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Pregame: Dolphins @ Jets, 4:15 PM EST

Breaking down the game

When the Dolphins pass the ball: Good things started to happen last week when Joey Harrington was decisive in his reads and avoided sacks, the main reason the Patriots stopped blitzing. No blitzes resulted in only one sack against a Miami team that previously had allowed 21. But Harrington threw two interceptions. That must stop for Miami to succeed. The problem today is that Marty Booker is out, giving New York the ability to double Chris Chambers. That could mean a big day for Wes Welker or Derek Hagan, but that isn’t necessarily a great thing for Miami.

ADVANTAGE: Jets

When the Dolphins run the ball: The Jets rank 28th in defending the run. In the past month, New York has yielded no less than 147 yards rushing in a game. That suggests the Dolphins will take advantage of the weakness, but Miami has been unable to get Ronnie Brown involved most of the season. Brown has rushed more than 20 times once this season, and not coincidentally, it was Miami’s only victory. Last week was Brown’s worst performance of the season, not so much because he averaged only 2.3 yards per carry, but because he fumbled and seemed tentative at times.

ADVANTAGE: Dolphins.

When the Jets pass the ball: Led by a healthy Chad Pennington, the Jets are perhaps the best passing team Miami has faced. Aside from presenting a deep threat with Laveranues Coles, New York (200.2 yards per game, third in the AFC) has found a complementary receiver in third-year player Jerricho Cotchery. The Dolphins are likely to be without cornerback Travis Daniels, who is nursing a right knee injury. That means André Goodman will return to the starting lineup, and the nickel and dime packages will turn to Michael Lehan or Eddie Jackson for extra duty.

ADVANTAGE: Jets.

When the Jets run the ball: Curtis Martin is gone from the lineup for the first time in a decade and New York hasn’t exactly filled the void with Derrick Blaylock, Kevan Barlow or anyone else. The Jets have, however, been buoyed by the contributions of rookie center Nick Mangold and rookie offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who have started all five games. The Dolphins are coming off their best performance of stopping the run, having limited the New England Patriots to only 79 rushing yards one week after that team had nearly 180 rushing yards against Cincinnati. The Dolphins’ defense has not allowed their past three opponents another team to gain 100 rushing yards.

ADVANTAGE: Dolphins.

Special teams: It seems something wrong always is going on with Miami’s special teams. A blocked punt led to a field goal against Buffalo and a fumbled punt return also cost a field goal against Tennessee. Last week, Miami had a fumbled punt attempt and a blocked field goal. The Jets, meanwhile, have gotten great play from return man Justin Miller (27.6-yard average, fourth in NFL), who has a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

ADVANTAGE: Jets.

Coaching: Nick Saban (10-11 record in the NFL) still is trying to get his team to put one complete game together this season. He said the Dolphins became ”a team” last week in the loss to New England, but that will be greatly tested today. Miami has won only once in its past eight trips to the Meadowlands to play the Jets. Eric Mangini is in his first season with the Jets and, before last week’s 41-0 blowout loss against Jacksonville, has had his team well-prepared.

ADVANTAGE: Dolphins.