EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Miami Dolphins keep on winning and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Behind an early outburst from the offense that fizzled later and a defense that kept the New York Jets offense out of the end zone, the Dolphins went into the Meadowlands to top the Jets, 34-10, on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Miami (6-7) won its fourth straight and fifth in its past six games. The Dolphins swept the season series from the Jets (3-10) and will be two games out of the final AFC wild-card playoff spot with four weeks remaining.
It was the run game for Miami offensively. After starting running back De’Von Achane went out with a rib injury deep in the first half, second-year tailback Jaylen Wright took the reins with a career-high 107 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
Achane had 92 yards and a touchdown on seven carries before his early exit, and rookie Ollie Gordon found the end zone in the fourth quarter to put New York away.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, shaky at times, wasn’t tasked with much and finished 13 of 21 — after starting Sunday with eight consecutive completions — for 127 yards and a touchdown. He was allowed to sit early, allowing backup Zach Wilson, the former Jets No. 2 overall pick, to round out the victory.
The Jets offense, which had quarterback Tyrod Taylor leave injured in the first quarter, only surpassed 100 yards of offense on the final play of the third quarter behind backup Brady Cook, with fellow quarterback Justin Fields already out entering Sunday.
Both Taylor and Cook were intercepted Sunday, and the Jets failed to convert their first 10 third-down attempts.
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The Dolphins were dominant from the onset, jumping out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
First, Tagovailoa found Jaylen Waddle on a short crosser in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. It was set up by long runs of 39 yards by Achane and, earlier, a 21-yard rush from Waddle on a sweep.
After Miami quickly got the ball back, Achane had a 13-yard scamper for a touchdown behind an array of blocks set up along the left side.
The Dolphins then had linebacker Tyrel Dodson intercept Taylor’s tipped pass that he dove for and trapped between his legs before securing. Initially ruled an incomplete pass on the field, coach Mike McDaniel won his first challenge of the season by tossing the red flag.
Six plays after the Dodson interception, Wright scored his first career touchdown, plunging in from 2 yards out.
It was the first time the Dolphins scored 21 points in a first quarter since Oct. 25, 2015 against the Houston Texans.
The Jets responded before the first period was over. After their defense’s first stop of the afternoon, Isaiah Williams scored on a 78-yard punt return touchdown.
After all the first-quarter scoring, the second period only saw Miami tack on 3 points with a Riley Patterson field goal two minutes before halftime, as the Dolphins went into the intermission with a 24-7 lead. Patterson later connected from 53 yards.
Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas, a New Jersey native, intercepted a Cook pass near the goal line before the end of the half.
The Jets had a Nick Folk field goal get them to within two possessions early in the fourth quarter, but Gordon’s touchdown later in the period ended any possibility of a comeback.
Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler had 2 1/2 sacks, splitting one with Bradley Chubb. Chop Robinson, Matt Judon and Ifeatu Melifonwu also recorded sacks.
Backup cornerback Ethan Bonner made a one-handed interception in the end zone in the final minutes.
The Dolphins next face the Steelers (7-6) in Pittsburgh in a Monday night game, Dec. 15.
This story will be updated.
