New York Jets: Receiver-cornerback matchup to watch vs. Dolphins

The New York Jets had a resounding win over the Detroit Lions, and they played well all around. What is the matchup to watch this week vs. the Dolphins?

The New York Jets get an A for their performance on Monday night against the Lions. All three phases played well, and they all helped each other and played complimentary football. I, on the other hand, get an F for predicting the wide receiver/cornerback matchups, because none of them played out the way I thought they would. That said, let’s give it another try.

This week there’s data on the matchups. The Miami Dolphins list rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick as a safety on their official roster page. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he played 33 snaps as a slot corner in their win against the Titans, and the Jets played Quincy Enunwa 24 times in the slot against the Lions.

What we can glean from that is that will be a huge matchup in determining the outcome of the game. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Fitzpatrick would likely be used “as a sub-package linebacker, a blitzer or in the slot against big receivers and move tight ends.” That would include Enunwa who’s 6-2, 255 pounds.

Fitzpatrick had a good game against Tennessee, but his main coverage was against Corey Davis, who’s in his second season, and isn’t built like Enunwa. In his very limited matchup against the Titans tight end Jonnu Smith, he allowed a 12-yard reception.

Enunwa had six catches on ten targets for 63 yards, four first downs, and a touchdown against all the Lions’ matchups. The one time he was matched up against a safety and targeted — against Glover Quin — he caught the ball for a first down. If the Jets win the game, it’ll largely be due to Enunwa winning this matchup, and vice versa.

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