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THE GAME
The Jets (3-5) at the Miami Dolphins (4-4) at what is now called Hard Rock Stadium (it's the stadium's eighth name since it opened in 1987) in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. ET.
THE WEATHER
There could be some lingering thunderstorms from the morning, but otherwise it's a typical fall day in South Florida - hazy, hot and humid, with temperatures in the low 80s.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Jets keep saying this isn't last year, and they're not the "same old Jets". Well, these next two weeks are the time to prove it.
If they can go on the road and beat a very beatable Dolphins team (with backup quarterback Brock Osweiler), and then follow that up with a home win next Sunday against the awful Buffalo Bills, they'd be at .500 going into their bye week and suddenly the post-Thanksgiving part of their schedule would be very, very interesting.
This is the key game, though. Beating Buffalo won't matter if they go into that game 3-6. This is where the Jets and Todd Bowles must take a stand and win a game on the road that they're absolutely capable of winning.
PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Robby Anderson
The Dolphins defense isn't good and their passing defense is certainly vulnerable. The problem, of course, is that with Quincy Enunwa hurt (he's questionable with a sprained ankle and has missed the last two games) and Terrelle Pryor now playing in Buffalo, the Jets don't really have the weapons to exploit them.
Rookie QB Sam Darnold desperately needs somebody to step up and help him, and that didn't happen last week. Anderson - also questionable with a sprained ankle -- is the perfect candidate, if he's healthy, because of his deep speed and the fact that he felt like last year he proved he has the ability to be a No. 1 receiver.
So far he hasn't backed that up with action. He has just 17 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. He's had a few big plays, but has been invisible too often. Yes, some of that was the reluctance of Darnold to throw deep early (or possibly the reluctance of offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates).
But the reins seem to be off Darnold now. All they need is Anderson to consistently be there and to make the catches when the ball is thrown his direction. The Jets will be searching for a No. 1 receiver this offseason. These next few weeks are a good chance for Anderson to prove it should be him.
THE PICK
The Osweiler Era in Miami got off to a big start when he threw for 380 yards in a surprising win over the Bears. But that was three weeks ago. And in the big picture, the Dolphins have won one of their last five games, and are giving up 33.4 points per game in that span.
The Jets are 2-2 over the last four with losses against the Vikings and at Chicago, but for the most part this season, they've shown they can stay in games as long as their rookie quarterback plays well. Whether he does or not is hard to say, especially with all their injuries. The strain is showing because in the last two games he's completed just 43.6 percent of his passes for 359 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The defenses of the Vikings and Bears, though, are far better than the Dolphins defense. In Week 2 against Miami, Darold completed 61 percent of his passes (25 of 41) for a career-high 334 yards. The Jets offense wasn't moving well, and Darnold's two game-killing interceptions were terrible. But he's improved in running the offense since then, and his decision-making has gotten better. This is the perfect game for the 21-year-old to bounce back and get the Jets back in the playoff chase. … Jets 23, Dolphins 20.
MY RECORD: 4-4
MY RECORD WHEN PICKING JETS TO WIN: 1-2
MY RECORD WHEN PICKING JETS TO LOSE: 3-2