MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. _ After two weeks of being the weak link, the Miami Dolphins defense bounced back with a prideful effort.
Dolphins rookie linebacker Jerome Baker returned one of four interceptions by New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold for a 25-yard for a touchdown, and the defense played its best game of the season in a 13-6 win over the Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In a game where both offenses failed to get into any rhythm, the Dolphins defense forced four turnovers, limited the Jets to 2 of 13 on third down, and got to the quarterback more than it has in any game all season.
Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake and defensive tackle Akeem Spence came alive with two sacks each, as Kiko Alonso, T.J. McDonald and Walt Aikens also intercepted Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's NFL draft in front of an announced crowd of 65,533 people.
The Dolphins snapped a two-game skid and improve to 5-4 this season, with next week's game in Green Bay against the Packers.
Rookie kicker Jason Sanders kicked two field goals to pace the Dolphins, who struggled mightily to move the football in quarterback Brock Osweiler's fourth consecutive start in place of injured starter Ryan Tannehill.
The Dolphins also saw starting offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Ju'Wuan James suffer knee injuries during the game. James was able to return in the fourth quarter, shortly before Tunsil left the game.
Shortly before Baker's interception swung the game, the Dolphins played their worst defensive drive of the contest.
Defenisve end Andre Branch and linebacker Raekwon McMillian committed facemask penalties on consecutive plays, giving the Jets 30 yards of field position.
Jets running back Elijah McGuire got his team's first first down on a 7-yard run to enter the red zone before Wake's second sack of the game stalled New York's drive.
Jets kicker Jason Myers, who made a 48- and 56-yard field goal, missed a 50-yard field goal to keep the game close before Baker's key play.
McDonald caught Darnold's third interception with 2:15 left, and Aikens had the fourth interception with 33 seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
Osweiler completed 15-of-24 passes for 139 yards, with running back Frank Gore getting 20 carries into 53 yards. Danny Amendola led with five receptions for 47 yards.
The first half seemed more like an offensive struggle for both teams than a defensive battle.
Osweiler did not get into a groove until the end of the second quarter.
Osweiler found Kenyan Drake for a 7-yard gain on fourth-and3, and after getting sacked he found Jakeem Grant for a 16-yard gain on third-and-12 before the two-minute warning.
The Dolphins were unable to score a touchdown, though.
Osweiler had a crucial pass tipped and knocked down by Jets safety Jamal Adams, when Drake was wide open for what could have been a touchdown. Instead, Miami kicked a 27-yd field goal to take a 6-0 lead with 1:11 left until halftime.
The Jets quickly answered on the ensuing drive with a 48-yard field goal by Myers to trim the Dolphins' halftime lead to, 6-3.
