Predictions for Black Friday game

November 22, 2023November 22, 2023 Admin

The Jets and Dolphins meet in the NFL’s inaugural Black Friday game in what’s a fully loaded Week 12 that features all 32 teams in action this week.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced Monday that 2021 second overall pick QB Zach Wilson has not only been benched, but relegated to third string with new starter Tim Boyle and veteran Trevor Siemian now ahead of him following the team’s 32-6 loss to the Bills on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins scored just six points in the second half, but shut out the Raiders over the final two quarters in a 20-13 win last weekend.

This is the first meeting this season between the Jets and Dolphins. They’ll meet for the final time in in Miami on Dec. 17.

Our prognosticators are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst/columnist, NorthJersey.com), Steve Edelson (columnist, APP.com), Vince Mercogliano (Rangers/NHL columnist, lohud.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA Today Northeast/NorthJersey.com) and Bob Jordan (sports editor, Asbury Park Press/APP.com).

Here are the staff standings heading into Week 12:

Rivera & Iseman: 8-2

Edelson: 7-3

Jordan: 6-3

Marron & Mercogliano: 6-4

Bainbridge & Stapleton: 5-4

Here are our staff predictions for the first Black Friday NFL game between the Jets and Dolphins:

Vince Mercogliano

In this corner, we have Tim Boyle, a 29-year-old journeyman QB who’s attempted just 120 career passes with a TD-to-interception ratio of 3-to-9. In the other, we have the NFL’s highest-scoring offense… It’s probably for the best that I’ll be in Philadelphia covering Rangers vs. Flyers that day.

The pick: Dolphins 27, Jets 13

Dave Rivera

Robert Saleh and the Jets finally made the call to demote Zach Wilson. We don’t know if Tim Boyle will be any better, but the Jets needed to make the change as they’re hoping for any spark at this point in the season. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are thinking big, and they have a legitimate chance to make some noise come playoff time.

The pick: Dolphins 24, Jets 16

Bert Bainbridge

The change from Wilson to Boyle will hopefully provide some type of boost or energy to a Jets’ offense that’s on pace for the worst third down conversion rate in NFL history. However, behind a brutally beat up offensive line, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Siemian at some point as the Jets’ suffer their fourth straight loss after a 4-3 start.

The pick: Dolphins 24, Jets 10

Brian Marron

Miami obviously has much more firepower offensively than the stagnant Jets, but the Dolphins could struggle to put up points. Against the three most competent defenses Miami has faced so far (Buffalo, Kansas City and Philadelphia), the team failed to score more than 20 points and lost all three games. The Jets are good enough defensively to stifle the Dolphins in a similar fashion.

Can Tim Boyle generate enough offense to give the Jets a close win? The track records of both Boyle and the 2023 Jets offense make that a tough bet to feel confident about. Until the Jets show otherwise, it is hard to see them scoring enough to pull off an upset barring any significant self-sabotage from the Dolphins.

The pick: Dolphins 16, Jets 6

Steve Edelson

The season started with Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rogers under center, and on Black Friday the Jets starting quarterback will be 29-year-old journeyman Tim Boyle making his fourth career start. The Jets have scored 34 points total over the last four games. The pick: Dolphins 28, Jets 6.

Chris Iseman

This is a major opportunity for the Dolphins to pick up a divisional win. This is a major opportunity for the Jets to lose another game and continue to improve their draft positioning. But all kidding aside, do we really think Tim Boyle will be a vast improvement over Zach Wilson?

The pick: Dolphins 31, Jets 7