Steve Starr
- Oddsmakers have the Miami Dolphins (8-8) vs New York Jets (7-9) contest listed as a pick’em
- Mike McDaniel’s club could earn a playoff berth with a victory over their AFC East rivals
- The Week 18 game on Fox will kick off from Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, January 8 at 1pm ET
A little over a month ago, the 8-3 Dolphins were cruising towards their first playoff berth since the 2016 season. However, after five-straight losses, Miami must defeat the Jets to have a shot at the postseason. New York was eliminated from playoff contention following a 23-6 loss to Seattle in Week 17, but Robert Saleh will be eager to end a five-game losing streak of their own.
Before we check the odds on this AFC East matchup, here’s where you can find the best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2022.
Dolphins vs Jets
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| New York Jets | pk (-103) | Ov 38.5 (-110) | |
| Miami Dolphins | pk (-117) | Un 38.5 (-110) |
Must win for Miami
What a roller coaster season it has been for Mike McDaniel. The first-year head coach got his Fins off to a 3-0 start before Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion drama caused the club to drop three in a row. With the healthy return of the second-year quarterback, Miami reeled off five straight wins to run their record to 8-3. Then, it all fell apart.
McDaniel’s mentor Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers handed him a 33-17 beatdown in Week 13. The Fish then dropped games to the Chargers and Bills in primetime before suffering a 26-20 home loss to the Packers on Christmas Day. After tossing three picks in the loss, it was revealed that Tagovailoa had suffered another head injury during the game.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will not play in the final game of the regular season. pic.twitter.com/2mnyZsTvfA
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 3, 2023
Dolphins playoff scenario
Despite dropping their fifth-consecutive game in Week 17, a 23-21 loss to the Patriots, Miami can still make the postseason with a victory over the Jets and a Buffalo win over New England.
Still fighting for the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye, the Bills should be motivated to down Bill Belichick’s boys. However, there’s no telling how Josh Allen and company will respond following the devastating injury to teammate Damar Hamlin on Monday Night Football.
Miami vs New York
Miami vs New York is listed as a pick’em game with the over-under set at a miniscule 38.5 points. Mike McDaniel has already confirmed that Teddy Bridgewater or third-string Skylar Thompson will be under center in Week 18. Yet, a matchup against the Jets’ once ferocious defense doesn’t look as scary as it did a month ago.
Robert Saleh’s team has been exposed in losses to the Seahawks, Jaguars and Lions. The second-year head coach will likely be back in the Big Apple next year. But, it can’t hurt for Saleh to buy himself some job security with a victory over his AFC East rivals on Sunday.
What’s next for Robert Saleh? What about Mike LaFleur? Could Woody Johnson make any rash decisions?
Our @ByMikeMitchell provides 5 ultimate takeaways from the #Jets disappointing late-season collapse. #TakeFlight https://t.co/Bjw551RMIK
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) January 4, 2023
Best Bet
The season took a vicious turn for both the Jets and Dolphins in 2022. It’s frankly hard to imagine either of these teams winning this game for that reason.
While we’d love to predict a tie, we’ll instead pick New York to improve to 8-8 at the expense of Miami’s playoff hopes.
Final Score Prediction: Jets 23, Dolphins 20
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