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The Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets game promised to be one of the most bet on of the day Sunday as this one has important meaning, not just for the two teams playing but also for the New England Patriots.
A look at past head-to-head history and we see this one is going to be a challenge for the Dolphins despite a New York team that has come unraveled in recent weeks.
The Jets have won the last 5 and are 8-2 in this series over the last 10. Miami comes into this one as a +2 ½ underdog at BetUS.com, which is somewhat significant since prior to the past two games, the Dolphins had lost their previous three games by only 3 points and began that streak with a win.
Gambling911.com is inclined to believe that this is a new look Miami Dolphins team, and they've already proven this. We will go out on a limb here and say that the Dolphins seal the deal and break recent trends, though it is admittedly a risky play.
Entering this season, no one could have imagined Pennington would have the Dolphins (10-5) needing only to win this game for their first playoff berth since 2001 and first division title since 2000. After all, he was coming to a team that went 1-15 last year and had been rebuilt by Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells, the former Jets coach and general manager who brought in 45 new players for first-year coach Tony Sparano's initial 81-man roster.
"This is the only way fate would have it, right?" Pennington said after throwing three touchdown passes in a 38-31 win at Kansas City last Sunday. "I just don't think it would happen any other way. There wouldn't be any other scenario. This is how sports works."
Pennington, who helped the Jets reach the playoffs in 2002, 2004 and 2006, has thrown for 3,453 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, but he's made just as big an impact off the field in helping change the team's culture so quickly. A victory would make the Dolphins the second team to improve by 10 wins in a single season, joining the 1999 Indianapolis Colts.
"He brings the guys and the offense together," said tight end Anthony Fasano, who has caught six of Pennington's TD passes -- three in the last three weeks. "A lot of leadership qualities are what I've learned from him, but it's really within the huddle that matters. It's the only thing that matters -- getting the guys in the huddle and playing right."
Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
