Wildcat helps Dolphins beat Jets 31-27
Posted Oct 18, 2009 4:10 PM
 By STEVEN WINE
(AP)
 Email  Print
Text Size A A A
MIAMI -With 10 seconds left and the game on the line, the Miami Dolphins went with the wildcat. It worked again. Running back Ronnie Brown took the snap and scored on a 2-yard keeper up the middle on third down, and Miami came from behind three times in the fourth quarter to beat the New York Jets 31-27 on Monday night.
Newcomer Braylon Edwards gave the Jets a big boost, and two fake punts fooled the Dolphins. But they gained 110 yards with the wildcat, which was instrumental in three touchdown drives, including the last one.
Starting from their own 30-yard line with 5:05 left and trailing 27-24, Miami drove 70 yards in 13 plays for the winning score. The march included four wildcat plays for 25 yards, and Brown fell into the end zone on the last with 6 seconds to go.
The Dolphins (2-3) climbed back into the AFC East race after losing their first three games. The Jets (3-2) fell into a tie with New England for first place and have lost two straight.
The lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter as the game became a shootout reminiscent of the Dolphins' Dan Marino days. Filling that role just fine was Chad Henne.
In only his second NFL start, Henne completed 20 of 26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He threw deep to Ted Ginn Jr. for a 53-yard score to give Miami a 24-20 lead with 10:10 left.
The Jets kept answering with Edwards, acquired in a trade with Cleveland a week ago. He caught one scoring pass and set up New York's other two touchdowns. The Jets also fooled Miami with fake punts twice to set up a TD and a field goal.
The Dolphins' trickery came via the wildcat, which they ran 16 times. On the game's opening drive, Miami threw out of the wildcat for the first time this season, and Brown connected with tight end Anthony Fasano for a 21-yard gain. Ricky Williams then ran for 18 yards from the wildcat, and Brown scored on a 1-yard plunge on third down to cap a 7 1/2-minute drive.
The Dolphins used the wildcat five times in a touchdown drive that consumed nearly 9 minutes of the second half. They relied on ball control for much of the game but also showed a newfound ability to strike quickly.
Ginn beat Darrelle Revis and two other Jets deep, catching Henne's long pass just before crossing the goal line. It was a rare long gain by the Dolphins, who came into the game with only two completions of 20 yards or more to wide receivers.
"Teddy ran a great route and they gave us the coverage we wanted," Henne said.
Williams set up a field goal when he gained 59 yards on a reception, with all the yards coming after the catch. He finished with 68 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Brown ran for 74 yards in 21 attempts.
The Dolphins totaled 413 yards, converting nine of 14 third-down chances and controlling the ball for 33 1/2 minutes.
"They played us hard but I think our guys had the determination inside," Henne said.
Jets rookie Mark Sanchez was 12 of 24 for 172 yards and benefited immediately from the addition of Edwards, who caught a 3-yard scoring pass to cap his first series with the Jets.
Edwards made a leaping 34-yard catch on third-and-21 to put the ball at the 1, setting up Thomas Jones' score on the next play for a 20-17 lead.
Edwards' biggest play didn't involve a reception. When Sanchez tried to hit him deep in the fourth quarter, Will Allen was called for pass interference, although video replays showed virtually no contact.
The 49-yard penalty gave the Jets the ball at the 3, and Jones scored on the next play for a 27-24 lead with 5:12 left. The Dolphins answered with their winning drive.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2009-10-18 16:06:30

Related Articles

COMMENTS ( 6 )
Page 1 of 1 1
shadowiness21
4:21PM Oct 18 2009 
No one does the Wildcat better than Miami. No team gives up more yards to the Wildcat than N.E. Everytime the formation shows up Belichick and crew get scared. I think their still tramatized from a year ago when it first appeared. Of course, as Pennington Bear said, "when it works people love it, when it fails, people hate it."
REPLY RATING
(0 RATINGS)
 
VandervoortS
2:35PM Oct 13 2009 
that game was so fun to watch. It's been a long time since I had so much fun watching the Fins. Henne has one hell of an arm and makes good decisions, so far. Keep it up Miami
REPLY RATING
(0 RATINGS)
 
redmad50
8:29AM Oct 13 2009 
I have been a Dolphin Fan since 1970. Through good times and bad times, it was a plaesure to watch from beginning to end.
Go Dolphins!!! That pass interf. was a bad call......
REPLY RATING
(1 RATINGS)
 

This comment has been deleted.

VirtualStroker1
1:44AM Oct 13 2009 
Ya just gotta love the Phins!!! All heart and soul - never give up. Can't wait for them to hit NE - they'll blow them out just like last year -
REPLY RATING
(4 RATINGS)
 
Ralphgmiami
1:40AM Oct 13 2009 
It was a great game as I saw it on TV. It looks like Henne, Ginn, and Mark Sanchez are maturing quickly. I recently found out that Ginn's father, a coach is the cousin of former Dolphins and now San Diego Charger's receiver Chris Chambers. Ginn can also dunk a basketball but opted to play football as he's from Ohio. He's taken a lot of flak but now that Henne is maturing as a quarterback he should get a lot more great throws from Henne and put up huge numbers. That catch showed that Ginn had great hands as a lot of receivers would have probably dropped the ball as it was a long bomb. Ginn is doing better than Brady Quinn who is struggling with the Browns. Maybe those Dolphins fans at the draft really weren't saying "Brady Quinn" but "Ted Ginn."
REPLY RATING
(1 RATINGS)
 
Page 1 of 1 1
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?
YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REGISTER OR SIGN IN BEFORE POSTING A COMMENT.
Make a Comment
Comment