Home Care In Rutherford, NJ

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis played his best game of the season in last week’s 28-25 victory over the New York Jets. He was decisive, effective and efficient. He made good decisions while taking what the defense gave him. It was a landmark performance for Willis — two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and no turnovers — in his sixth game as a Dolphins starter.

So, how did he celebrate? He got back to the work in an effort to capitalize on the team’s improvements.

“I mean, the totality of things is we’re 1-5,” he said. “It’s not like we won the Super Bowl. We’ve got to continue to get better and continue to work.”

As we get to know Willis we’re learning that he’s a grinder. And he’s just as focused and businesslike after a victory as after a loss.

We’ll see whether that mentality helps Willis lead the Dolphins to back-to-back victories when they host the New England Patriots (4-3) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Willis, perhaps appropriately, channeled his inner Bill Belichick, the famously emotionless former Patriots coach, when asked how he celebrated the Jets victory. As it turns out, there was no big South Florida celebration, not even with family.

“I think that all the guys celebrated, as well as myself, and we had a great time,” Willis said, referring to the huge locker room celebration at MetLife Stadium. “And obviously my family was happy for me and I got to chop it up with them. But like I said, we’re on to the next.”

The Dolphins need Willis to continue his upward trajectory and growth on and off the field.

One reason that Willis (four touchdowns, four interceptions, 77.1 passer rating) was so successful against the Jets was because coaches drew up a game plan that got the ball out of his hand quickly. Previously, Willis was looking downfield too often for big-yardage plays. The negative results of seeking those downfield throws showed in a couple of ways: Willis’ effectiveness was reduced because he was seeking low-percentage completions, something that was reflected statistically, and Willis sometimes held the ball too long waiting for receivers to get open and that resulted in unnecessary sacks.

The intent to throw shorter passes worked well last week, especially when the Jets blitzed.

“I’d say there was definitely an intent versus certain looks they had where we knew we were going to have to get rid of the ball fast and deliver it fast,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said.

“In particular, if they brought pressure or they were making us hot (throw to the so-called ‘hot’ receiver vs. a blitz) or leaving some vacated areas in their zones and we happened to catch some of those early at the right time. And Malik did a great job being on the same page with the skills and eligibles and the receivers and making that happen.”

It’s unclear whether the Dolphins will have Willis utilize the same quick-release strategy against the Patriots. New England can attack the Dolphins offense differently.

For example, perhaps the Patriots could use Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shadow rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, which, conventional wisdom would suggest, would greatly limit Douglas (nine receptions, 183 yards, two touchdowns in three games) as an option for Willis. Douglas had three receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns last week in his first game back from a three-game absence due to a right ankle injury. He boosted the offense’s big-play ability.

The bigger threat to Willis’ effectiveness, however, could be New England playing an eight-man front to limit the run game, which ranks No. 7 in the NFL (131.5 yards per game) and is led by running back Ollie Gordon (72 carries, 339 yards, three touchdowns). The run game is the best thing Miami has going right now on either side of the ball.

The run game allows Willis to throw off of play-action, and it allows the offense to rely on something more dependable than Willis’ right arm.

But there was improvement in Willis’ passing last week. While the Dolphins purposefully favored shorter throws against the Jets, Willis displayed growth and good judgment on deep throws and didn’t force the issue.

“There were some other plays where we were trying to push the ball down the field,” Slowik said. “We didn’t get the look and he was really convicted and just delivering the ball and moving on and let’s get to the next play call. So I thought he really took steps in his confidence in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.”

Willis’ focus on improving last week might have played a role in that gain in confidence and knowledge, and perhaps this week’s focus will allow for another gain in confidence and knowledge Sunday against New England. Why not? It’s a formula that led to a victory against the Jets.

“We want to obviously stack more of those,” Willis said of the win, “and to do that we’ve got to continue to get better from what we put on tape this past week and the weeks before that. And I think that’s what’s important, keeping a focus on, ‘Let’s try to go 1-0 this week.’ That’s what it’s about now.”

The legendary AC/DC brought their Power Up Tour to the Garden State for an amazing evening, with direct support from the legendary Foo Fighters.

