The playoff hopes of the Miami Dolphins probably went down late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game when Ryan Tannehill took a low hit and sustained a knee injury that will keep him out for a few games at the very least. There is hope the quarterback can return if the Dolphins make it to the postseason, but their chances are severely hindered by his absence. The New York Jets will continue to audition young Bryce Petty to see if he’s their signal-caller of the future when the AFC East rivals hook up in a Week 15 tilt.
Watch this regular season Week 15 matchup live on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 8:25 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Miami Dolphins -2
New York Jets +2
Over/Under 38
Odds Analysis
The loss of Tannehill brought the line down just slightly with the Dolphins currently a 2-point favorite. The Fins opened at -3 and early action on the home team brought the number down to its current level. The impact of Tannehill’s loss was seen in the total. After opening at 41.5 the total was wagered down to 38 with over 60 percent of the wagers on the under.
Injury Report
Ryan Tannehill – The loss of Tannehill, who has blossomed into a top-flight performer over his career, will change the Dolphins’ offense. Matt Moore isn’t as mobile under center and not the running threat that Tannehill is. He does have a strong arm and the Fins will look to take advantage with some deep shots.
Marcus Gilchrist – New York’s secondary didn’t escape San Francisco without serious damage. Gilchrist was lost for the year with a knee injury and Buster Skrine also went down with a concussion, taking a starting safety and corner out of the mix. There will be some openings in the secondary for Moore, who doesn’t hesitate from tossing the ball into small windows.
Player to Watch
Tannehill has been one of the most durable quarterbacks in the league starting every game over his first five seasons. His ironman streak left little time for backups to see game action and now that Tannehill’s streak is over, Matt Moore is tossed into the fray. Moore has been the backup since Tannehill arrived for the 2012 season and understands the offense. He just hasn’t seen many reps to prove that he can run the show.
Moore might be a little rusty throwing just 16 passes in five games over the past five seasons, but he has confidence in his ability and Adam Gase is certain Moore can lead the team to victories needed to qualify for the postseason. Moore completed 3 of 5 attempts for 47 yards and hit two big passes on the game-winning field goal drive against Arizona. He is one of the more experienced backups in the league and has started several games during his career, so don’t expect him to be rattled by the circumstances.
Free ATS Pick
Moore will need his experience as a career backup to lead the Dolphins and he’s a guy that’s more than familiar with the offense. The team will have a different approach with Moore under center, but Gase has proven to be a genius working with quarterbacks and the game plan will be adjusted to fit what Moore does well. He isn’t a runner and lacks the mobility of Tannehill, but he has a strong arm and has been with the club for six years. His familiarity will help with the transition.
The Jets haven’t tossed the season away but they have serious flaws that will prevent them from overcoming the Dolphins. New York edged past the Niners last weekend but that club is more of a train wreck than the Browns right now. With a beat up secondary, it’ll be tough for the Jets to keep the Fins off the scoreboard, and I’m not sure Petty is up to the challenge of facing a stiffer defense. He performed well against S.F. but that won’t get it done against Miami.
NFL Odds: Dolphins 22, Jets 18
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