Big Letdown Is Delivered to the Dolphins

MIAMI —  The New York Jets hung on to a fourth-quarter lead against Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins, and now they hold a one-game lead in the AFC East.

The Jets foiled a comeback bid by Marino and the Dolphins on Sunday night, stopping them three times in the final quarter and scoring a touchdown on a fumble return for a 21-16 victory.

The Jets (10-4) clinched a playoff berth and dropped the Dolphins into second place at 9-5 with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

“This puts us in the tournament,” Jet Coach Bill Parcells said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m in coaching. It’s very satisfying.”

The Jets, who have never won an AFC East title, improved to 5-1 within the division, which could help them in a tiebreaker. They play Saturday at Buffalo.

“We haven’t accomplished anything,” said linebacker Bryan Cox, a former Dolphin. “To be full of ourselves would be an injustice. To me, Buffalo is the team to beat. This game is already forgotten.”

A grim Jimmy Johnson, who billed the game as the biggest in his three seasons as Miami’s coach, had little to say about the loss.

“We came up short,” he said. “It’s very disappointing.”

The Jets won their fourth in a row, completed a sweep of the season series against Miami and handed the Dolphins their first defeat in seven home games this year.

Leading 14-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Jet defense made big plays against Marino and the Dolphins.

Victor Green ended one scoring threat with an 87-yard interception return, and another Dolphin series ended at the Jet 45 with a Marino incompletion on fourth and one. Linebacker Chad Cascadden then clinched the victory by returning a Marino fumble 23 yards for a touchdown, making the score 21-10 with 1:51 left.

“I told our offense, ‘If you don’t turn the ball over, we’ll win the game,’ and they didn’t,” Cox said. “The Dolphins had to move the ball down the field, and they couldn’t do that on a consistent basis.”

Jet quarterback Vinny Testaverde was 17 for 29 for 232 yards, including completions of 52 yards to Wayne Chrebet and 35 yards to Kyle Brady to set up touchdowns. Testaverde connected Chrebet for a 12-yard touchdown.

“Me and Vinny have real good chemistry on the field right now,” said Chrebet, who made five catches for 105 yards. “He’s anticipating where I’m going to go, and I’m anticipating where he’s going to throw.”

Marino was 30 for 57 for 321 yards, and was sacked five times.

“It’s tough to take,” he said. “The offense--we played horribly. With the defense playing as well as they did, we should win this game.”

Miami crossed midfield only once in the first 35 minutes, driving 73 yards for Olindo Mare’s 24-yard field goal.

The Dolphins finally got a touchdown with 6:25 left on Marino’s three-yard pass play to O.J. McDuffie. Stanley Pritchett had a one-yard touchdown run with three seconds to go.

Miami has a tough road to the playoffs, with its final two games against Denver (13-1) and NFC West leader Atlanta (11-2).

“We’ve put ourselves in a hole,” cornerback Sam Madison said. “We’re going to have to win out.”