NFL Week 13 Betting – Fins Face Drowning Jets at MetLife (MNF)

Miami Dolphins (-7, 41.5) at New York Jets

Are they for real or not? That’s the question surrounding the Miami Dolphins (6-5, 3-3 away), who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2008. Last weekend, Miami looked dominant through three-and-a-half quarters, leading the Denver Broncos at Mile High by 11 in the fourth. However, the Joe Philbin-led squad squandered the lead late, falling 39-36, and dropping their record to 0-3 in games decided by four points or less.

While Miami remains firmly in the playoff hunt, and is clearly capable of hanging with the top-dogs in the AFC, the inability to win close games is concerning. Said Philbin, “We have to find a way to win some of those games. We are going to be in some more of those games. That’s just the way the NFL typically is.”

Currently, the Dolphins, three games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East, find themselves in the thick of the Wild Card race. With five other AFC teams at 7-5 after Sunday’s games, there is a ton of pressure on Miami to win tonight and keep pace. Though the Jets (2-9, 2-4 home) have struggled all year, Philbin knows any NFL team is capable of surprising on any given night, especially at home.

“I don’t think the records really matter right now,” Philbin said. “We have to go win a game against the New York Jets. That’s really the only thing that is on my mind and should be on our players’ minds at this point.”

As for those Jets, who are allowing 27.5 points per game, the team is now starting Geno Smith after Michael Vick’s horrific performance last week against the Buffalo Bills in Detroit. Invariably, these are Rex Ryan’s last days in New York.

After the 38-3 loss to the Bills, frustration abounded in the Jets’ locker room. “Obviously, No. 1 is disappointment,” center Nick Mangold said. “No. 2 is frustration that we weren’t able to do our jobs. It’s difficult. You hate losing. You hate losing like that.”

Adding to the Jets’ woes, the team will be without injured defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson tonight after he hurt his toe last week against Buffalo.

Ryan said, “It doesn’t look good for Big Mo. If you’re in a boot, that doesn’t look good for this week. But, hopefully, we’ll get him back as soon as we can.”

Both teams love to run the ball on offense – and both are pretty good at stopping the run on defense – which should shorten the game and keep the score down. But the Jets defense surrenders a lot of points on a weekly basis; couple that with the low total and taking the over (41.5) is the better play.

(Photo credit: Zennie Abraham (flickr) “Geno Smith Can Use Cellphones / Headphones On Virgin Airlines” [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode].)