Jets move closer to playoff berth
MIAMI — With a couple of quick cuts and a burst of breakaway speed, Leon Washington moved the New York Jets closer to the playoffs.
Washington's 64-yard gain on a screen pass set up the winning field goal with 10 seconds left, and the Jets overcame rainy weather, a sputtering offense and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win 13-10 on Monday night.
The Jets (9-6) will clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game Sunday.
"It's nice to know that now things are finally in our control," first-year coach Eric Mangini said.
Steady rain mired the Jets in a punting contest for three quarters, and all of the points came in the final 17:25. In the final period, New York answered scores by the Dolphins with scoring drives of 80 and 68 yards.
"This is the type of game you want to win," Jets linebacker Anthony Schlegel said. "This was a playoff-type game. We probably will find ourselves in this situation if we are in the playoffs — a tight game, on the road. This tells us we can pull these kind of games out."
Miami kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left, but on the Jets' next play, Washington caught Pennington's pass in the flat and broke into the secondary.
"Leon is faster than most people," Pennington said.
"It's obviously a play that is not meant to go that far," Miami's Jason Taylor said. "The defense let the team down."
Washington's dash set up a 30-yard field goal by Mike Nugent.
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.
The rain resulted in a succession of errant and dropped passes — and 18 punts. A mishandled snap spoiled a field goal try by New York. Dolphins cornerback Eddie Jackson left the game with a knee injury when he stumbled and fell on the slippery field without being hit.
