MIAMI (AP) – The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, and small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left Monday night.
A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with an ugly but crucial comeback victory.
New York overcame steady rain, a sputtering offense and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win 13-10.
All of the points came in the final 17:25. Miami kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left, but on the Jets’ next play, Leon Washington caught a short pass from Chad Pennington and broke loose for a 64-yard gain.
Four plays later, Nugent kicked a 30-yarder. That meant the Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game Sunday.
For the Dolphins (6-9), the defeat ensures the first losing season for Nick Saban in his 13 years as a college and NFL coach. Miami was eliminated from the playoff race a week ago.
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