Monday Night Miracle (American football)

Not to be confused with the like-nicknamed 2005 Washington Redskins–Dallas Cowboys game.

For the similarly-nicknamed "Monday Night Comeback", see 2006 Chicago Bears–Arizona Cardinals game.

The Monday Night Miracle was an NFL Monday night game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins played at Giants Stadium on October 23, 2000.^[2] The Jets scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, twice tying the score, and sending the game into overtime, where they defeated the Dolphins, 40–37.

The Monday Night Miracle

Giants Stadium, the site of the game.
Miami Dolphins (5–1) New York Jets (5–1) 37 40 Head coach: Dave Wannstedt Head coach: Al Groh
1 2 3 4 OT Total MIA 17 6 7 7 0 37 NYJ 0 7 0 30 3 40
Date	October 23, 2000
Stadium	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey
Favorite	Jets by 3[1]
Referee	Walt Coleman
TV in the United States
Network	ABC
Announcers	Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, and Dennis Miller

Background

Like their 1994 showdown at Giants Stadium which was made famous by Dan Marino's "fake spike", this game was for first place in the AFC East as the Jets were 4-1 and the Dolphins were 5-0. But unlike the 1994 game which featured the Jets failing to hold a double-digit (18) lead in the second half, it was the Dolphins who failed to hold the lead.

The game is notable for having the second largest fourth-quarter comeback in NFL history and the largest comeback in Jets history. It was also voted the greatest game televised on ABC's Monday Night Football,^[3] along with being #5 on NFL Top Ten's Top Ten Comebacks.^[4]

At the end of the third quarter with the score 30–7 in Miami's favor, Jets broadcaster Howard David announced, "And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over."

Jets comeback

The Jets proceeded to stage a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 unanswered points to tie the game at 30. They scored three touchdowns and a field goal, but a two-point conversion attempt to Curtis Martin was stopped. On the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage after the game was tied, they took the lead on a long touchdown pass by Jay Fiedler to Leslie Shepherd. However, the Jets still managed to drive downfield and tie the game. One of the key plays was a 4th down catch at the Dolphins 2-yard line by Richie Anderson as he caught the ball despite a head-on hit by Zach Thomas and Dolphins defensive back Jerry Wilson. Improbably, the tying touchdown was caught by offensive tackle John "Jumbo" Elliott, playing as a tackle-eligible.^[5] After Elliott caught the touchdown pass, Dennis Miller remarked how opposing defenses, "couldn't keep him down forever." In the overtime Fiedler was intercepted by Marcus Coleman but Coleman was hit by Thurman Thomas and fumbled the ball back to the Dolphins. Several plays later, Coleman intercepted Fiedler again and this time held on. An eventual Vinny Testaverde pass to Wayne Chrebet put the Jets in field goal range, and a pass that was nearly intercepted by Jerry Wilson hit the ground first, nullifying the turnover. Jets kicker John Hall then won the game with a field goal with 8:13 remaining in the extra session.^[5]

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth to promote his upcoming film The 6th Day, said after halftime,

Wayne Chrebet is going to pull it off. I think as usual the Jets are going to come from behind, you will see... I think the Dolphins have to be terminated.

The Monday night game for the Jets was in between Games 2 and 3 of the All New York (Yankees vs. Mets) 2000 World Series. The series overshadowed the game. In fact, the crowd broke out into "Let's Go Yankees" chants countered by "Let's Go Mets" chants during the third quarter.

Starting lineups

Hall of Fame‡

Miami	Position		New York Jets
Offense
Leslie Shepherd	WR		Dedric Ward
Richmond Webb	LT		Jason Fabini
John Bock	LG		Kerry Jenkins
Tim Ruddy	C		Kevin Mawae‡
Kevin Donnalley	RG		Randy Thomas
Todd Wade	RT		Ryan Young
Hunter Goodwin	TE		Fred Baxter
Oronde Gadsden	WR		Wayne Chrebet
Jay Fiedler	QB		Vinny Testaverde
Rob Konrad	FB	WR	Laveranues Coles
Lamar Smith	RB		Curtis Martin‡
Defense
Kenny Mixon	LE	DE	Rick Lyle
Tim Bowens	LT	DT	Jason Ferguson
Jermaine Haley	RT	DE	Shane Burton
Jason Taylor‡	RE	LB	Mo Lewis
Zach Thomas‡	MLB	LB	Bryan Cox
Jerry Wilson	WLB	LB	Marvin Jones
Robert Jones	SLB	LB	James Farrior
Patrick Surtain	LCB	CB	Aaron Glenn
Sam Madison	RCB	CB	Marcus Coleman
Brock Marion	FS		Kevin Williams
Brian Walker	SS		Victor Green

