Wildcat Helps Dolphins Beat Jets 31-27

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Oct 13, 2009

Wildcat Helps Dolphins Beat Jets 31-27 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 scoring 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.

Miami 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 sudden strike by the Dolphins, who came
into the game with only two completions of 20 yards or more to wide receivers.

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.

In the fourth quarter, 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.

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