The Rex Ryan era in New York came to a likely conclusion on Sunday with a 37-24 win over the Miami Dolphins. Our takeaways:
- The game ended with Rex Ryan getting doused with Gatorade. How many coaches have received that honor after wrapping a 4-12 season? Ryan is undeniably loved by his players, but this is a results business and the Jets have missed the postseason four straight years. Ryan repeatedly ducked questions about his future after the game, but it's clear he knows what's coming next. Said Ryan: "I think we all expect what's gonna happen is gonna happen, but we'll find out in time."
- The GenoCoaster was a genuine thrill ride on Sunday. In what could be his final start with the Jets, Geno Smith posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3. He threw for a career-high 358 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He had just five incompletions on 25 attempts. Smith can now say -- with a straight face -- that he has shown "Pro Bowl flashes." Will this excellent performance cast him in a different light when decisions are made this offseason?
- Lamar Miller ended a very strong 2014 season with an exclamation point in the form of a 97-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The run put Miller above 1,000 yards on the season and provided the Dolphins with a reminder why he should remain the focal point of the backfield in 2015.
- Eric Decker ended his first season with the Jets on an extremely high note. The wide receiver had 10 receptions for 221 yards, falling just short of Don Maynard's franchise record. The highlight was a career-long 74-yard touchdown reception that got New York back into the game in the third quarter. Decker is very much part of the solution on this Jets offense.
- The Dolphins finish 8-8 for the second consecutive year. What changes are in store? We already know that Joe Philbin will be back. Less secure is the future of defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, who may be the fall guy after another dark January in South Florida.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps every Week 17 game and debates the MVP race between Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
