De’Von Achane was held to fewer than 3.5 yards per carry in last year’s matchup with New York.
The Miami Dolphins tagged an otherwise stout New York Jets defense for 30 points in each of last year’s meetings. Miami’s gotten the best of New York of late, sweeping the season series with a point differential of 64-13 last season while also winning seven of the last eight matchups.
The Jets have lost eight of the last nine games and haven’t held an opponent to fewer than 26 points since October. Still, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane knows not to underestimate the Jets after being held to just 32 yards on nine carries in his lone matchup against them last season.
“They got a great defense from their d-line to their DBs,” Achane said Wednesday. “I feel like they got a great defensive line. They come up the field and get to the QB. I feel like us, this is our first time playing this year, but we also play them twice, so I just feel like we got to key on the details and learn from when we first play them to the second time.”
If Miami wants to earn a playoff spot by winning out, Achane and the rushing attack must get on track after just 39 yards on 14 attempts last week against the Green Bay Packers. The Dolphins are searching for answers after running for a league-low average of 62 yards over the last three weeks.
“I just feel like teams just realized we were running the ball a lot so they started putting people in the box, but that just gets us going and opens up me in the pass game,” Achane said. “I feel like we’re not going to get away from it, keep going but it’ll just open up different things for us.”
While Achane has been a dynamic weapon in the passing game, catching 57 of 64 targets this season for 429 yards and six touchdowns, Miami has yet to produce a 100-yard rusher this year.
That lack of a dominant ground performance is somewhat understandable given the team’s backfield depth with Achane, Raheem Mostert, and rookie Jaylen Wright splitting touches. To secure a playoff spot, the Dolphins must win out, and that daunting task becomes a bit easier with a consistent rushing attack.
“At this point on, I think every game is a playoff game,” Achane said. “We know we’ve got to play every game like it’s our last, and I feel like that puts us in a position to go out here and make sure everybody puts it all on the line, 100%. I feel like we can’t take no days off.”
