MNF: Miracle Comeback for Jets

E A S T  R U T H E R F O R D, N.J., Oct. 24 -- There must be something to thislate-game magic the New York Jets claim they possess.

Down 30-7 after three quarters, the Jets staged yet anotherincredible rally and stunned the Miami Dolphins 40-37 in overtimeMonday night in a showdown for first place in the AFC East. A teamthat couldn’t do anything right for nearly 45 minutes wasunstoppable in the final quarter.

It was the third time the Jets (6-1) have rallied to win in thefourth quarter of what has become a charmed season.

They tied the game on Vinny Testaverde’s fifth touchdown pass ofthe night, a 3-yarder to tackle Jumbo Elliott, who was eligible onthe play, with 42 seconds to go.

Early in overtime, Marcus Coleman of the Jets intercepted apass, then fumbled on his return and the Dolphins (5-2) recovered.But Coleman got another pick five plays later.

Wayne Chrebet turned a short pass into a 28-yard completion onthird down, setting up John Hall’s 40-yard field goal to cap thealmost unfathomable victory.

It’s Happened Before

It was the second time in the NFL’s prime time spotlight thatthe Jets won so improbably — they beat New England in Game 2 almostthe same way. But that game ended far earlier than this one, whichstretched until 1:20 a.m. EDT.

The Jets rallied with a precision they totally lacked for thefirst three quarters — and against a defense that had yielded just51 points and three TDs the entire season.

“I thought New England was a great comeback, but this wasincredible,” Chrebet said. “We took it upon ourselves and madethe plays when we had to. It was gutcheck at halftime and wedecided to go out swinging.”

They scored a knockout of Miami’s brilliant defense, whichcrumbled in the fourth quarter. That unit allowed 30 points in thefourth quarter, when the Jets had 20 first downs; Miami one.

It was the first time since 1981, when Atlanta did it, that ateam scored 30 points or more in a fourth period.