Jets-Dolphins: What to watch in Sunday's Week 7 matchup

Get Garrett the ball

Garrett Wilson should be busy on Sunday — or busier, at least.

Getting targeted only six times in the Jets’ loss in New England was a big topic this week. It was the second time in three games that Wilson was targeted fewer than seven times. You can expect him to be much more involved against the winless Dolphins.

“I’m trying, we're trying to get it to him as early and as often as we can,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “In my years of experience, I know it doesn't always go that way. Some of that I'm comfortable with. Some of it I'm not.”

Wilson is second in the AFC in targets (48), but half of them came in two games.

Reich said coach Aaron Glenn sometimes is “kind of in my ear,” reminding him to get Wilson the ball if he’s gone a long stretch without it.

“He’s ‘hey, don’t forget, boom, get our playmakers the ball,’ ” Reich said.

It’s surprising that Reich needs that reminder. It’s also surprising that Wilson isn’t being fed more, especially when the Jets are struggling to get in the end zone.

Reich said he likes spreading the ball around but called Wilson a “bell cow” that needs to be “the focal point” of the offense.

“He's an unbelievable player, so we need to get him the ball,” Reich said. “I think we're doing that at some level. Can we do it more? Sure. I want to get it to him.”

It shouldn’t be as hard as it has been.

Gotta-have game

Wilson described this game as one the Jets “just gotta have.” A  loss would not be good for anyone’s mental health or any coach's job security.

The Dolphins (0-5) are the only team that hasn’t held a lead this season and have been outscored by a league-high 62 points. Miami is averaging 14 points per game, tied for last in the NFL. Big offseason signing Malik Willis has thrown only two touchdown passes.

The Jets (2-4) could be getting some reinforcements. Receiver Adonai Mitchell, who had a procedure performed on a finger, is expected to return after a four-game absence. Running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) is questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. Hall has missed three straight games.

This is an opportunity for the Jets to creep back toward .500 and pick up their first division win under Glenn, who is 0-7 against the AFC East.

“If we want to be where we want to be at the end of the season, these are the type of games you got to have,” Wilson said. “We're going to put a premium on this game.”

Situational football needs work

Glenn said the Jets constantly drill and go over situational football in practice. Maybe this is the game in which it shows up.

“We have to get better in the two-minute and we have to get better in the red zone,” Geno Smith said. “Those are the things we're focusing on.”

The Jets are last in red-zone efficiency. They haven’t scored a touchdown in the red zone in three straight games, and they made three trips there last week. The Jets also have been outscored 20-0 in the last two minutes of first halves this season.

Converting in short-yardage situations also has been a struggle. The Jets were stuffed twice on fourth-and-2 or less twice last week. In an overtime loss to Green Bay in Week 2, they didn’t convert a third-and-2 and fourth-and-1 at a crucial moment in the game.

“I'm very aware of the areas where I and we need to be better,” Reich said. “Trust me, we're working hard to get better in those areas and look forward to those opportunities to prove that.”

Familiar foes, family face off

These two teams have multiple crossover connections, including brothers squaring off against each other.

Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is the brother of Jets safeties coach Ryan Slowik, who was on Miami’s staff last year.

“We actually had a little joke in the defensive meeting that this is the Slow Bowl between those two guys,” Glenn said.

Additionally, Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker was Miami’s secondary coach/defensive passing game coordinator the previous two seasons. Glenn worked with first-year Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley for two seasons in Cleveland.

Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was traded to the Jets in March, and kicker Jason Sanders are former Dolphins. 

“It’s a game that we got to win,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s all I’m really focused on.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.