Game summary

2000 Week 8: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Dolphins	17	6	7	7	0	37
Jets	0	7	0	30	3	40

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: October 23, 2000
• Game time: 9:10 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 51 °F (28 °C), Clear
• Game attendance: 78,389
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, and Dennis Miller
• Boxscore, Game Book

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MIA NYJ 1 7:22 14 63 7:38 MIA 28-yard field goal by Olindo Mare 3 0 1 5:03 2 69 0:51 MIA Leslie Shepherd 42-yard touchdown reception from Jay Fiedler, Mare kick good 10 0 1 3:09 1 68 0:13 MIA Lamar Smith 68-yard touchdown run, Mare kick good 17 0 2 12:57 5 17 1:57 MIA 42-yard field goal by Mare 20 0 2 0:53 5 53 0:51 NYJ Wayne Chrebet 10-yard touchdown reception from Vinny Testaverde, John Hall kick good 20 7 2 0:02 5 34 0:51 MIA 44-yard field goal by Mare 23 7 3 0:12 5 35 3:04 MIA Smith 3-yard touchdown run, Mare kick good 30 7 4 13:49 4 75 1:23 NYJ Laveranues Coles 30-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, 2-point pass failed 30 13 4 9:51 7 63 2:11 NYJ Jermaine Wiggins 1-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 30 20 4 5:43 10 64 1:52 NYJ 34-yard field goal by Hall 30 23 4 3:55 3 39 0:33 NYJ Chrebet 24-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 30 30 4 3:33 1 46 0:22 MIA Shepherd 46-yard touchdown reception from Fiedler, Mare kick good 37 30 4 0:42 9 57 2:51 NYJ Jumbo Elliott 3-yard touchdown reception from Testaverde, Hall kick good 37 37 OT 8:13 7 43 2:53 NYJ 40-yard field goal by Hall 37 40 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 37 40

Final statistics

Statistical comparison

	Miami Dolphins	New York Jets
First downs	20	31
Third down efficiency	5/17	4/16
Fourth down efficiency	0/0	1/2
Total yards	433	455
Passing yards	235	376
Passing – completions/attempts	16/35	36/59
Rushing yards	198	79
Rushing attempts	38	22
Yards per rush	5.2	3.6
Penalties–yards	13–95	3–30
Sacks against–yards	2–15	1–2
Fumbles–lost	0–0	1–1
Interceptions thrown	3	3
Time of possession	36:11	30:36

Individual stats

Dolphins Passing
Player	C/ATT*	Yds	TD	INT
Jay Fiedler	16/35	250	2	3
Dolphins Rushing
Player	Cara	Yds	TD	LGb
Lamar Smith	23	155	2	68
Jay Fiedler	4	24	0	15
Rob Konrad	5	11	0	3
J. J. Johnson	2	6	0	3
Thurman Thomas	4	2	0	4
Dolphins Receiving
Player	Recc	Yds	TD	LGb
Oronde Gadsden	7	119	0	29
Leslie Shepherd	3	94	2	46
Hunter Goodwin	2	13	0	8
Lamar Smith	2	9	0	12
Thurman Thomas	1	8	0	8
Rob Konrad	1	7	0	7

Jets Passing
	C/ATT*	Yds	TD	INT
Vinny Testaverde	36/59	378	5	3
Jets Rushing
Player	Cara	Yds	TD	LGb
Curtis Martin	14	65	0	34
Vinny Testaverde	1	7	0	7
Dwight Stone	1	4	0	4
Richie Anderson	6	3	0	4
Jets Receiving
Player	Recc	Yds	TD	LGb
Richie Anderson	12	109	0	19
Curtis Martin	8	72	0	15
Wayne Chrebet	6	104	2	28
Laveranues Coles	4	55	1	30
Dedric Ward	3	40	0	27
Jumbo Elliott	1	3	1	3
Jermaine Wiggins	1	1	1	1
Jerald Sowell	1	-6	0	-6

^*Completions/Attempts ^aCarries ^bLongest play ^cReceptions

Officials

• Referee: Walt Coleman (#65)
• Umpire: Undrey Wash (#96)
• Head linesman: John Schleyer (#21)
• Line judge: Dave Anderson (#81)
• Field judge: Scott Steenson (#88)
• Side judge: Bill Spyksma (#12)
• Back judge: Ron Spitler (#119)

Aftermath

Despite the Jets winning the game, they would finish the season with a 9-7 record 3rd in the AFC East. The Dolphins however would win the AFC East with an 11-5 record but forcing them to enter the playoffs as a wild card team as they couldn't catch the two teams with the best record in the AFC, the 12-4 Oakland Raiders and the team with the best record in football that year, the 13-3 Tennessee Titans. The Dolphins won their first playoff game 23-17 against Indianapolis in the Wild Card round in overtime (their last playoff win to date) but lost next week against Oakland 27-0 in the divisional round.

See also

• Dolphins–Jets rivalry
• The Monday Night Miracle (ice hockey)