Winless Dolphins end historic drought and they did it against the almost-as-hapless Jets
Miami ended an unusual drought by taking its first lead of the season against the New York Jets in Week 7. The moment highlighted the Dolphins’ difficult campaign, while also raising questions about how far the Jets have fallen.
Miami entered the game winless and had gone 293 offensive snaps without leading; it was the only team in the Super Bowl era to lose its first five games without holding a lead. Malik Willis connected with rookie Caleb Douglas for a seven-yard touchdown after a 76-yard opening drive, though the Jets levelled the score before Miami regained the lead. The article says Miami had traded or released several expensive starters as part of a reset, while the Jets arrived with a 2-4 record.
In short
- Miami took its first lead of the season in Week 7.
- The Dolphins had gone 293 offensive snaps without leading.
- The Jets entered the game with a 2-4 record.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Miami’s first lead offers a small but meaningful sign of progress after a difficult start, and the touchdown showed the team could turn an opening drive into points. The reset, including moving on from expensive starters, may also be a reasonable attempt to rebuild rather than preserve an underperforming squad. For the Jets, the result raises fair questions about whether a 2-4 start reflects deeper problems.
The case against
One brief lead does not by itself show that Miami’s season is turning around, especially after five winless games and 293 offensive snaps without leading. The roster reset may be necessary, but trading or releasing established starters can also leave a team less competitive in the short term. The Jets’ record is poor, but this game alone cannot establish how far the team has fallen.
Explained simply
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets are two teams in the National Football League, the top level of American football. They play in the American Football Conference’s East division, so they meet regularly and compete with the same division rivals for a place in the post-season.
A team leads when it has scored more points than its opponent; Miami had gone through its first five games without being ahead at any point. The Dolphins had also moved on several high-paid players as they reset their squad, while the Jets had struggled to build a strong season of their own. Their meeting offered a measure of how both teams were faring.