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  Monday, Dec. 27 9:00pm ET
Mistakes, Jets' big plays doom Dolphins
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

MIAMI (AP) -- Two passes by Dan Marino and two by Ray Lucas beat the Miami Dolphins.

Ray Lucas
Ray Lucas completed just 11 of 23 passes, but showed the poise of a veteran and made the big plays when he needed them.

Marino threw a pair of costly interceptions, Lucas threw two fourth-quarter touchdown bombs and the New York Jets defeated Miami for the second time in 15 days Monday night, 38-31.

"It makes a big difference when you're playing a team you know you can beat, and they're still wondering if they can beat you," New York center Kevin Mawae said.

The Jets (7-8), playing only for pride, came from behind twice in the second half. Lucas' 50-yard scoring pass to Wayne Chrebet put New York ahead 31-28 with 10:41 left, and his next pass less than two minutes later went to Dedric Ward for a 56-yard touchdown and a 38-28 lead.

The Dolphins (9-6), bidding for an AFC wild-card playoff berth, lost for the fifth time in seven games.

"If we can't make it to the playoffs, we might as well have them join us," Jets receiver Keyshawn Johnson said.

Miami now needs to cheer for the Jets next week. If New York beats Seattle or Oakland knocks off Kansas City on Sunday, the Dolphins make the playoffs whether they win or lose against Washington.

With Miami's defeat, the Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff berth.

The game was hyped as perhaps the final performance in Miami by the 38-year-old Marino, who hasn't said whether he wants to play next season. He showed flashes of the talent that has made him the most prolific passer in NFL history, but at times he looked ready for retirement.

Marino went 29-for-52 for 322 yards and three touchdowns, but his interceptions gave New York 14 points. Marcus Coleman scored on a 98-yard return, and linebacker Roman Phifer's interception at the Miami 5 set up another touchdown. Marino finished with three interceptions.

"We just didn't make enough plays and had too many mistakes to win," Marino said. "I gave them some points."

"He hurt us bad tonight, but we hurt them too," Jets coach Bill Parcells said. "It's the best win of the year for us."

Marino's scoring passes covered 1 yard to Ed Perry, 3 yards to Stanley Pritchett and 32 yards on a flea-flicker to Tony Martin. But his arm seemed to tire, and in the fourth quarter he was just 6-for-19 for 79 yards.

Marino gave a wave leaving the field.

"My kids asked me to wave to them after the game," he said.

As for his future, Marino said: "I'm not thinking about that much right now. I've got all I can do trying to win games. You never know what life brings."

Lucas led the Jets to their fourth win in a row, completing 11 of 23 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns. The scoring throws in the fourth quarter were the longest of his three-year career.

"They've got good players, very good players," a grim Miami coach Jimmy Johnson said. "Everybody wants to think they're a bad team because they lost one player (Vinny Testaverde) three months ago."

GAME NOTES
Miami has given up 10 touchdowns on returns this year -- seven on interceptions, two on fumbles and one on a kickoff. By giving up seven scores on interception returns, the Dolphins tied an NFL record held by the 1967 Boston Patriots and 1984 Kansas City Chiefs.
Dan Marino's 72 touchdown passes against New York are the most by any quarterback against any team.
Tony Martin became the second NFL player to gain 1,000 yards receiving with three teams. The other was Irving Fryar.
Miami's Olindo Mare broke the NFL record of 37 field goals set by Carolina's John Kasay in 1996.
The Jets won despite totaling 21 yards in the second and third periods.

J.J. Johnson's 1-yard touchdown dive early in the final period gave Miami a 28-24 lead. But on the next series, Lucas threw long to a wide-open Chrebet, who shook Patrick Surtain on third-and-5 and put New York ahead to stay.

Miami's Olindo Mare missed a potential tying 54-yard field goal with nine minutes left. On the next play, Ward beat Terrell Buckley deep for another score.

Mare made a 37-yarder with 2:20 to go, setting an NFL record with his 38th field goal of the season. Coleman recovered his ensuing onside kick, and the Jets ran out the clock.

Two bad throws by Marino kept the Jets ahead most of the night.

With New York leading 10-7 in the second quarter, Coleman stepped in front of intended receiver O.J. McDuffie for an interception, easily juked past a flailing Marino and sprinted the rest of the way untouched.

The interception was the seventh returned for a score against Miami this season, tying an NFL record. Five of the interceptions were thrown by Marino.

The Dolphins were at their own 4 when Marino made an off-target toss into the flat that Phifer intercepted and returned to the 1. Curtis Martin scored two plays later to give New York a 24-21 lead.

The Dolphins took their first lead by tricking the Jets. Pritchett took a handoff, then pitched back to Marino, who hit a wide-open Martin in the end zone for a 32-yard score to put Miami ahead 21-17.

Keyshawn Johnson, who had the best game of his career against Miami two weeks ago, caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Lucas for the game's opening score. The Jets mustered little offense after that -- until the fourth quarter.
 


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AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Marcus Coleman says the Jets defense got tough in the second half.
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 Jimmy Johnson has respect for the Jets squad.
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