Joe Philbin's hot seat warms up as Dolphins get flattened by Jets in London
LONDON – Nearly 4,500 miles and an eight-hour flight separates South Florida and Britain’s capital city but for the Miami Dolphins, this felt just like home.
Problem is, that’s not exactly a good thing right now.
The Dolphins (1-3) were dismissed 27-14 by the New York Jets (3-1) in their “home” AFC East match-up at Wembley Stadium, a week after being torn apart by the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium.
Consecutive displays that were listless and uninspiring have conspired to put head coach Joe Philbin firmly on the hot seat, with a long flight, a bye week, and some deep soul-searching sure to follow.
Philbin admitted he needs to “start salvaging our season” amid reports of locker room disharmony and owner Stephen Ross' disillusionment with the team's 1-3 start. ESPN reported Philbin met with Ross after the game.
“It seems the walls are closing in around you,” Philbin said. “We still can’t panic. There are some things that need to be fixed, no question about it.”
The Dolphins were unable to stop Jets running back Chris Ivory from producing a career-best 166 rushing yards and an early touchdown that gave New York a lead it would never relinquish. Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Eric Decker in the end zone just before halftime, and Zac Stacy ran for a two-yard touchdown to open a 27-7 lead after three quarters.
Ryan Tannehill was consistently harassed by the Jets defense, and could not get any momentum behind Miami’s attempt to launch a fourth-quarter comeback. The Dolphins quarterback’s frustration was unmistakable as he addressed the media after the game.
“It is kind of ridiculous that we keep taking about (making plays), we keep saying it,” Tannehill said. “We are up against the wall right now and we have got to fight our way out.”
Miami personnel consistently denied suggestions that the team lacked motivation, but their sluggish start to the game provided damning evidence to the contrary. Tannehill’s first pass resulted in a simple drop from Jarvis Landry. Another pass fell weakly short of Landry, its intended target. Seconds later, the Jets used their first possession to march downfield and set the tone for the afternoon.
If Ross’ patience holds, for now at least, Philbin will have two weeks in which to prepare for the Tennessee Titans, where only a victory might be enough to save his job.
“Not at all,” Philbin said, when asked if he feared being fired in the imminent future. “I am worried about getting this team straightened out and fixed.”
Yet what else could he realistically say? Philbin has an unflappable demeanor, but what the Dolphins need is a fire to be lit under them, and quickly.
As for the Jets, the journey home will be far more jolly. Rookie coach Todd Bowles has managed to engineer positive performances from different aspects of his line-up on a week by week basis, with the stout defense a consistent plus.
On this afternoon, with Dolphins flags filling the home of England’s national soccer team, it was Ivory who shined brightest.
“He was a work horse,” Bowles said. “He was getting hit and he was doing some hitting.“
Perhaps the Jets just wanted it more, perhaps it was the difference between a confident one and an opponent who is losing hope. But all afternoon it was New York who made the crucial hits, while the Dolphins just keep get hit where it hurts.
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