New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins, Week 12 preview: Black Friday spotlight

Jets, Tim Boyle take the Black Friday spotlight

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—The New York Jets need a victory in the worst way, and it’ll be Tim Boyle who leads them at the quarterback position.

Yet again, the 2023 Jets find themselves in a stand-alone spot on the NFL schedule. It’s technically not a primetime game, but taking on the Miami Dolphins in the first-ever Black Friday contest shines even a brighter spotlight.

Oh yeah, let’s also not forget who’s set to take snaps behind the Jets’ embattled and banged-up offensive line: Mr. Tim Boyle.

Boyle, 29, entered the Jets’ 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday after Robert Saleh decided to bench Zach Wilson.

The journeyman UConn (and Eastern Kentucky) product entered the league in 2015 as an undrafted free agent but didn’t register an official snap until the 2019 season. Boyle’s previous stops include the Chicago Bears (2022), Detroit Lions (2021), and two years with the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers (2019-2020).

Boyle’s familiarity with the Rodgers (and Nathaniel Hackett) system is what most likely led to his current status as the starter—as opposed to veteran Trevor Siemian, who will indeed dress and back up Boyle.

Jets vs. Dolphins game info

• New York Jets (4-6)
• Miami Dolphins (7-3)
• 2023 NFL Week 12
• Friday, Nov. 24, 3:00 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime
• MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NY

The New York Jets enter this one riding a three-game losing streak. After their miracle victory over the New York Giants, things have taken a turn for the worse.

At 4-6, Robert Saleh’s team is essentially playing for its playoff life this Friday.

This first-ever Black Friday game is set to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be called by the immortal Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on Amazon Prime.

Naturally, the Jets plan to wear their Stealth Black uniforms on the tidy fitting Black Friday.

Back In Black. pic.twitter.com/F0sT0POFrG

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 22, 2023

Jets vs. Dolphins history

• The Dolphins lead the all-time series 58-56-1

The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins’ all-time history features a back-and-forth feel through the years. It’s probably the reason that the diehard Jets fan believes the Dolphins are the team’s most-hated rival.

In fact, the Jets used to enjoy a solid lead in the all-time series, but the last several seasons have changed that.

Miami won the last meeting, an 11-6 stinkfest in Week 18 last year. Saleh’s squad dominated Miami, 40-17, in October 2022, but the Dolphins won the four previous meetings and eight of the previous nine.

Jets vs. Dolphins odds (FanDuel Sportsbook)

• Spread: Jets +9.5 (-105), Dolphins -9.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Jets +410, Dolphins -550
• Over/Under: 41.0 (O: -110, U: -110)

A 9.5 line in this one is about what everybody expected. Not even the New York Jets’ home status at MetLife Stadium could save them from the oddsmakers this week.

Jets vs. Dolphins injury report

New York Jets

• Mekhi Becton (DNP on Tuesday)
• Michael Carter II (DNP on Tuesday)
• Sam Eguavoen (DNP on Tuesday)

Miami Dolphins

• Robert Jones (DNP on Tuesday)
• Durham Smythe (DNP on Tuesday)

Jets vs. Dolphins prediction

• New York Jets 16, Miami Dolphins 27

Expect a similar offensive output from the New York Jets on Black Friday. While I do expect to see more life from the team overall—as it’s natural after a quarterback change—very few quarterbacks could ever operate efficiently behind the Jets’ current offensive line.

Therefore, since the offense is basically starting from scratch again, with Tim Boyle, a feeling-out process will be necessary. And that’s a tough pill to swallow considering this Miami Dolphins team isn’t nearly as good as its 7-3 record (thanks to a cupcake schedule up to this point in the season).

I’ll take the Dolphins to win by two possessions.

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