The Miami Dolphins were on a bye last week, and a well-timed one at that.
Miami returns to the field Sunday to face the Jets in New York (yes, I know, New Jersey). After that, the Dolphins travel to take on the Indianapolis Colts on the road before hosting the Tennessee Titans. Then, following a short week, they're back on the road for another division bout, this time in Buffalo to face the Bills.
“When we kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday we’re going to have four games in eighteen days so we told the team we’ve got to be smart about it,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Monday, according to the team's website. “This is an important stretch and they’ve got to take care of their bodies. That’s their livelihood so they do have to be smart.
“When we kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday we’re going to have four games in eighteen days so we told the team we’ve got to be smart about it,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Monday, according to the team's website. “This is an important stretch and they’ve got to take care of their bodies. That’s their livelihood so they do have to be smart.
"You’ve got to be careful not to do too much and sometimes there is a desire to get too much in with that extra practice, so we’ve been keeping a lid on it.”
The Dolphins need to manage their emotions in a big-time matchup Sunday against a heated rival. Miami currently sits at 3-3 and in second place in the division, and the Jets are 3-4 coming off a roller-coaster loss to the New England Patriots, who are in first place at 4-3.
“Everybody was more aware at meetings and just that anxiety to get started again and get to a rivalry week right off the bye week is something that we acknowledge," cornerback Nolan Carroll said. "We know this is a big game because we’re fighting for that top spot in the division still and it’s a tight race. We see it as a 10-game season now for us.”
Miami already lost to the Jets at home in overtime in Week 3 by a 23-20 margin.
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