This was it, the final show for AC/DC‘s North American tour, as the original date was postponed due to a nor’easter the week prior. Initial tour support was The Pretty Reckless, but sometimes things just happen. Unable to make the new date, Taylor Momsen reached out to Dave Grohl and said, “Hey, are you available…” and with no further explanation, Dave told Taylor, “Hell yes we are!!” He knew exactly where she was going with this question. And just like that, Foo Fighters were set to open this incredible show.

Concert-goers filled the parking lots of MetLife Stadium for some tailgating, early merch purchases, and some just waiting to be first to get through the gates. The skies started looking pretty crazy, as all were optimistic with what the weather would bring. Soon enough, as the gates opened, it started pouring, and it was uncertain when it would stop. But sure enough, it did as the clouds moved out and the sun came through, even bringing a killer rainbow over the stadium as the gods of rock were looking over us.

The crowd’s anticipation for Foo Fighters to hit the stage was at an absolute high, and at 7 PM the place erupted when they came out. The Foos wasted no time as this wasn’t going to be an ordinary full set for them. The band jumped right into their classic “All My Life,” which instantly had the whole stadium singing along, followed by “The Pretender” and “Times Like These.” Grohl has just what it takes to bring it all together.

The guitars hit hard, and the drums were massive as Grohl’s voice has the kind of rough edge that’s just perfect to rock the massive stadium. Dave at no point seemed like he was obligated to be on that stage, but almost like more of a privilege, as he looked absolutely thrilled to be there. He did mention that AC/DC has been a foundational influence on him since he was a kid. He spoke about seeing “Let There Be Rock” when he was 11 years old and realizing that rock and roll was about blood sweat and tears and giving it everything you have. He knew this was the life he wanted to live. Grohl wasn’t just opening for AC/DC; he was opening for one of the bands that taught him what rock and roll was all about. The connection really brought a whole other meaning to the performance.

The set carried on with “Learn To Fly,” one of the band’s biggest hits among so many others. The crowd took full ownership of the chorus, turning the song into one giant communal singalong. This was followed by “This Is A Call,” which was an especially effective choice for this show. By this time, the packed house knew the Foo Fighters’ set would most likely be near the end, as they were allotted just about an hour. Grohl then hits the opening riff to “Monkey Wrench,” which filled the stadium with full-on participation from the fans. At the conclusion of the song, drummer Llan Rubin crushed it with a killer drum solo, which received a great response from the crowd.

One of their two closing songs for the night was “Best of You,” which saw Grohl joined by thousands of voices as the song built towards its climactic moments. The atmosphere was pure electric. The final song of their set was “Everlong.” The opening notes were enough to shoot another wave through the stadium. Foo Fighters’ music is timeless. Decades after being released, their songs still retain the same emotional power. The set was perfect, as would only be expected from one of the best.

The anticipation inside the sold-out MetLife Stadium was enormous as the legendary AC/DC was about to take the stage. Everyone was ready for what was to come. The time was 8:30 PM, and as the lights dimmed at the iconic New Jersey venue, the place erupted. Many generations of fans were ready for a show that would be one for the books, as this was their final scheduled performance of the Power Up World Tour.

Brian Johnson and Angus Young, who was wearing his staple schoolboy uniform, made their way onto the stage. The crowd was on their feet as deafening cheers rang out, and thousands of blinking red horns headpieces illuminated the stadium. As the opening riffs of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” began, the tone was immediately set as Angus Young’s guitar cut through the stadium with his unmistakable sound that has defined AC/DC for decades. Young is one of rock’s great performers, and at 71, he still has what it takes to bring the house down. He doesn’t need excessive effects or complicated solos; he just does his thing. Brian and Angus took full command of the massive stage. Johnson’s voice has always been one of the defining characteristics of the band, and hearing it roar through the stadium was something special.

