Dolphins outlast Jets 17–12 in rain-soaked defensive battle

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - In a game dictated by rain, field position, and patience, the Miami Dolphins did just enough to survive. Playing in steady rain under gray skies all afternoon, Miami edged the New York Jets 17-12 on Sunday, improving to 10-2 while grinding through one of its more physical tests of the season.

"It wasn't about style points today," Dolphins head coach Sean Nguyen said. "It was about discipline, ball security, and finishing drives when the chances came."

Weather sets the tone early

The conditions were apparent from the opening kickoff. With rain falling consistently, both offenses leaned conservative early, and scoring chances were limited.

The Jets struck first with a field goal midway through the opening quarter, but the game quickly settled into a defensive struggle. Miami finally broke through late in the second quarter when Tua Tagovailoa capped a drive with a short touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill, giving the Dolphins a 7-3 lead heading into halftime.

"We knew every drive mattered," Hill said. "In weather like that, you might not get many red-zone chances."

Hill strikes again as defenses clamp down

The third quarter followed a similar script - long drives, tough running lanes, and heavy contact. New York answered with field goals to stay within reach, but Miami once again found the end zone when Hill slipped free for his second receiving touchdown of the afternoon.

"That was just trust," Tagovailoa said. "I put it where only he could get it."

Despite trailing, the Jets continued to hang around, relying on Nick Folk's leg to keep the margin manageable. Still, touchdowns remained elusive.

"We moved the ball," Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said. "But in this weather, if you don't finish drives, you're asking for trouble."

Late tension, Dolphins hold firm

A Miami field goal early in the fourth quarter extended the lead, but the Jets responded with another score of their own, keeping the game tight into the final minutes.

The Dolphins' defense answered when it mattered most, forcing New York to burn clock without finding the end zone and sealing the win with strong situational play down the stretch.

"It wasn't flashy," Nguyen said. "But wins like this matter in December."

What it means

Miami moves to 10-2 and has now won eight of its last ten games, continuing to show it can win in different ways - not just shootouts, but low-scoring, weather-driven contests as well.

For the Jets, the loss drops them to 3-9, another frustrating afternoon where effort wasn't enough to overcome execution issues in critical moments.

"We're fighting," Glenn said. "But we've got to start turning these into wins."

Up Next

The Dolphins stay on the road in Week 15, traveling to Pittsburgh for a matchup with the Steelers.

The Jets also remain away from home next week, heading south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15.