Week 8 AFC East game picks: Dolphins at Jets

Lead writer Nick St. Denis and AFC East Daily contributors Dan Begnoche, Sean Donovan and Sam Hollingsworth pick the New York Jets' home divisional bout with the Miami Dolphins.

Nick's take:
The Jets are coming off an emotional but maybe inspiring overtime loss to the Patriots, while the Dolphins are riding a two-game winning streak and are well-rested after a bye. Regardless of their opposite situations, both teams are equally up for this divisional bout. It'll be a wet one, so expect plenty of ground and pound. Gang Green's pissed-off defense shuts down Reggie Bush, and New York heads into the bye with a .500 record and 3-1 in the AFC East.

Prediction: Jets 20, Dolphins 17

Sean's take:

After a fiery war of words during the week, these two rivals will finally settle the score on the gridiron. The Dolphins will be motivated by not only the incendiary talk from a number of Jets players, but also by a chance to avenge their agonizing overtime loss to this same Jets team just five weeks ago. Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill continues his steady progress, and Miami's healthier and overall superior roster scores a huge division road victory.

Prediction: Dolphins 27, Jets 17

Dan's take:

The Dolphins were much more rush heavy in the two games prior to the bye week, and expect that to continue against a Jets rush defense near the bottom of the league and likely missing linebacker Bart Scott. Miami will still be without cornerback Richard Marshall, who had a big game against the Jets in Week 3, which will help an inconsistent Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has completed more than 50 percent of his passes in his last two games and seems to be getting more and more comfortable with his makeshift receiving corps, which is good news facing a Dolphins team hurting in pass defense.

Prediction: Jets 24, Dolphins 21

Sam's take:

The Dolphins are feeling pretty good coming off a pair of wins and a bye, and the Jets are feeling quite the opposite after losing three of their last four. New York showed what it was made (or almost did) last week vs. the Pats, but the Dolphins have the momentum and, in essence, a loss at the Meadowlands would ultimately translate into another crappy season... especially since Miami already lost to the Jets. Bush and Tannehill don't let that happen.

Prediction: Dolphins 24, Jets 23