The Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 28-25 in Week 7 because they finished every trip inside the 20 and never gave the ball away. The Jets gained more yards and averaged more per play, but Miami went 3-for-3 in the red zone and won the turnover battle 1-0.

How It Happened

Miami struck first when Willis hit Caleb Douglas for a 7-yard touchdown at 10:53 of the first quarter. Geno Smith answered two minutes later with a 13-yard scoring pass to Mason Taylor. Ollie Gordon II then punched in a 1-yard run with 1:02 left in the quarter to put the Dolphins back in front.

The second quarter produced one score, and it was a big one. Willis ran it in from 2 yards out with 6 seconds left before halftime, sending Miami to the locker room up 21-7.

The Jets cut into the lead in the third quarter. Smith found Omar Cooper Jr. from 3 yards out at 5:50, making it a one-score game.

Jason Sanders added a 33-yard field goal at 8:57 of the fourth to pull New York within 4. Miami answered with the play of the game: Willis to Douglas for 63 yards at 4:44, restoring a two-score cushion.

New York didn't fold. Smith hit Taylor for a 12-yard touchdown at 3:24, then found him again for the two-point conversion. That was the last score, and Miami held on the rest of the way.

Key Performers

Malik Willis, Miami: 2 TD passes (7 and 63 YDS), 1 rushing TD (2 YDS)
Caleb Douglas, Miami: 2 TD receptions (7 and 63 YDS)
Geno Smith, New York: 3 TD passes (13, 3 and 12 YDS), 1 two-point conversion pass
Mason Taylor, New York: 2 TD receptions (13 and 12 YDS), 1 two-point conversion

Miami passing: 14-21, 204 net YDS, 0 INT
Miami rushing: 41 ATT, 156 YDS
New York passing: 23-30, 269 net YDS, 1 INT
New York rushing: 21 ATT, 108 YDS

Willis had a hand in three of Miami's four touchdowns, including the 63-yard strike to Douglas. Smith kept the Jets in it with three scoring throws, but the interception was the only turnover of the game.

Miami's ground game won the clock rather than the efficiency battle. The Dolphins ran 41 times and held the ball for more than 34 minutes, while the Jets averaged more per carry on half the attempts.

What It Means

New York's offense moved the ball well enough to win. The Jets averaged about 7 yards a play to Miami's nearly 6 and converted 7 of 13 third downs. They also came away without a touchdown on one red-zone trip and threw the game's only interception.

Miami won the hidden battles. The Dolphins converted all 3 fourth-down tries, turned 12 rushing first downs into sustained drives, and committed just 5 penalties for 26 yards.

Miami sits at 1-5, including 1-3 on the road. The Jets fall to 2-5 and 1-2 at MetLife Stadium. Both teams are deep in a hole seven weeks in, and New York let a winnable home game slip away.