The Miami Dolphins win their first game of the 2019 season.
I thought I would never see one this season. Moreover, the plans for “tanking” appeared viable.
Take a step back, and I can’t help but be happy for Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.
Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” blared through Hard Rock stadium’s speakers when the game clock struck zero.
Dolphins are 1-7 after their first win of the season by embarrassing former head coach Adam Gase and the New York Jets 26-18 on Sunday.
“Any time you win, it feels good,” said Flores, the Dolphins’ first-year coach. “That’s why we put in all the work.”
It was Miami’s fourth straight win over the Jets — the first three of those coming with Gase being the coach of the Dolphins.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes, two of them to rookie wide receiver Preston Williams.
Fitzpatrick completed 24 of 36 passes for 288 yards. The Dolphins put their highest point total of the season on the scoreboard.
“I had a lot of pressure on me today because my two boys were here, and when we win, I bring my boys into the locker room,” Fitzpatrick said.
“So I was tired of the puppy-dog eyes when I was walking off the field for them not being able to come in the locker room. We were going to get them in the dang locker room today.”
The Jets opened the game with 11 plays on the first drive and a 7-0 lead.
At 1-7, the Jets have matched their second-worst start in franchise history. They were 0-8 in 1996 and have been 1-7 on five other occasions, most recently 2014.
The Jets (1-7) are now below Miami in the AFC East standings based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Dolphins snapped a 10-game losing streak. It was the Dolphins’ first win since the “Miami Miracle” over New England last season.
Dolphins’ tight end Mike Gesicki was targeted six times and made six catches for 95 yards — both of those being career highs.
The beat goes on.
The Jets host the New York Giants, next.
Dolphins take their talents to Indianapolis next Sunday, playing on the Colts’ field for the second straight year.
Photo/WORLDWIDEWEST/TonyCapobianco
