MNF: Miracle Comeback for Jets

E A S T  R U T H E R F O R D, N.J., Oct. 24, 2000 -- 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.

Vinny: 5 TDs, 3 INTs

Testaverde hit Laveranues Coles for a 30-yard score, therookie’s first NFL touchdown; found rookie Jermaine Wiggins for a1-yard TD, his first pro score; hit Chrebet for 24 yards to tie itat 30 with 3:55 to go; then connected with the 300-pound Elliott totie it at 37.

Testaverde finished 36-of-59 for 378 yards, five TDs and threeinterceptions.

Jay Fiedler, looking early in the game much like the legend hereplaced, connected with Leslie Shepherd for a 46-yard TD one playafter Chrebet’s touchdown. That score was set up by Brock Marion’s47-yard kickoff return.

Dan Marino often beat the Jets with his arm, and Fiedlerappeared to have done it, too. He also had a 42-yard TD throw toShepherd in the first half and ran an efficient offense for threequarters.

But the Jets displayed the fortitude and resilience that hasmarked their season by staging yet another comeback.

Fish Attack

Lamar Smith paced a surprisingly crisp Miami attack that gained299 yards in the first half alone.

Smith scored on runs of 68 and 3 yards and finished with 155yards. Oronde Gadsden caught seven passes for 119 yards.

The Dolphins thoroughly befuddled New York on both sides of theball for most of the game. And as hot as the Jets were later, theDolphins were at the outset. They led 17-0 and gained 207 yards inthe opening 15 minutes — the most by any NFL team in the openingperiod this season.

It took the Jets until 8:04 elapsed in the second quarter toregister a first down. By the end of the long night, however, theyhad become unstoppable.

Olindo Mare kicked three field goals for Miami, while Hall hadtwo for New York.