After opening with “If You Want Blood,” they dove right into “Back in Black,” wasting no time at all. The horns were in the air, and this was just the beginning of the mass sing-alongs – something that happens naturally when you have such a dedicated fan base. With a very large catalog of classic hits, they played many as they could pack into one evening’s set, and all were received exactly the way they should be. “Thunderstruck” was one of the biggest moments of the night, as the opening riff triggered an immediate reaction from the entire stadium. It turned into a sea of motion, which was quite impressive. During “Hells Bells,” a giant bell was swinging above the stage, which remains one of AC/DC’s signature visual moments, and seeing it in a stadium setting made it even more impressive.

The night thus far was excellent, but at this point, Brian Johnson invited Dave Grohl to perform “Highway to Hell” with them. As Grohl made his way back onto the stage, the place exploded. As he joined them on guitar and backing vocals, it was very clear that Grohl was seeing a childhood dream come true. Watching him trade energy with Angus was a pretty special moment, to say the least, like something that could never be scripted. It was loud, spontaneous, and appropriate.

Angus still has the energy, and it was clearly on display throughout the night. His attitude and duck walk did not skip a beat, and his guitar work was spot on. During “Let There Be Rock,” Young went into an extended solo which lasted nearly thirty minutes. Young made his way all over the massive stage and was even raised up at the front of the catwalk while confetti was fired all over the crowd. It was truly a spectacle to be witnessed. The night was incredible, the band was incredible, keeping it super tight.

After the band briefly left the stage, the crowd knew there was more to come. Moments later, they were back for their encore and performed “TNT.” This brought on another enormous sing-along. They closed out the night with the inevitable finale. The cannons rolled out as they began “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” MetLife Stadium was shaking as if there may have been an earthquake in New Jersey. But no, it was just the legendary AC/DC rocking the state. As the set concluded, a massive display of fireworks filled the night sky for what was the end of one hell of a show. The last words from Brian Johnson for the night were “Goodnight, hope we’ll see you again!”

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Raiders did not fix everything Sunday.

They did something more immediately useful.

They bought themselves the right to keep trying.

By beating the Jets, snapping a four-game losing streak and getting back to .500, the Raiders reset the conversation around their season. At 4-4, they can legitimately talk about being in the hunt. They can keep playing Kirk Cousins with a purpose beyond postponing Fernando Mendoza’s arrival. They can consider whether the trade deadline presents an opportunity to add help.

For another week, staying the course has some credibility.

That was hardly guaranteed when they walked into the locker room at halftime after allowing the Jets to run for 140 yards.

At that point, the Raiders looked like a team running out of explanations. Getting pushed around had become a weekly occurrence, and now the Jets were taking their turn.

Something had to change.

“At halftime, our guys were not happy,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “We made some adjustments and the guys just played harder.”

Sometimes, the most consequential adjustment is an honest, angry assessment of what is happening.

The Raiders had plenty to be angry about. But they followed that frustration with a response, limiting the Jets to 27 rushing yards after halftime and giving their offense a chance to finish the job.

“We got an interception and we forced them into two punts,” Kubiak said. “I mean, it’s a four-quarter game.”

For a team that had spent a month finding ways to lose, finding its footing before it was too late was the key.

Maxx Crosby described it as taking a stand.

“It really comes down to winning your one-on-ones and outworking the man in front of you,” Crosby said. “And that’s what I felt like we did.”

The difference was noticeable.

“We came out with an attitude in the second half,” Crosby said, “and I feel like we played a lot better collectively.”

Nobody should confuse that response with a permanent solution.

The Jets still finished with 167 rushing yards on 27 carries, an average of 6.2 yards per attempt. That remains an unsustainable way to play defense, particularly with the 49ers and Seahawks looming.

Kubiak did not pretend otherwise.

“It’s a part of our team that we have to address,” he said. “We have to continue to find ways to improve that because it’s hurting us.”

But there is a difference between addressing those problems at 4-4 and explaining them after a fifth consecutive loss.

One keeps the season open. The other would have demanded a much harder conversation about what the Raiders were trying to accomplish.

That conversation can wait.

Cousins earned another week directing an offense that helped deliver a needed victory. The Raiders earned another chance to evaluate their roster through the lens of competing now. Being buyers should remain a consideration if the right opportunity presents itself, although one win hardly justifies abandoning discipline.

The point is they have options.

