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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- To all the fans who left the
stadium or turned off their television sets, the New York Jets have
a message: Don't ever give up on us.
|  | | Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde lifts lineman Jumbo Elliott after Elliott's improbable TD catch. |
The Jets staged one of the most incredible comebacks in NFL
history Monday night, scoring a franchise-record 30 points in the
fourth quarter, then beating the Miami Dolphins 40-37 in overtime.
What was billed as a prime-time showdown for the AFC East lead
looked like a humiliating rout for 45 minutes. Then the Jets
conjured up the late-game magic that has marked their season.
"We're not the most talented team. We're not a St. Louis by any
stretch of the imagination," said quarterback Vinny Testaverde,
who threw for five touchdowns, four in the fourth quarter. "But
when we play hard for four quarters, good things will happen for
us."
Those good things have the Jets at 6-1, the best record in the
AFC and alone atop their division. That they have used all kinds of
legerdemain to get there, but nothing comparing to this.
"When our backs are against the wall, we are at our best,"
Wayne Chrebet said. "This was the biggest comeback in Jets
history, we were on the verge of being embarrassed -- this might be
the greatest comeback I've ever seen."
What he and perhaps half of the original crowd of 78,389 saw
after midnight was the Jets storm back to win in the fourth quarter
of what has become a charmed season.
Testaverde hit Laveranues Coles for a 30-yard score, the
rookie's first NFL touchdown; find rookie Jermaine Wiggins for a
1-yard TD, his first pro score; throw to Chrebet for 24 yards to
tie it at 30 with 3:55 to go; then connect with 300-pound Jumbo
Elliott on a tackle-eligible play to tie it at 37 with 42 seconds
left.
"I ran for a touchdown in pee wee football," Elliott said.
"I've never caught a pass."
Marcus Coleman, who makes a living breaking up passes, had three
interceptions, two in overtime. He fumbled away the first while
returning it, but held onto the second five plays later.
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Largest fourth-quarter comebacks
|
|
Year
|
Team
|
Opp.
|
Pts.
|
|
'87
|
Cardinals
|
Bucs
|
25
|
|
'00
|
Jets
|
Dolphins
|
23
|
|
'85
|
Vikings
|
Eagles
|
23
|
|
'52
|
Rams
|
Packers
|
22
|
|
'84
|
Cowboys
|
Saints
|
21
|
|
'99
|
Cowboys
|
Redskins
|
21
|
Chrebet turned a short pass into a 28-yard completion on third
down, setting up John Hall's 40-yard field goal to cap the almost
unfathomable victory.
"We've been in this position before and all hung together,"
said Coleman, who noted that coach Al Groh "screamed and threw
things around" in the locker room at halftime. "I've never been
associated with a bunch of guys who want to win for each other and
come together under adversity. It's amazing."
The Dolphins (5-2) certainly were amazed. Their defense, which
allowed 51 points and three touchdowns previously, were burned for
33 points after leading 30-7 after three quarters.
New York had 20 first downs in the fourth period to one for
Miami.
"With the kind of defense we have, we felt that we had the game
won," Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden said. "I feel worse than
when we lost to Jacksonville 62-7. I feel pretty low."
It was the first time since 1981, when Atlanta did it, that a
team scored 30 points or more in a fourth quarter.
And it was the second time in the NFL's prime-time spotlight
this season that the Jets won so improbably -- they beat New England
in Game 2 almost the same way. But that game ended far earlier than
this one, which stretched until 1:20 a.m. EDT.
"I thought New England was a great comeback, but this was
incredible," Chrebet said. "We took it upon ourselves and made
the plays when we had to. It was gutcheck at halftime and we
decided to go out swinging."
But one thing bothered him.
"I got tickets for (Mets pitcher) Al Leiter," Chrebet said,
"and I saw him leaving early."
Game notes
Testaverde finished 36-of-59 for 378 yards, five TDs and
three interceptions ... Jay Fiedler connected with Leslie Shepherd
for a 46-yard TD, one play after Chrebet's touchdown, for a 37-30
lead the defense couldn't hold. ... Lamar Smith scored on runs of
68 and 3 yards and finished with 155 yards. ... Gadsden caught
seven passes for 119 yards. ... Miami gained 207 yards in the
opening 15 minutes, the most by any NFL team in the first period
this season. ... It took the Jets until 8:04 into the second
quarter to register a first down. ... Olindo Mare kicked three
field goals for Miami, while Hall had two for New York.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
NY Jets Clubhouse
Dolphins lose sleep over crushing loss
Comeback kings: Jets reach new heights vs. Dolphins
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jets kicker John Hall talks with ESPN's Sal Paolantonio after his 40-yard field goal wins the game in OT.
wav: 345 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Wayne Chrebet joins Eric Dickerson to talk about the Jets' overtime win against the Dolphins.
wav: 310 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Al Groh says his team never gave up on Monday night.
wav: 225 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Sal Paolantonio catches up with Vinny Testaverde, who led the Jets to a second half comeback.
wav: 603 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Marcus Coleman talks with Sal Paolantonio about the miracle comeback by the New York Jets.
wav: 522 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dave Wannstedt explains his team's collapse against the Jets on Monday night.
wav: 183 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Former Jet Marty Lyons on New York's comeback victory over Miami on Monday Night Football.
wav: 1388 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Marty Lyons talks about the Jets' 6-1 start and the battle in the AFC East.
wav: 1178 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Will McDonough of the Boston Globe takes a closer look at the performance of Vinny Testaverde.
wav: 829 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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