A dominant force has not emerged within the AFC East this season. The Jets split with both the Patriots and the Bills, and they still have a chance to sweep the Dolphins. The Dolphins have experienced their ups and downs in the division, getting swept by the Bills but blanking the Patriots 21-0 just two weeks ago. No matter the implications - the Jets-Dolphins rivalry is always a huge game.
"I think it's something that people kind of overlook at this time of the year," said linebacker Matt Chatham. "People are going to say, 'Oh, Miami struggled a little bit last week, or this or that.' But before this season began in July, I could have told you - regardless of our record or their record - this was a huge game. Miami on the road, a division rival. Regardless of if we were completely out of it and they were in it, or we were in and they were out, whatever the scenario was, it was going to be huge."
Read below for complete transcripts from inside the Jets' locker room
New York Jets' DE Shaun Ellis, 12.21
On Jason Taylor…
I don't know him personally, he's a great player though, I love watching him on film. He's helped that team out over the years and he's been doing the same thing over the years. He's one of the marquis guys that are playing the game right now.
On picking things up from Jason Taylor…
I don't think people can do what he does. Everybody has their own style; Jason Taylor is long, tall, strong and fast. I mean he has it all, he's shifty too, he's able to move his body around to get past guys. He's got his craft down.
On the team's sack numbers without John Abraham…
When you loose a good pass-rusher like Abraham, everybody will say the numbers will go down, but we haven't even been worrying about that. There are things that we do amongst the defense that we have to do and if we get the sacks it's great, but we just have to stick to the game plan. Whatever the game plan calls for, we have to do it.
New York Jets' LB Matt Chatham, 12.21
On the possible scenarios for the rest of the season…
We try not to get involved in all that. In one sense, the division is not done yet and you don't know who to cheer for, so you just don't cheer. You just sit back, play your own games and hope for the best in your own circle, then go from there.
On the magnitude of this game…
That's something that we need to impress upon the guys and a lot of these guys haven't been in these situations. Too many people think that these opportunities come around quite often, and they don't, I'm a real rare situation. For most guys, it doesn't come around too often and if you start to think this is just another game, then you might get left behind.
On beating an opponent for the second time…
That's the difficult part and I think it's something that people kind of overlook at this time of the year. People are going to say, "Oh, Miami struggled a little bit last week, or this or that," but before this season began in July, I could have told you regardless of our record or their record, this was a huge game. It's Miami on the road, a division rival. Regardless of if we were completely out of it and they were in it, or we were in and they were out, whatever the scenario was, it was going to be huge.
New York Jets' WR Wallace Wright, 12.21
On having special teams tackles in college…
I was a special teams captain in college, so I was on the kickoff and punt team. I had a lot of tackles in my college career, not on the defensive side of the ball though.
New York Jets' TE Chris Baker, 12.21
On Jason Taylor…
He's having a great year, an MVP type year. He's got a couple touchdowns and he's been in the backfield all season, like he has always been. He's a great player and it's always a fun time going up against him and Zack [Thomas].
On the "back-and-forth" between him and Jason Taylor…
Earlier in my career there was a little bit of that, but now it's more of a mutual respect. You go out and play hard, and it's always fun when you have a healthy competition with guys like that. They're two of the better players in their history.
On his Ed Block Courage Award…
It's real cool that my teammates voted for me for that. It's definitely a struggle coming off an injury and it's an honor that my teammates elected me for that.
On Miami's defense…
Basically, they've been together for a while, the core of the defense, and they have great players. That combination has been giving us problems. It's the front four, and also the linebackers do a great job. It's always a challenge for us.
New York Jets' LB Victor Hobson, 12.21
On the defense's production being up…
Of course it's something that you notice. You never want to allow any quarterback to feel comfortable; any quarterback in the NFL, if they can sit back in the pocket and get comfortable, you're going to have a long day. One of our goals is always to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible and that's something we've been able to do.
On what Jonathan Vilma has done for him this season…
He's the reason we get lined up for the most part on defense; it's the things that he brings to the defense. His leadership ability and athletic ability at the same time has helped us out and helped me out tremendously.
New York Jets' G Pete Kendall, 12.21
On the young guys being aware of the magnitude this game holds…
I think they sense that it's important, but I think you have to have some time under your belt and go through some down years for you to understand what an exciting opportunity this is and that it doesn't come around every year. I can sit and tell these guys that I've been to three playoff games in 10 years, but I don't know if somebody telling you something registers the same way experiencing something does, or not experiencing it, as the case may be.
On beating a division opponent twice in one season…
It's very hard to do. As a player, you don't reach this point without taking a lot of pride in what you do. With that being said, nobody wants to get swept in a season series, so you're always battling that element. You're also dealing with the fact that this team knows us; they know our personnel, they know our strengths and weakness just like we feel like we know them. Clearly, it's a difficult thing when you have two evenly-matched teams like we have here who play each other twice a year, to go in and win both games.
On playing football on Christmas night…
It'll be strange to be working Christmas night, but I don't think it will feel much like Christmas to me, coming from the Northeast, to be somewhere where it's 70-something degrees anyway.
On his mental state last year, after a disappointing season…
This time last year was difficult. It was very difficult team-wise and for me as an individual. I was aware of the speculation about my job-security, obviously disappointed by our record at that time we were 3-11 at this point, we won the last game to get that fourth win. It's almost 180 degrees different from last year and I think it's natural that I appreciate it more than some other guys will.
On what his family's Christmas will be like this year…
Just the same. They'll do everything they usually do except that Dad won't be there. Dad won't be there to be a drag on the farm I'm sure.
On being away for Christmas…
I clearly understand how the lights come on, but my kids still think you just flip a switch. This is my job and we're hardly the only people who have to work on Christmas, so I'm not spending a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. I think anybody, if they answered honestly, "Would you rather spend Christmas home with your wife and three little kids, or at the job," I think the answer would be pretty much unanimous.
Thursday Injury Report Jets Questionable:FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (back), RB Cedric Houston (calf) & Eric Smith (foot)
Probable: *RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *LB Matt Chatham (foot), *C Nick Mangold (hip), *WR Justin McCareins (foot), *OL Brandon Moore (back), *DL Rashad Moore (hand), *QB Chad Pennington (calf), *LB Anthony Schlegel (illness), *DE Bryan Thomas (shoulder), *S Jamie Thompson (ankle) & *WR Wallace Wright (thigh)
Dolphins Out: DT Dan Wilkinson (calf)
Doubtful: WR Marty Booker (ankle)
Questionable: *CB Will Allen (groin/quad) & *RB Ronnie Brown (hand)
Probable: *QB Joey Harrington (ankle) & *DT Keith Traylor (knee)
*Denotes players who participated in practice
