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Monday Night Miracle (American football)

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The Monday Night Miracle
Giants Stadium, the site of the game.
1234OT Total
MIA 176770 37
NYJ 070303 40
DateOctober 23, 2000
StadiumGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
FavoriteJets by 3[1]
RefereeWalt Coleman
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersAl Michaels, Dan Fouts, and Dennis Miller

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.[2] 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

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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 the Jets were 4-1 and the Dolphins were 5-0. But 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,[3] along with being #5 on NFL Top Ten's Top Ten Comebacks.[4]

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

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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.[5] 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.[5]

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth, said after halftime,

Wayne Chrebet is going to pull it off. I think as usual the Jets are going to come from behind, you will see... I think the Dolphins have to be terminated.

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

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Hall of Fame‡

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

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2000 Week 8: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Dolphins 17 6 77037
Jets 0 7 030340

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP MIA NYJ
1 7:22 14 63 7:38 MIA 28-yard field goal by Olindo Mare 3 0
1 5:03 2 69 0:51 MIA Leslie Shepherd 42-yard touchdown reception from Jay Fiedler, Mare kick good 10 0
1 3:09 1 68 0:13 MIA Lamar Smith 68-yard touchdown run, Mare kick good 17 0
2 12:57 5 17 1:57 MIA 42-yard field goal by Mare 20 0
2 0:53 5 53 0:51 NYJ Wayne Chrebet 10-yard touchdown reception from Vinny Testaverde, John Hall kick good 20 7
2 0:02 5 34 0:51 MIA 44-yard field goal by Mare 23 7
3 0:12 5 35 3:04 MIA Smith 3-yard touchdown run, Mare kick good 30 7
4 13:49 4 75 1:23 NYJ Laveranues Coles 30-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, 2-point pass failed 30 13
4 9:51 7 63 2:11 NYJ Jermaine Wiggins 1-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 30 20
4 5:43 10 64 1:52 NYJ 34-yard field goal by Hall 30 23
4 3:55 3 39 0:33 NYJ Chrebet 24-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 30 30
4 3:33 1 46 0:22 MIA Shepherd 46-yard touchdown reception from Fiedler, Mare kick good 37 30
4 0:42 9 57 2:51 NYJ Jumbo Elliott 3-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 37 37
OT 8:13 7 43 2:53 NYJ 40-yard field goal by Hall 37 40
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 37 40

Final statistics

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Statistical comparison

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Miami Dolphins New York Jets
First downs 20 31
Third down efficiency 5/17 4/16
Fourth down efficiency 0/0 1/2
Total yards 433 455
Passing yards 235 376
Passing – completions/attempts 16/35 36/59
Rushing yards 198 79
Rushing attempts 38 22
Yards per rush 5.2 3.6
Penalties–yards 13–95 3–30
Sacks against–yards 2–15 1–2
Fumbles–lost 0–0 1–1
Interceptions thrown 3 3
Time of possession 36:11 30:36

Individual stats

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Dolphins Passing
Player C/ATT* Yds TD INT
Jay Fiedler 16/35 250 2 3
Dolphins Rushing
Player Cara Yds TD LGb
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 Receiving
Player Recc Yds TD LGb
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 Passing
C/ATT* Yds TD INT
Vinny Testaverde 36/59 378 5 3
Jets Rushing
Player Cara Yds TD LGb
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 Receiving
Player Recc Yds TD LGb
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

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  • 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)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - October 23rd, 2000". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ October 23, 2000 Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Boxscore from Pro Football Reference
  3. ^ Diegnan, Mike (December 4, 2002). "MNF's Greatest Games: Miami-New York Jets 2000". ABC Sports Online. Archived from the original on February 16, 2003. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  4. ^ "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League. January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Battista, Judy (October 24, 2000). "The Jets Are the Last Team Standing". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
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