The last time the Jets won a game against an AFC East division opponent was Dec. 29, 2019.
During the last two years, Gang Green is 0-12 against the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. That includes a 0-6 mark in Robert Saleh’s first season as coach.
Following four consecutive games against AFC North opponents (Ravens, Browns, Bengals and Steelers), the Jets will play their first division opponent of the season with the Dolphins coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Last year after the Jets’ season finale against the Bills, Saleh said the team has a long way to close the gap within the division. What are Saleh thoughts now about the AFC East and the Dolphins?
“The quickest way to the playoffs is to win your division,” Saleh said. “That’s the one thing you have control over, beating your divisional opponents and all of that stuff. If you’re trying to become that playoff team, you have to be great in the division. This team and this organization haven’t won in a while within the division. If we want to take that next step in our organization, we have to do better in our division.
“This is obviously our first division opponent and we are in a heck of a division with New England, Miami, and Buffalo, three freaking really good football teams. We are looking forward to playing Miami as they have weapons all over the place, they have a hell of a head coach and it is going to be a fun game.”
The Dolphins have been one of the surprise teams a quarter into the season. Miami is tied for the lead in the AFC East after victories against the Patriots, Ravens and Bills.
However, the Dolphins will come into Sunday’s matchup shorthanded as they will be without their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In Thursday’s 27-15 loss to the Bengals, Tagovailoa suffered a scary hit after defensive tackle Josh Tupou brought him to the ground, which caused Tagovailoa to hit his head against the turf. Tagovailoa was later taken off the field in a stretcher and sent to a Cincinnati hospital for examination.
Teddy Bridgewater, who entered the game for Tagovailoa, will start against the Jets. Bridgewater is no stranger to Jets fans as he signed with the team in 2018 to compete with then-rookie Sam Darnold. Once they chose Darnold as its starting quarterback, the Jets traded Bridgewater and a sixth-round pick to the Saints for a third-round pick.
Since leaving New Orleans, Bridgewater has had stops with the Panthers, and Broncos before becoming Tagovailoa’s backup.
“Teddy is the ultimate competitor,” Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who played with him in New Orleans said. “I played with him in college and had the courtesy of playing with him in the league as well. Ultimate competitor, a pros, pro. He can run any offense, he can make all the throws. He can easily come in there and continue to keep that offense rolling and get the ball to the playmakers, which is what they want to do.
“He’s no slouch, there’s not going to be a drop off. It’s not going to be any thinking of him being a weak link for their team. He’s a quarterback that’s played at a high-level as he has been a Pro Bowl quarterback and he has shown when given the opportunity.”
No timetable for Mitchell’s return
After suffering a knee injury during the Jets’ 24-20 victory over the Steelers Sunday, Saleh said he didn’t have a timeline on when rookie right tackle Max Mitchell would return.
“Thankfully, it is not season-ending,” Saleh said. “Hopefully we do get him back soon.
“I just don’t have a specific timetable for anyone.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Mitchell has a dislocated knee. The rookie out of Louisiana will likely miss several weeks as a result of the injury, but the Jets are hoping he can return at some point this season.
Saleh said placing Mitchell on injured reserve is a possibility. That would mean he would miss at least four weeks.
Mitchell was selected in the fourth round of last April’s draft. He was supposed to be the Jets’ backup tackle to George Fant and Mekhi Becton, but Mitchell was thrust into action faster than many expected.
Becton’s suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp. Then Mitchell started the first four games after George Fant moved from to left tackle and following the shoulder injury to Duane Brown, which landed him on injured reserve. Then Fant also was placed on injured reserve last week after his knee injury against the Bengals.
That move forced the Jets to play musical chairs on their offensive line once again as Alijah Vera-Tucker moved from right guard to left tackle, a position he had experience with at USC.
Conor McDermott, who was signed last month, will likely start for Mitchell at right tackle in the meantime. Brown could potentially practice this week as he was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the regular season.
If Brown is able to practice Wednesday from injured reserve, that does not mean he’s activated. It actually starts a 21-day “clock” for the team to activate the player. If a player isn’t activated within the 21-day window, he reverts back to injury reserve and has to stay there for the rest of the season.
“We are going to put the best five on the football field whoever that might be,” Saleh said. “I thought AVT [Vera-Tucker] was fantastic. It is not easy to move positions along the offensive line but he did a great job showing his versatility and his mindset.
“He did a really good job in the run game, thought he did a really good job in the passing game. Didn’t give up much in terms of production on their end. Really pleased with the way he played.”
