Instant Analysis: Miami Dolphins 27, New York Jets 21

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers as the Miami Dolphins get their first victory of the season, but lose one of their stars to injury against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on “Monday Night Football”:

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

The Dolphins forced turnovers, played reasonably good defense and reduced mindless errors. Those are all positive signs and sustainable activities. Monday’s victory provided reason for optimism despite the knee injury to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, which put a dark cloud over the victory. Still, it was good to see the Dolphins, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, play a relatively clean game and beat a team they should have beaten.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

There were so many positives to take for the Dolphins between the incorporation of new tight end Darren Waller into the offense for touchdowns, the balance with the run game and the three takeaways. But you just don’t leave this game feeling any good about Miami’s chances going forward this season with star wide receiver Tyreek Hill now likely out for the remainder of the season with the gruesome knee injury suffered early in the first half.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor

That, unfortunately, is the definition of a Pyrrhic victory. The Dolphins avoided becoming the sixth team in franchise history to begin 0-4 with their by-far cleanest game of the season, but they lost their best player with Tyreek Hill’s ugly injury. It isn’t a QB, like losing a Dan Marino in Week 5 in 1993, but it is absolutely as massive a loss as can be incurred at any other position. Still, a superb performance.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor

The Dolphins have a soft schedule coming up where they have had thoughts of getting back to .500, but doing it without Tyreek Hill really tosses the game plan into a blender. Sadly, his injury came on a night where Darren Waller added a major big-body-receiving dimension that had been missing since Mike Gesicki’s departure a couple years ago.