EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Finally, after a dozen games, the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets meet for supremacy in the AFC East.

Well, not exactly.

Beginning with the second half of the season opener, the Jets collapsed. They're wallowing at 4-8, coming off the worst performance of Bill Parcells' three years with them.

The Dolphins (8-4) at least have done their part, or did until the last month, when they dropped three of four. A 37-34 home loss to Indianapolis last weekend dropped them two games behind the surging Colts in the division.

So what was pegged as one of two key games within three weeks of December has become more of a ho-hum affair. More people are shrugging their shoulders at Sunday's matchup than are ringing their hands in anticipation.

The Jets don't have a lot to play for, and while the Dolphins certainly do, it isn't exactly what they had in mind.

"We have to realize that for us to achieve any of the goals we had going into this year, we have to run the table in the rest of our games," Dan Marino said. "I think our team is realizing how important this is. And the Jets are a rival of ours."

Not for a playoff berth, however. That dream died long ago for injury-ravaged New York. All the Jets can be is spoilers, a role they say they will relish because there isn't much else left.

"I don't have my spoilers T-shirt on today," cornerback Marcus Coleman said. "But I might have it on tomorrow.

"If I'm going down, somebody is going with me," he added with a laugh. "We still want to play well in the rest of our games and win out."

That will be particularly difficult with a banged-up secondary. Coleman, in his first season as a starter, and Aaron Glenn are the only healthy cornerbacks with any kind of experience. And Glenn has struggled lately, most notably in last Sunday's debacle against the Giants.

That fact won't be lost on Marino, who had the worst game of his career on Thanksgiving Day at Dallas -- his first outing after missing nearly six games with a neck and shoulder injury -- but played well against the Colts.

"He likes playing against us for some reason," Coleman said of the NFL's career passing leader, who has thrown for more yards and TDs against the Jets than anyone else. "I'm pretty sure he'll take a couple shots at me."

The Dolphins' hopes for a division title took a major shot last week as their defense was exposed for the first time since mid-October. The Jets don't have the weapons Indianapolis does, however, and Miami's defenders expect a lot more from themselves.

"We've never had it taken to us like that," middle linebacker Zach Thomas said. "There wasn't one player who didn't get his butt kicked. Anybody can blame it on one call, one missed tackle or one big pass, but there was, like, 30-something of them. There's no one to blame but our whole defense."

The defense is quick and deep, and it features a cornerback, Sam Madison, capable of clamping down on Jets receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet.

It also will try to pressure inexperienced quarterback Ray Lucas into mistakes -- Parcells praised Lucas' decision-making earlier this week -- and take away Curtis Martin, the league's No. 5 rusher.

Want the Dolphins won't try to do is look ahead.

"We spend too much time looking at other teams and different scenarios, then we're going to forget to do the one thing that you've got to do, and that's play that week," coach Jimmy Johnson said. "Our entire focus right now is to play as well as we possibly can play against the Jets, and not worry about what other teams have done.

"I think it still has a lot of impact," Johnson added. "Any time the Dolphins and the Jets play, there's going to be some excitement on both sides."

Even without as much at stake as anticipated a few months ago.

MIAMI Season schedule and results

NY JETS Season schedule and results

September 13 @Denver W 38-21 September 19 Arizona W 19-16 October 4 Buffalo L 18-23 October 10 @Indianapolis W 34-31 October 17 @New England W 31-30 October 24 Philadelphia W 16-13 October 31 @Oakland W 16-9 November 7 Tennessee W 17-0 November 14 @Buffalo L 3-23 November 21 New England W 27-17 November 25 @Dallas L 0-20 December 5 Indianapolis L 34-37 December 12 @NY Jets 4:05pm ET December 19 San Diego 1:00pm ET December 27 NY Jets 9:00pm ET January 2 @Washington 4:15pm ET

September 12 New England L 28-30 September 19 @Buffalo L 3-17 September 26 Washington L 20-27 October 3 @Denver W 21-13 October 11 Jacksonville L 6-16 October 17 Indianapolis L 13-16 October 24 @Oakland L 23-24 November 7 Arizona W 12-7 November 15 @New England W 24-17 November 21 Buffalo W 17-7 November 28 @Indianapolis L 6-13 December 5 @NY Giants L 28-41 December 12 Miami 4:05pm ET December 19 @Dallas 4:15pm ET December 27 @Miami 9:00pm ET January 2 Seattle 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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