ken-obrienmiami-dolphins-cheerleaders-calendarHopefully, the Jets won’t need a Monday Night Miracle tonight like they did in 2000, when Vinny Testeverde led New York to 30 points in the 4th quarter, and the Jets stunned the Dolphins, 40-37 in overtime. The Jets are three-point favorites on the road against a 1-3 Dolphins squad that features the best rushing attack in the NFL (183 yards per game) and an unproven QB (Michigan’s Chad Henne is making his second career start). This is an extremely pivotal early-season game for the Jets for multiple reasons:

* How will Mark Sanchez respond to his baptism in New Orleans?
* A New York victory opens up a one-game lead on the Patriots in the AFC East. This is crucial because a) The Jets have the Bills next, and Buffalo’s in disarray, meaning a 5-1 start is possibleand b) the AFC North looks like it might feature three playoff teams, which would mean only the Jets or Patriots are in the playoffs.
* The debut of Braylon Edwards. (No, we don’t expect anything out of a guy who joined the team less than a week ago.)
* The debut of LB Calvin Pace, who is back following a 4-game suspension. (Performance enhancers, baby!)

We’re cautiously optimistic about tonight. The good news: The last time a Rex Ryan defense faced the Dolphins … the Ravens defense caused five turnovers (four picks of Pennington) and Baltimore cruised, 27-9 in the playoffs last year. Miami rushed for just 52 yards. If you’re looking for more good news: Rex Ryan also shut down the Dolphins in the regular season last year, winning 27-13. Miami rushed for just 71 yards in that one.

Of course, the defensive dominance will mean nothing if Mark Sanchez turns the ball over like he did in New Orleans.

Jets 23, Dolphins 13.

Now go and sulk over the cancellation of San Francisco’s nude Olympics (NSFW), and then laugh at the Houston Rockets rookies dancing.