The Monday Night Miracle was an NFL Monday night game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins played at Giants Stadium on October 23, 2000.October 23, 2000 Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Boxscore from Pro Football Reference The Jets scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, twice tying the score, and sending the game into overtime, where they defeated the Dolphins, 40–37.

Background Like their 1994 showdown at Giants Stadium which was made famous by Dan Marino's "fake spike", this game was for first place in the AFC East as both teams entered the game with a 5–1 record. Unlike the 1994 game which featured the Jets failing to hold a double-digit (18) lead in the second half, it was the Dolphins who failed to hold the lead.

The game is notable for having the second largest fourth-quarter comeback in NFL history and the largest comeback in Jets history. It was also voted the greatest game televised on ABC's Monday Night Football, along with being #5 on NFL Top Ten's Top Ten Comebacks.

At the end of the third quarter with the score 30–7 in Miami's favor, Jets broadcaster Howard David announced, "And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over."

Jets comeback The Jets proceeded to stage a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 unanswered points to tie the game at 30. They scored three touchdowns and a field goal, but a two-point conversion attempt to Curtis Martin was stopped. On the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage after the game was tied, they took the lead on a long touchdown pass by Jay Fiedler to Leslie Shepherd. However, the Jets still managed to drive downfield and tie the game. One of the key plays was a 4th down catch at the Dolphins 2-yard line by Richie Anderson as he caught the ball despite a head-on hit by Zach Thomas and Dolphins defensive back Jerry Wilson. Improbably, the tying touchdown was caught by offensive tackle John "Jumbo" Elliott, playing as a tackle-eligible. After Elliott caught the touchdown pass, Dennis Miller remarked how opposing defenses, "couldn't keep him down forever." In the overtime Fiedler was intercepted by Marcus Coleman but Coleman was hit by Thurman Thomas and fumbled the ball back to the Dolphins. Several plays later, Coleman intercepted Fiedler again and this time held on. An eventual Vinny Testaverde pass to Wayne Chrebet put the Jets in field goal range, and a pass that was nearly intercepted by Jerry Wilson hit the ground first, nullifying the turnover. Jets kicker John Hall then won the game with a field goal with 8:13 remaining in the extra session.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth to promote his upcoming film The 6th Day, said after halftime,

The Monday night game for the Jets was in between Games 2 and 3 of the All New York (Yankees vs. Mets) 2000 World Series. The series overshadowed the game. In fact, the crowd broke out into "Let's Go Yankees" chants countered by "Let's Go Mets" chants during the third quarter.

Starting lineups

Miami Position New York Jets Offense Leslie Shepherd WR Dedric Ward Richmond Webb LT Jason Fabini John Bock LG Kerry Jenkins Tim Ruddy C Kevin Mawae‡ Kevin Donnalley RG Randy Thomas Todd Wade RT Ryan Young Hunter Goodwin TE Fred Baxter Oronde Gadsden WR Wayne Chrebet Jay Fiedler QB Vinny Testaverde Rob Konrad FB WR Laveranues Coles Lamar Smith RB Curtis Martin‡ Defense Kenny Mixon LE DE Rick Lyle Tim Bowens LT DT Jason Ferguson Jermaine Haley RT DE Shane Burton Jason Taylor‡ RE LB Mo Lewis Zach Thomas‡ MLB LB Bryan Cox Jerry Wilson WLB LB Marvin Jones Robert Jones SLB LB James Farrior Patrick Surtain LCB CB Aaron Glenn Sam Madison RCB CB Marcus Coleman Brock Marion FS Kevin Williams Brian Walker SS Victor Green

Game summary

Final statistics Statistical comparison Miami DolphinsNew York JetsFirst downs2031Third down efficiency5/174/16Fourth down efficiency0/01/2Total yards433455Passing yards235376Passing – completions/attempts16/3536/59Rushing yards19879Rushing attempts3822Yards per rush5.23.6Penalties–yards13–953–30Sacks against–yards2–151–2Fumbles–lost0–01–1Interceptions thrown33Time of possession36:1130:36

Individual stats

Dolphins PassingPlayerC/ATT*YdsTDINT Jay Fiedler 16/35 250 2 3 Dolphins RushingPlayerCaraYdsTDLGb Lamar Smith 23 155 2 68 Jay Fiedler 4 24 0 15 Rob Konrad 5 11 0 3 J. J. Johnson 2 6 0 3 Thurman Thomas 4 2 0 4 Dolphins ReceivingPlayerReccYdsTDLGb Oronde Gadsden 7 119 0 29 Leslie Shepherd 3 94 2 46 Hunter Goodwin 2 13 0 8 Lamar Smith 2 9 0 12 Thurman Thomas 1 8 0 8 Rob Konrad 1 7 0 7

Jets PassingC/ATT*YdsTDINT Vinny Testaverde 36/59 378 5 3 Jets RushingPlayerCaraYdsTDLGb Curtis Martin 14 65 0 34 Vinny Testaverde 1 7 0 7 Dwight Stone 1 4 0 4 Richie Anderson 6 3 0 4 Jets ReceivingPlayerReccYdsTDLGb Richie Anderson 12 109 0 19 Curtis Martin 8 72 0 15 Wayne Chrebet 6 104 2 28 Laveranues Coles 4 55 1 30 Dedric Ward 3 40 0 27 Jumbo Elliott 1 3 1 3 Jermaine Wiggins 1 1 1 1 Jerald Sowell 1 -6 0 -6

*Completions/Attempts aCarries bLongest play cReceptions

Officials Referee: Walt Coleman (#65) Umpire: Undrey Wash (#96) Head linesman: John Schleyer (#21) Line judge: Dave Anderson (#81) Field judge: Scott Steenson (#88) Side judge: Bill Spyksma (#12) Back judge: Ron Spitler (#119)

Aftermath

Despite the Jets winning the game, they would finish the season with a 9-7 record 3rd in the AFC East. The Dolphins however would win the AFC East with an 11-5 record but forcing them to enter the playoffs as a wild card team as they couldn't catch the two teams with the best record in the AFC, the 12-4 Oakland Raiders and the team with the best record in football that year, the 13-3 Tennessee Titans. The Dolphins won their first playoff game 23-17 against Indianapolis in the Wild Card round in overtime (their last playoff win to date) but lost next week against Oakland 27-0 in the divisional round.

See also Dolphins–Jets rivalry The Monday Night Miracle (ice hockey)

References

External links