“It’s been a tough four weeks so we needed that one,” Cousins said, “and we’ll enjoy the flight home now.”

The relief was understandable. So was his appreciation for what the victory preserved.

“It’s great to get a win, to be .500 in November now, and to be playing meaningful football is important,” Cousins said. “It doesn’t get any easier from here, and we understand the challenge ahead.”

Sunday did not erase the preceding month. It did provide evidence that the Raiders could absorb another difficult afternoon, respond together and come out with something to show for it.

Special teams contributed. The offense delivered. The defense finally pushed back.

“We have things that we have to get better at on both sides of the ball,” Kubiak said, “but we’re a team and teams win games.”

For once, that sounded like a description of what happened rather than what needed to happen.

The Raiders still have a ton to clean up.

But they boarded their flight home with a victory, a viable season and a reason to keep moving in the same direction.

For this team, after this month, that qualifies as a reset.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The Raiders earned something Sunday beyond a badly needed victory in their 38-33 win over the Jets.

They earned the right to keep believing their season can amount to something.

Nobody should confuse beating the Jets with solving the problems that created a four-game losing streak. The Raiders allowed far too many points against a bad offense and spent far too much time flirting with another damaging loss.

Against this opponent, it should not have been so difficult.

But this is a results business.

And by finding a way to win, snapping their slide and getting back to 4-4, the Raiders bought themselves time.

Time to address the defensive breakdowns. Time to find more consistency on offense. Time to determine whether the team that opened the season with three consecutive victories can reappear.

That matters with the 49ers and Seahawks looming.

The Raiders now approach that stretch with their season still offering a reason to press forward.

It also gives them room to assess their quarterback plans and trade-deadline approach without treating every decision as an emergency response to another defeat.

The concerns remain legitimate. So does the skepticism.

But winning gives a team something losing never can: a chance to build on a result.

Now comes the harder part.

Some thoughts:

Another bad day for the defense

The Raiders are making history on defense.

The kind nobody wants attached to their name.

They have become the first NFL team to allow at least 30 points in five consecutive games since the Lions did it across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The only other time the Raiders endured such a stretch was in 2004.

That is the company they are keeping.

And somehow, that does not fully capture how helpless they looked at times Sunday against the Jets while giving up 166 yards on the ground and 439 overall.

New York scored on its first six possessions. The only other time since 2000 the Raiders allowed an opponent to do that was their 52-0 loss to the Rams in Week 13 of the 2014 season.

Nobody needs a reminder of how bleak things were then.

Nobody should be comfortable seeing those comparisons surface now.

And remember, these were the Jets.

Not some offensive powerhouse capable of overwhelming even a good defense. This was an opponent the Raiders needed to contain to give themselves a chance to stop their slide.

Instead, they provided a runway.

Six possessions. Six scores. An entire defense searching for an answer that never seemed to arrive.

This has moved beyond a bad matchup or an isolated breakdown. Five consecutive games allowing 30 or more points is a pattern, and the Raiders have offered little evidence they know how to interrupt it.

Up next: the 49ers and Seahawks.

If the Raiders cannot slow down the Jets, what reason have they given anyone to believe relief is coming?

Dynamic duo at tight end

For everything the Raiders still need to fix, finding dangerous tight ends is not on the list.

They have two.

And Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer are providing a glimpse of how much damage they can do together.

The pair combined for 12 catches, 145 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Jets, giving Kirk Cousins two formidable targets and the Raiders an offensive strength worth building around.

Bowers has been a man among boys since arriving in the NFL. Every Sunday seems to bring another reminder that defenders can know exactly where he is and still have no good answer for him.

Too strong for some. Too quick for others. Too good to contain consistently.

That part is established.

Mayer’s emergence is what makes the combination particularly intriguing.

Drafted a year before Bowers, Mayer is finally coming into his own with an offensive-minded head coach in Klint Kubiak and a capable, experienced quarterback in Cousins.

A tight end can find an opening, present a target and do everything his assignment requires. But someone still has to create opportunities for him, and someone has to deliver the football.

Mayer is finally benefiting from that combination.

