With Jets week upon us, Miami Dolphins historic rivalry returning to its roots

There's always been a different vibe during what fans now label it as "Jets week."

The stakes become just a little higher.  The anxiety, just a little deeper.  The passion for the game?  Just a little stronger.

And the funny thing is, it hasn't really meant anything since 2008!

Sure, you had the Chad Henne led victory on a special Monday night in 2009.

You had Ted Ginn Jr. returning back to back kickoffs to the house that same year to give the Dolphins the season sweep.

You had an intense Sunday night battle the following season in Miami, a 31-23 Fins loss in one of the few, few breakout games for Brandon Marshall.

You can't forget about the infamous Sal Alosi sideline trip of Nolan Carroll later that season, that coming in a disgusting 10-6 Miami win.

And then you had the 2011 season finale this past January, a 19-17 Fins win to knock the Jets out the playoffs and send Jason Taylor riding off into the sunset of retirement a happy man.

All great games, no doubt about it, but none of them carry the significance of this one. None of them really meant anything to both teams, not at the same time at least, besides bragging rights.  You could make the argument that in 2009 both these teams were semi in the playoff hunt, and I'd probably agree with you, but that's nothing like we have now.

Now we have something real.  Now we have two teams, separated by just a 1/2 game in the AFC East, and trailing the almighty Patriots by just a hair for the all out division lead.

Think things may get intense on Sunday?

For the first time in a long time, this game means an awful lot, not only to both teams, not only to the AFC East, but to the entire AFC playoff picture.  This is what this rivalry needed so desperately to get back to.  This is what the Dolphins/Jets rivalry was built on back in its prime.  The foundation, sturdy for so many years, has been shaky for so long now in this great rivalry.

The foundation, built so strong by the likes of Dan Marino and Ken O'Brien, has been torn down in the past seasons by, say, Chad Henne and Mark Sanchez.

But not this weekend.  This weekend, folks, it's solid as a rock.  This weekend, I'd argue, its's more solid than its been in years.  A win gives the Dolphins an inside track to the postseason, a loss gives the Jets an essential two game advantage heading into the halfway mark of the season.  That's what this rivalry is supposed to be about.  Not dirty sideline trips, not "lets win this one for Jason," or, "lets knock them out of the playoffs," no, this rivalry, this tradition, is about one thing, and one thing only.

The playoffs.  For years thats what it was about- who would take the division lead, who would get that much closer to the postseason, who would gain the inside track to January- and finally, after so many years of not being there, so many years of looking up at a two horse race for the division, the Miami Dolphins have finally returned, at least for now.

They've brought something back with them as well.  They've brought back "Jets week." They've brought back the true meaning of this heralded rivalry between these two division foes, and that will be on full display Sunday afternoon in the Meadowlands.

For the first time in a long time, a late October meeting between these two will hold significant meaning in the NFL.

And you know that, somewhere, Dan Marino and Ken O'Brien are smiling.

Lets hope that it's Marino who keeps on smiling when its all said and done Sunday evening.

Just like he did so many times before.