Tua Tagovailoa shed his cold-weather label — at least for a day — and the Miami Dolphins powered to their fourth consecutive victory, a 34–10 dismantling of the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. With temperatures sitting at 41 degrees at kickoff, Tagovailoa put his frigid-conditions struggles “on ice,” delivering an efficient outing while Miami’s rushing attack and defense overwhelmed the Jets from start to finish.
Tagovailoa completed 13 of 21 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown to Jaylen Waddle, improving to 7–0 as a starter and 8–0 overall against the AFC East rivals. More importantly, he notched his first career win in temperatures 46 degrees or colder, improving to 1–7 in such games and erasing at least one lingering narrative.
But this victory belonged to Miami’s ground game and its relentless defense.
Explosive second-year back De’Von Achane sparked Miami early, rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown before exiting in the second quarter with a rib injury after a 29-yard run. Head coach Mike McDaniel later said Achane could have returned “in an emergency.” As it turned out, emergency was never close.
Rookie Jaylen Wright stepped in and delivered the best performance of his young career — 107 rushing yards and his first NFL touchdown. Fellow rookie Ollie Gordon II added a score as well, giving Miami three rushing TDs on the day and a balanced attack that New York simply could not contain.
The Dolphins finished with 239 rushing yards, controlling the clock and tempo while steadily wearing down the Jets’ overmatched defense.
Miami has now won five of its last six, pushing its record to 6–7 after a 1–6 start and firmly inserting itself back into the AFC playoff conversation.
For the Jets (3–10), Sunday brought another long, familiar chapter of frustration. New York was formally eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th consecutive season, the NFL’s longest active drought.
Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, making his third straight start for the benched Justin Fields, exited with a groin injury late in the first quarter after his pass bounced off tight end Mason Taylor’s hands and was intercepted by Miami linebacker Tyrel Dodson — a turnover confirmed via review after Dodson pinned the ball between his knees.
That opened the door for undrafted rookie Brady Cook, who made his regular-season NFL debut and endured predictable growing pains. Cook finished 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions while facing relentless pressure.
Miami’s defensive front lived in the backfield, piling up six sacks, including 2.5 from Zach Sieler, and never allowing New York’s offense to build momentum.
The lone bright spots came on special teams: Isaiah Williams’ 78-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter, his second return score this season.
A successful fake punt in the third quarter, with Malachi Moore taking a direct snap and lateraling to Isaiah Davis for a 20-yard gain.
But each spark fizzled quickly as the Jets’ offense repeatedly stalled.
Miami wasted no time seizing command. On the opening drive, Tagovailoa took a hit as he released the ball but still found Waddle for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. Achane followed with a 13-yard scoring run on the next possession for a 14–0 lead.
After the Dodson interception, Miami added a field goal before Williams’ punt return trimmed the deficit to 21–7. But New York never pulled closer than 17 points the rest of the way as the Dolphins steadily pulled away and Tagovailoa rested in the closing minutes.
Dolphins: Travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Monday Night Football. Jets: Head to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.
With four straight wins and a suddenly surging rushing attack, Miami’s early-season collapse is fading in the rearview — and a once-far-fetched playoff push is starting to look very real.
