Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (8) throw towards the sideline in the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-12 win at the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on January 8, 2017. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI |
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Backup quarterback Matt Moore, facing a two-touchdown deficit, rallied the Miami Dolphins to a 31-28 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
Dolphins defensive back Bobby McCain made the biggest defensive play of the game, intercepting a Josh McCown pass at the New York 27 with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter. That set up Dolphins kicker Cody Parkey, who broke a 28-28 tie with a 37-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the game.
Moore was playing in place of Jay Cutler, who left the game in the third quarter due to a chest injury. Cutler was hurt after being hit by Jets linebacker Jordan Jenkins. Moore completed 13 of 21 passes for 198 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
McCown's interception spoiled a strong overall performance in which he passed for three touchdowns and ran for one.
The Dolphins (4-2) avenged their loss to the Jets (3-4) four weeks ago. In so doing, the Dolphins won their third consecutive game, including two straight in which they overcame a deficit of at least 14 points.
New York scored on the opening drive, a five-play 75-yard march. McCown capped the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse, who beat rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley on a fly pattern to the right corner of the end zone.
Miami tied the score on its opening possession, compiling a nearly identical five-play 75-yard drive that was capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Jarvis Landry.
The drive was set up by a spectacular 36-yard reception by Kenny Stills, who caught the ball while on his back and after it was deflected. That play was initially called incomplete but overruled on review.
New York went ahead 14-7 on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson. The eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive was kept alive when running back Matt Forte gained 21 yards on a screen pass on third-and-19.
The Dolphins tied the score 14-14 later in the second quarter on a 10-play, 70-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano. The drive was kept alive on a third-down, 28-yard pass-interference call on Buster Skrine.
New York went ahead 21-14 on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by McCown. The two-play, 1-yard drive was set up by New York's defense. Safety Jamal Adams came on a blitz and deflected Cutler's pass. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson intercepted the pass and lumbered 3 yards.
The Jets extended their lead to 28-14 on McCown's 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. It was the third straight game in which Seferian-Jenkins has caught a touchdown pass.
With 11:21 left in the fourth quarter, Moore burned New York's safety blitz, hitting Stills for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone.
Five minutes later, Miami tied the score on a two-yard pass from Moore to Stills.
NOTES: Jets RT Brandon Shell (neck) was injured in the first quarter. He was replaced by Brent Qvale. ... Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder, toe) was active despite not practicing all week. ... Jets RB Bilal Powell (calf) was also active. ... Dolphins All-Pro C Mike Pouncey (concussion) was active despite missing the second half of last week's Atlanta Falcons game due to a concussion. He returned to practice on Friday. ... Dolphins WR DeVante Parker missed his second straight game due to an ankle injury. ... Dolphins CB Byron Maxwell, who began the season as a starter, was made inactive for the fourth straight game, even though he practiced fully all week. ... Dolphins DT Vincent Taylor was also a healthy scratch for Miami. The rookie sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma State has played considerably this season, making nine tackles in five games.
