*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Nov 09, 1997: -- Dolphins Beat Jets 24-17 --
The Dolphins used their oft-maligned running game today to
come out strong against the New York Jets and with the aid of a
controversial 4th down call that went against the Jets late in the
game, the Dolphins won their 6th game of the year 24-17 against the
Jets in Miami.
Overall, the Dolphins played a good game and got some
surprising results out of their rushing attack. Karim Abdul-Jabbar
ended the day with 103 yards rushing on 25 carries and 2 touchdowns.
The Dolphins also kept mistakes to a minimum, giving up no turnovers
and getting 2 - a fumble recover after Jason Taylor sacked Glenn Foley
and a key interception by George Teague to end the Jets' final drive.
The Dolphins took the opening kickoff and with an unusual
display of running prowess, rammed the ball right down the Jets'
throats. They came out in a 2 tight end formation and moved 80 yards
in 11 plays, mainly on the strength of Abdul-Jabbar's running, who
gained 47 yards on 6 carries on this drive, including a 4 yard
touchdown run on a sweep to the left. Marino added passes to Ed Perry
and Lamar Thomas and Irving Spikes carried 3 times for 10 yards.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins could do nothing else offensively
for the rest of the first quarter and most of the second. Right guard
Everett McIver was taken off the field with a sprained knee at the end
of the first Dolphins' drive and Keith Sims stepped in at left guard,
while Jeff Buckey moved to right guard. However, on th 2nd and 3rd
Dolphins' drives of the game, Sims committed a total of 3 holding
penalties that killed both drives. Following those blunders, Buckey
was moved back to left guard and John Bock started at right guard for
most of the game.
In the first half, the Dolphins' defense did a pretty good job
on the Jets, stuffing the Jets' running game and containing the Jets'
passing offense, for the most part. The Jets put together a couple of
decent drives in the first half, getting one field goal on a drive
that started at the Miami 48 after a series of mistakes forced the
Dolphins to punt from their own 8.
After the Dolphins went 3 and out, the Jets then put together
a touchdown drive that ended when 2 Dolphins' defensive backs ran into
each other at the 5 yard line, leaving Kyle Brady all alone to catch
the ball and lumber over the goalline. This gave the Jets a 10-7 lead
with 1:36 remaining in the first half.
1:36 is more than enough time for Dan Marino and after the
kickoff, Marino drove the ball down the field with his usual ruthless
2 minute efficiency and ended the drive with a perfect 23 yard
touchdown pass to Brett Perriman in the corner of the endzone. This
gave the Dolphins a 14-10 lead at the end of the 1st half.
The 2nd half opened with the Dolphins forcing the Jets to go 3
and out. The Dolphins then drove 66 yards on 12 plays, using the
running of Abdul-Jabbar to again move the ball well and throwing only
when necessary. On this drive, Abdul-Jabbar had 6 carries for 21
yards and the Dolphins converted 2 third and short situations. This
drive ended when Abdul-Jabbar ran outside to the right for 5 yards and
dove over the goal line. The Dolphins now led by the score of 21-10.
Both teams each had a 3 and out drive, and then the Jets began
driving from their 44, down to the Dolphins' 22. However, Derrick
Rodgers came on a blitz on 1st down and dragged Foley down by his
shirtsleeve for a sack. Then Jason Taylor came from the other side on
the very next play, sacking Foley and forcing a fumble that Taylor
then recovered. This ended this Jets' drive.
On Rodgers' sack, he hyperextended his knee after he dropped
Foley and it looked bad. However, once he got back on his feet, he
walked and then trotted off the field, so it may not be as bad as it
originally looked. Rodgers did not come back in the game, however.
The 4th quarter opened with the Dolphins driving again on the
running of Abdul-Jabbar and Spikes short passes to Ed Perry. The
Dolphins got down to the Jets' 3, but on 3rd and 3, Perriman couldn't
come down with a pass that he wrestled Otis Smith for and the Dolphins
settled for a field goal and a 24-10 lead.
The Jets got the ball back with 8:50 remaining in the game and
after a great kickoff return and two quick passes, they had a 2nd and
3 at the Dolphins' 43. The Dolphins were in a pass defense and the
Jets' ran Adrian Murrell behind their left tackle. Once Murrell burst
through the line, it became a footrace between him and some defensive
backs and Murrell got to the endzone first for a touchdown. It was
one of those plays where the running back got past the line of
scrimmage and suddenly no one was near him. This cut the score to
24-17.
On the next kickoff, the Jets faked an onsides kick and the
ball hit at about the 7 or 8 yard line. The Dolphins had Charles
Jordan deep and as the ball bounced, it stopped right on the goal
line. Of course, on a kickoff, this is a live ball. At first, it
looked like Jordan was going to let it go, but then he picked it up
much too late and tried to run with it. He was hammered at the
Dolphins 6 yard line. The Dolphins went 3 and out and punted away
with 5:20 remaining in the game.
The Jets then took the ball and moved down the field on a
series of passes with Foley in the shotgun. After a couple of
completions and a running attempt, the Jets faced a 4th and 5 at the
Miami 30. Foley dropped back and threw to Chrebet at the Miami 25.
Chrebet had to stretch to get the ball and it looked as if he had made
the catch at the Dolphins' 24 for a 1st down. However, when he fell
forward, the ball popped out of his hands as he hit the ground and the
referee ruled that it was an incomplete pass.
Replay showed that this obviously should have been a
completion, but the ball went over to the Dolphins. Once again, after
a nice 9 yard run on first down, the Dolphins were unable to get one
more yard and were forced to punt to the Jets. Now with 2:41
remaining and the length of the field to go, Foley completed several
passes, driving the Jets to the Miami 35. However, on 3rd and 10 with
1:15 remaining, George Teague stepped in front of a deep pass by Foley
and got the interception, sealing the Dolphins' victory.
At the end of the game, the Dolphins had swept the Jets for
the year and were tied with the Jets on top of the AFC East at 6-4.
The Patriots beat the Bills and that put the Patriots, Jets and
Dolphins in a 3 way tie for first place.
My Comments:
Overall, I think this was a good win for the Dolphins,
especially since they had to have it. They are back in the race for
the AFC East now and must face Buffalo next week. This win puts them
in good shape for that game.
The Dolphins did play well in most areas of the game, but a
couple of glaring weaknesses stood out. They are still weak in the
pass rushing department, even with the return of Jason Taylor. They
also had a bad day on special teams, allowing too much return yardage
by the Jets and making too many mistakes in key situations. A big
punt return by Charles Jordan in the first quarter was nullified by a
key penalty and, of course, there was Jordan's screwup in the 4th
quarter.
A win is a win, however, and the Dolphins did play well enough
to win today.
For those of you concerned about Derrick Rodgers, I can only
say that his injury did not appear to be serious and there are no
reports on his injury.
Related Info:
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Curt Fennell,
curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
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