Dolphins vs. Jets Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 18, Sunday 1/5
The New York Jets have been eliminated from playoff content. All that is left for them is to play spoiler. The Dolphins aren’t in control of their destiny as they’ll be eliminated from playoff contention if the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs (who are benching their starters). But it would be a point of pride for the Jets to win and make that not matter.
And that’s just one narrative surrounding this game that could affect the outcome. The Dolphins will also be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, for instance. Let’s dive into all the storylines surrounding this game then make our Dolphins vs. Jets predictions for Week 18.
Even if you just want to see the Dolphins vs. Jets odds and have Dolphins vs. Jets picks of your own, don’t forget to scroll down at the end to see how you can scoop up a $1,500 BetMGM Sportsbook sign-up bonus!
Dolphins vs. Jets Predictions For NFL Week 18, Sunday Night Football
Being AFC East rivals, these teams play at leat twice a year. And the Dolphins have definitely been out front as of late. They’ve won that last four matchups, eight of the last nine, and 12 of the last 14. The matchup just a couple weeks ago was a close one with the Dolphins winning 32-26 in overtime.
The Dolphins have battled to keep themselves in the playoff discussion. Winning five of their last seven games kept them alive. The Jets season has been a disaster as they’ve fallen to a 4-12 record while losing six of their last seven. Their lone win came against the Jaguars.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa is Doubtful
Quarterback is the most important position in football. So not having your starting quarterback in a must win game is a brutal position. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both questionable but are expected to play. Star left tackle Terron Armstead is a true question mark which puts them in a tough spot after losing both Austin Jackson and his backup Kendall Lamm to injury.
The Dolphins defense has been middle of the pack based on most metrics. In fact, FTN Fantasy’s DVOA statistic has them ranked exactly 16th of 32 teams. Calais Campbell made a rare request to be released if the Dolphins were eliminated but they have stayed alive and he has stayed with the team. He’s dealing with a neck issue but is hoping to play in what could be his last game.
New York Jets: Nightmare Season
The New York Jets hoped Aaron Rodgers would lead the team to glory in the twilight of his career like Tom Brady did with Tampa Bay. They doubled down bringing over his friend Davante Adams. The direction of the team and the disappointing season has seemingly disenfranchised some of the young stars on the team like Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner.
On defense the Jets started out strong, especially against the pass, but injuries and the firing of defense coach Robert Saleh have deflated this defense. They run a lot of zone which works best when you don’t have weak spots. DJ Reed and Michael Carter II previously missed time and now they’ll be without star corner Sauce Gardner this week.
Dolphins vs. Jets Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
As promised, the latest Dolphins vs. Jets odds can be found below courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Miami Dolphins -1 (-105) vs. New York Jets +1 (-125)
- Money Line: Miami Dolphins (-110) vs. New York Jets (-110)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 39 (-110) vs. Under 39 (-110)
Dolphins vs. Jets: Jets Moneyline (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
I think Aaron Rodgers and the Jets find a way to win this game. He may be dropping mopey stories about whether or not he plans to keep playing but we know that he’s going to want that decision to be on HIS terms. Same goes for Davante Adams. Rodgers, Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall are still a formidable group.
On the other side, you’ve likely got journeyman Tyler Huntley starting for the Dolphins. We know for a fact he will be without his right tackle already and there is a chance they could be without their left tackle as well. I know this is a must-win for the Dolphins but they’ll be scoreboard-watching and, if the Broncos go up early, it could pull the wind from their sales. I just don’t think the potential last NFL game for Aaron Rodgers is going to be a loss to Tyler Huntley.
Dolphins vs. Jets Injury Report & Latest News
Finally, let’s take a quick look at the projected starting lineups for both teams heading into tonight’s matchup:
MIA Dolphins
- LB Anthony Walker - Out
- QB Tua Tagovailoa - Doubtful
- T Terron Armstead - Questionable
- DT Calais Campbell - Questionable
- S Jevon Holland - Questionable
- WR Tyreek Hill - Questionable
- WR Jaylen Waddle - Questionable
- WR Dee Eskridge - Questionable
NYJ Jets
- CB Sauce Gardner - Out
- DT Leki Fotu - Doubtful
- TE Tyler Conklin - Questionable
- OT Morgan Moses - Questionable
- G Alijah Vera-Tucker - Questionable
- NT Quinnen Williams - Questionable
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Player News
Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter said NFL teams he’s met with during the pre-draft process have no issue with him playing both sides of the ball.
