EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Miami Dolphins defeated the New York Jets 28-25 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, earning their first win of the season and delivering first-year head coach Jeff Hafley his inaugural NFL victory in his home state of New Jersey.
Quarterback Malik Willis drove the offense efficiently throughout, finishing 14-of-21 for 208 passing yards and 2 touchdowns with a passer rating of 130.7, while adding 8 carries for 37 rushing yards and a third score. Running back Ollie Gordon II anchored the ground game with 25 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Caleb Douglas turned 2 receptions into 2 touchdowns for 70 yards.
Miami seized control early, marching downfield on its opening drive with a 12-yard completion to wide receiver Malik Washington, a 25-yard burst by Gordon II, and a 32-yard reception by tight end Greg Dulcich. Willis capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Douglas - Douglas’s first NFL score - and kicker Zane Gonzalez added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins extended their advantage before halftime on a 15-play, 91-yard drive that included 15- and 16-yard completions to Dulcich, who finished with 5 receptions for 86 yards. Willis scrambled left at second-and-goal to push the lead to 21-7 at the break. Miami’s defense held New York to just 28 rushing yards and 86 passing yards in the first half, allowing only one Jets drive longer than four plays.
New York, led by quarterback Geno Smith, clawed back in the second half. Smith connected with Omar Cooper Jr. for a 60-yard gain that set up a short touchdown strike, then found tight end Mason Taylor for a 12-yard score late - followed by a successful two-point conversion - to cut Miami’s lead to 28-25 with time running short. A 33-yard field goal by kicker Jason Sanders had earlier trimmed the deficit to 21-17 after defensive linemen Zach Sieler and Josh Uche recorded consecutive tackles for loss and edge Chop Robinson sacked Smith for a 12-yard loss to deny New York a touchdown.
Willis sealed the victory with a quarterback keeper on a fourth-and-1 with two minutes remaining, allowing Miami to run out the clock. Inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks led the defense with a team-high 9 tackles, including 5 solo stops and 2 for loss, as the Dolphins combined for 55 tackles and 6 quarterback hits.
Miami returns to Hard Rock Stadium to host the New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4:25 p.m.