He does not have to be Bowers to make this work. He has to be a dependable, physical receiving threat who makes defenses pay for devoting too much attention to his teammate.

Sunday illustrated the possibilities.

Lean toward Bowers, and Mayer becomes a problem. Account for Mayer, and there is less help available against one of football’s most difficult covers.

The Raiders have plenty of unanswered questions.

At tight end, they have two convincing answers.

Great homecoming for Raiders special team ace

Dylan Laube came home Sunday and made a case for another trip.

This one to the Pro Bowl.

The Raiders’ special teams standout entered the game leading the NFL in kickoff return average among qualified returners at 31.1 yards, then added an emphatic highlight to his résumé: a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Jets.

It was the NFL’s first kickoff return for a touchdown this season, and a pretty convincing reminder that Laube belongs in the conversation about the league’s best special teams players.

The setting made it even sweeter.

Laube grew up in nearby Westhampton, New York, and attended Westhampton Beach High School. Returning to the area as an NFL player was special enough.

Taking a kickoff 95 yards to the end zone?

That is how you make a homecoming unforgettable.

But focusing only on the touchdown would sell Laube’s contributions short.

He has also been valuable on coverage teams, embracing the less glamorous assignments that help determine field position. Against the Jets, he nearly added a blocked field goal to his afternoon.

Those plays matter, too.

The touchdown will get the attention, as it should. But Laube is building his Pro Bowl argument through the full range of his special teams work.

On a Raiders team searching for dependable answers, he keeps providing one.

Sunday, he just happened to deliver it close to home.

MIAMI GARDENS — It’s that time of week, folks. It’s Friday, and that means we have Dolphins prop bets.

This is the third season for South Florida Sun Sentinel Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins and Dolphins writer David Furones choosing prop bets. They’ll do it for all 17 regular-season games and keep a running tab on their accomplishments.

The Dolphins (1-5) host the New England Patriots (4-3) this week at Hard Rock Stadium.

Before each game, Furones and Perkins will select a “Best Bet” and a “Longshot.” The “Best Bet” selection is a near 50-50 proposition while the “Longshot” is at least +300 or a 3-to-1 probability.

Perkins and Furones don’t actually make these bets (they’re smarter than that). However, you can use this as a guide of which way to go or go against.

Last week, Furones earned the double victory with Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas’ first of two touchdowns in the win against the Jets clinching the his first longshot hit. Perk got the best bet win thanks to running back Ollie Gordon II hitting the over on rushing yards. Perk is now 4-2 on best bets and 2-4 on longshots. Furones is 3-3 on best bets and 1-5 on his longshot picks.

Perkins and Furones get their odds from the Hard Rock Bet app. You can also check the Sun Sentinel predictions for Sunday’s overall outlook.

Perk’s Best Bet: Ollie Gordon II over 60.5 yards rushing (-115)

You never go broke by taking a profit. I’ll continue riding the Ollie Gordon train because it’s the best thing the Dolphins have going in their favor. This is a run-first offense, the offensive line is blocking well, and Gordon is churning out yards.

Furones’ Best Bet: Rhamondre Stevenson anytime TD (-140)

Stevenson scored three times against the Dolphins last time they faced the Patriots, in last season’s finale, and I still have that in my head. The big bulldozer finds the end zone at least once on Sunday. He might get more carries if TreVeyon Henderson is either limited or misses the game entirely due to illness, and Stevenson gets the goal-line work anyway.

Perk’s Longshot: Hunter Henry 80+ yards receiving (+550)

This is simple mathematics. We know that the Dolphins have problems defending tight ends. Add in the fact that Henry is the Patriots’ leader in receptions (26) and receiving yards (296) and factor in the possible subtraction of wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee), and your sum is Henry piling up receiving yards.

Furones’ Longshot: Hunter Henry most receiving yards (+400)

I’m along the same line of thinking as Perk but will go about it a different way. Even if A.J. Brown does play, I see him being Miami’s priority to stop and Henry getting his, as most tight ends have against the Dolphins. I see the Dolphins spreading the ball out plenty, as they’ll have to be mindful of cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s presence, so I like Henry to lead the game in receiving yards as a longshot.