Miami Dolphins (6-5) at New York Jets (2-9)

Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. – TV: ESPN

*TV announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters

*Keys to the game: The first of two meetings in the final month of the season finds franchises moving in polar opposite directions. The Jets have flatlined under coach Rex Ryan, who admitted Wednesday he is likely done as the team’s boss at the end of the regular season. The Dolphins still have hopes for a playoff bid — a pair of games against the Jets might help — after losing a tight one at Denver in Week 12.

Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill is evolving into a solid starter. He is still not connecting regularly with Mike Wallace, but rookie Jarvis Landry (three touchdowns in the past two games) is starting to perform as a lead-type receiver. That helps hide the staggered running game, which is doing just enough to balance the West Coast system.

The Jets can mash or dash with a versatile front seven, but unless Geno Smith sustains drives, the defense cannot hold up. Smith is back behind center after Michael Vick went 1-2 and was ineffective Monday in the blowout loss to Buffalo. Smith’s return to the lineup likely means a reliance on the running game and Chris Ivory, who averages 4.5 yards per carry. The Dolphins were ripped by the Broncos last week but Miami is still fifth in the NFL in total defense.

*Matchup to watch – Jets WR Percy Harvin vs. Dolphins CB Brent Grimes: Harvin won’t stay still but Grimes is likely to follow him all over the formation unless Harvin slots in the backfield. Grimes leads the NFL with nine interceptions and Smith had 12 turnovers in the first eight games.

*Player spotlight – Dolphins LT Ja’Wuan James: Branden Albert’s rookie fill-in left last week’s game with a stinger. If he’s not totally right, DEs Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, along with ROLB Quinton Coples, could make it a long night for Tannehill.

*Fast facts: Tannehill has completed 70.6 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in his past eight games. … The Jets had just one sack in 83 pass attempts by the Dolphins in two meetings in 2013.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

A trademark of Ryan’s Jets teams has been they always play hard. That was, until they appeared to quit on him during last week’s embarrassing loss to the Bills. Minus the passion for the game, the Jets are no match for the quickly improving Dolphins.

*Our pick: Dolphins 20-17