The Jets killed themselves with poor execution and are developing a reputation as a team that self-destructs even when they outplay their opponent. If this continues, they will be no better than what they are now, a .500 football team.

The Jets dominated the action but just like the Buffalo game, broke down at critical junctures. Besides the two ridiculous touchdowns on kick returns, they made critical mistakes with the game on the line.

They were called for an illegal shift on a two-point conversion that would have cut the lead to three points. Alan Faneca surrendered a sack on 3rd down on the final drive, which all but locked up the win for the Dolphins.

With a first down at the Dolphins’ 12-yard line and two minutes to play, the Jets were in prime position but could not make the plays to win. This team does not yet know how to win close games.

That may develop over time, especially as Sanchez gains more experience, but right now they are just trying to figure themselves out. Their rookie coach is also a factor in the team’s uneven play.

Ryan is still acclimating to his job and does not always have his team prepared. His defense was flagged for 12 men on the field and his offense for an illegal shift, both at crucial times.

His defense would surrender a touchdown after their mistake and the offense missed out on a two-point conversion that would have cut the Dolphins’ lead to three. Although the illegal shift appeared to be a petty call, it was caused by Sanchez calling for motion before Ben Hartsock was set.

With the play clock running down Sanchez signaled for the motion too early. This was costly mistake caused by the coaching staff. They are responsible for getting the play in on time and that did not happen on this play.

But Ryan’s most egregious error was going for a two-point conversion in the third quarter when it was not needed. This set in motion a cycle where he had to go for two after each subsequent touchdown and that put more pressure on the offense.

Had they been kicking extra points, they would have needed only a field goal to tie it up in the end. The Dolphins knew the Jets needed a touchdown on their final drive and that made them easier to defend.

On the positive side, there were a number of things the Jets did well. For starters, their defense did a fantastic job stopping the wildcat.

In their first match-up the Dolphins shredded them for 110 yards out of that formation. Today? Seven plays for six yards. The defense forced the Dolphins out of their comfort zone and Miami had no answer.

The Jets’ front seven played inspired football. Shaun Ellis had a monster game recording 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss and two hits on the quarterback. He was everywhere and made it difficult on Miami’s offensive line all day.

The Jets’ front seven received a lot of credit for their 6 sacks but a number of them were made possible by outstanding coverage in the secondary. Chad Henne was forced to hold the ball on three of those sacks so credit has to go to Darrelle Revis and company.

I have stated for weeks that Dustin Keller needs to be a bigger part of the offense against Miami and Brian Schottenheimer finally listened to me. Keller was huge today making a great fourth down catch that kept the Jets’ final drive alive and an outstanding diving catch on an under thrown ball for a touchdown the drive before.

The Jets’ running game was impressive as the offensive line paved the way for Thomas Jones who ran tough between the tackles, grinding his way to 101 yards.

Gaining 127 total rushing yards against a stout defense like Miami is hard to do so the offensive line deserves a ton of credit in executing a key to the game plan. Running that well against a team as challenged in the secondary as the Dolphins are should have fueled a stronger attack through the air but Mark Sanchez was inconsistent.

He was 3-14 on third down and continually missed open receivers. His accuracy has deteriorated and he misfired on six throws, three to Dustin Keller (one where he was wide open on a two point conversion) and two to Jerricho Cotchery.

Sanchez’ growing pains continue as he heads into the bye needing a break. A lot has been put on his shoulders and he needs time away from football to recharge his battery.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson did a fantastic job on Jason Taylor who had four meaningless tackles and no sacks or pressures. This match-up was one of the keys coming in and the protection he provided, along with the rest of the offensive line, should have been a factor in a Jets’ victory.

The Jets did everything they needed to win the game – they stopped the wildcat, pressured Chad Henne and ran the football against one of the best-run defenses in the league. But their effort was ruined by three bad plays.

Their shoddy tackling and poor angles on kick coverage and Shonn Greene’s fumble in his own end cost them the game. Now the Jets find themselves at 1-3 in their division, which could kill them in tiebreakers at the end of the season.

This team is maddeningly inconsistent. They overachieved in the first quarter of the season by going 3-1 but followed it up with a 1-3 stretch in their next four.

They have a ton of potential but have played few complete games all season. With the exception of Oakland, they have not put together all three phases on the same day. Each week it is something different.

Today it was their special teams.  This usually strong unit was victimized by Ted Ginn, a guy who was playing so poorly on offense that he lost his starting spot to a rookie.  That's pathetic!

The Jets' lack of consistency will not exactly endear them to their fan base and will certainly not help their playoff chances.  Who will be the culprit in their next loss?

The Jets enter their bye week with a ton of question marks. Can they put together a complete game? Will they make the playoffs? Are they even a good team?

The talent is there but there is no telling if or when this squad will come together. They will start over against Jacksonville but whether they get on a winning track is anyone’s guess.

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