Wildcat score with 6 seconds left helps Dolphins rally past Jets 31-27

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 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 7½-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 33½ 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.