Hunter said he would refuse to play for a team that did not allow him to play both corner and wideout. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field,” he told CBS Sports. “I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.” Hunter in 2024 played 713 offensive snaps and 748 defensive snaps, “which made him the only player since at least 2017 with at least 250 snaps played on both offense and defense in a single season,” according to CBS Sports Research. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, a mentor to Hunter, said Hunter could easily play both sides of the ball as a pro since physical contact in the NFL is “minimal.” Pro Football Focus graded Hunter as last season’s second best cover corner. The most likely outcome for Hunter, 21, would include a full-time defensive role in the NFL with a package of receiver snaps in certain situations. He’s expected to go in the first ten picks of the 2025 draft.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports Louisville QB Tyler Shough could be taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Russini said Shough’s draft prospects have spiked over the past two weeks, going from a second or third round selection to a possible first rounder. That, of course, depends on how desperate quarterback-needy teams will be on the first night of the NFL Draft. An anonymous head coach told Russini that Shough, who threw for nearly 3,200 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his final collegiate season, is the best QB prospect in the entire 2025 draft class. Shough, who will be 26 in September, played seven years of college football, including stints at Texas Tech and Oregon. Pro Football Focus graded Shough as 2024’s fifth best passer. His adjusted completion rate in 2024 ranked 25th out of 93 qualifying QBs. It would be surprising if a team aggressively pursued a questionable, older QB prospect as a first-round selection.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Shedeur Sanders on Thursday will hold “one last private workout” for representatives from the Giants.
It appears the Giants are very much considering using their first rounder on Sanders, whose draft prospects are all over the place in the run-up to the 2025 NFL Draft. “When this happens so late in the process either there’s a big disagreement in their building on their evaluation or their reacting to new information,” said former Jets GM and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum. Sanders could go in the top five picks or drop out of the first round depending on how the Giants, Browns, and other QB-needy teams approach the first night of the draft. It remains to be seen if Sanders, who threw 64 touchdowns in two seasons on his father’s Colorado team, would compete with Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson for New York’s Week 1 starting job.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Dolphins and CB Jalen Ramsey are exploring trade options.
Rapoport added that “it wouldn’t be a surprise if [Ramsey] played elsewhere in 2025.” The Dolphins owe Ramsey $25.1 million in 2025, and don’t seem eager to keep him onboard after an underwhelming two seasons in Miami. Ramsey has five interceptions for the Dolphins over 27 games, missing significant time with various injuries, including a lingering knee issue. Ramsey in 2024 was graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s 24th best cover corner out of 133 qualifying cornerbacks. Entering his age-31 seasons, Ramsey should get a decent amount of interest in the trade market in the coming weeks.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reports Jakobi Meyers is “open” to an extension with the Raiders.
Meyers is entering the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract signed in the 2023 offseason and coming off an 87/1027/4 receiving line in 2024. McFadden writes that the team views Meyers as a “key player” on the roster. Meyers could probably come close to a $20 million AAV in a new contract given the way the market is trending — that’s about what Stefon Diggs got from the Patriots this offseason after a lengthy wait.
The Athletic’s Nate Taylor writes that the Chiefs “need a young, dynamic running back to pair with” Isiah Pacheco.
Rarely do you see a beat writer go with the word “need,” but here we are. Kansas City clearly had no juice in the running game all last season as Pacheco struggled to run the same after returning from a broken leg. Kareem Hunt was a steady veteran pounder but couldn’t hit a second gear. Taylor notes that Brett Veach has been quoted as saying running backs in Andy Reid’s offense “need to be a better receiver than a runner” and ties them to Georgia back Trevor Etienne.