National Football League

Dolphins observations: Bright spots overshadowed by season-ending loss

Published Dec. 28, 2014 6:11 p.m. ET

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Coming into this season, most people were in the dark about what Lamar Miller would produce in his third NFL campaign.

With veteran Knowshon Moreno brought in to bolster the running game and a new offensive coordinator at the helm, Miller's role and expectations were unclear.

However, the University of Miami product took full advantage of Moreno's season-ending knee injury and had 921 yards rushing entering Sunday, eclipsing his previous best total of 709 in 2013.

At halftime, with 51 yards on 11 carries, it looked possible that Miller would reach the 1,000-yard mark.

Then came that play.

With the Dolphins pinned back at their own 3-yard line after the defense had stuffed a Jets fourth-down conversion attempt, Miller took a handoff from Ryan Tannehill, made a at the goal line, then swerved right at the 7-yard line before scampering 97 yards to the end zone.

The play set a franchise record for the longest run from scrimmage and gave Miller his 1,000-yard season. He finished with 19 carries for 178 yards on the day against a Jets run defense that ranked fifth coming into the game, but Miller leave the game midway through the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

"The offensive line did a great job of opening up holes for me all season," Miller said. "On the touchdown, they got to their guys and I just used my speed to get to the end zone. It was a blessing to break a long run to end the season, but we didn't come out with the win."

Here are a few thoughts from the Dolphins' 37-24 loss to the Jets ...

1. Geno Smith looked good.

For a second straight week, a young local quarterback product came home and played some impressive football. After Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater's quality performance in a losing effort last week, Geno Smith did the same this week in a victory, throwing for a career-high 358 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith, who attended Miramar High just minutes from Sun Life Stadium, found Eric Decker 10 times for 221 yards and completed 20 of his 25 passes with no interceptions. Not even a crazy fumble that led to a Miami touchdown could ruin his day.

2. Brian Hartline had a great moment.

Hartline, who has disappointed all year and could be cut this offseason to save cap space, caught three balls in the first half and finished the game with five catches for a season-high 94 yards. He had caught more than three balls just twice this season. Hartline's real shining moment was a spectacular, leaping third-quarter grab over a defender for 33 yards down the left sideline.

Hartline has a hefty salary and didn't earn that money this season, so a decision will have to be made on his future over the next couple of months, but Sunday's performance might help his cause.

3. Dion Jordan's future is probably at linebacker.

The third overall selection in 2013 hasn't lived up to his lofty draft position, but it's clear from the way the Dolphins used him again Sunday they believe his best shot to do so could be at linebacker. He saw plenty of action there, moving all over the place in the front seven, from a standard outside linebacker spot to almost a fifth lineman at times. Jordan finished the day with three tackles.

4. Cortland Finnegan may have played his last NFL game.

The 30-year-old hurt himself trying to cover Eric Decker on a 40-yard pass play in the second quarter and was made to look ordinary on other plays by the Jets' No. 1 one receiver, including on a 74-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Finnegan is a serviceable defensive back when healthy, but he gets hurt a lot. He missed nine games last season with the Rams and missed four games this year with an ankle injury. He is owed more than $5 million next year and there is a good chance he retires if the Dolphins tell him his services are no longer required.

Philip Wheeler, another guy who might not be back next season, barely saw the field Sunday, as Jordan and Jason Trusnik got most of the action at strong-side linebacker. Wheeler has been a disappointment since being brought in before the 2013 season, but the one thing going the Dolphins' way is that Wheeler is only owed $2.9 million next year before a $2 million raise kicks in for 2016. That alone could give him one more shot in 2015.

5. Another mistake for Walt Aikens.

Dolphins rookie defensive back Walt Aikens missed the game after committing an unspecified violation of team rules. Aikens has a history of poor decision-making, as he was kicked off the Illinois team in 2010 after receiving a misdemeanor theft conviction for using a stolen laptop.