F.L. running back to record consecutive games with 200 or more rushing yards.
Coming out of a bye week, Ajayi said all the right things about the credit going to his line, but he also did not rule out making it three in a row.
“If it does happen again, that’s going to be an amazing thing, an incredible thing, and we’ll just see what happens,” he told reporters.
Pick: Dolphins"

Forbes:


"Jets (3-5) at Dolphins (3-4, -3)
PIX PICK: Dolphins by 3
PIX CONFIDENCE METER: 74
VEGAS PICK: Dolphins by 6
PIX BREAKDOWN: Not a lot of excitement for this game among the Pix crowd. “Was this really one of the top 10 interesting games of the week? Always a bad sign when the Jets are included,” said one Pix player. The Dolphins get 88 percent of the winning picks, but only by a winning margin of 5.43 points. Meanwhile, those still thinking the Jets have a pulse are in strong – with 72 percent of the Jets winning picks going for 6 points or more.
ZACK JONES BREAKDOWN: “The Jets have defeated the Dolphins four straight times on the road, or at a neutral site. That streak is going to be difficult to maintain as the Dolphins were idle last week while the Jets will be playing their fourth road contest in five weeks.
Jay Ajayi has emerged as a dynamic running back coming off back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances. Miami’s entire offense has looked much better since its offensive line finally became fully healthy. The Dolphins are without strong safety Reshad Jones, out for the year with a shoulder injury. Jones was a top-five safety. It’s a good break for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who usually fails to distinguish himself away from home. MIAMI 26-20. Late money is shifting toward Miami.”"

Video previews -

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