Monday Night Miracle (American football)

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.

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
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
1234OT Total
MIA 176770 37
NYJ 070303 40
DateOctober 23, 2000
StadiumGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
FavoriteJets by 3[1]
RefereeWalt Coleman
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersAl 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, 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‡

MiamiPositionNew York Jets
Offense
Leslie ShepherdWRDedric Ward
Richmond WebbLTJason Fabini
John BockLGKerry Jenkins
Tim RuddyCKevin Mawae‡
Kevin DonnalleyRGRandy Thomas
Todd WadeRTRyan Young
Hunter GoodwinTEFred Baxter
Oronde GadsdenWRWayne Chrebet
Jay FiedlerQBVinny Testaverde
Rob KonradFBWRLaveranues Coles
Lamar SmithRBCurtis Martin‡
Defense
Kenny MixonLEDERick Lyle
Tim BowensLTDTJason Ferguson
Jermaine HaleyRTDEShane Burton
Jason Taylor‡RELBMo Lewis
Zach Thomas‡MLBLBBryan Cox
Jerry WilsonWLBLBMarvin Jones
Robert JonesSLBLBJames Farrior
Patrick SurtainLCBCBAaron Glenn
Sam MadisonRCBCBMarcus Coleman
Brock MarionFSKevin Williams
Brian WalkerSSVictor Green

Game summary
2000 Week 8: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Dolphins 17 6 77037
Jets 0 7 030340

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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 downs2031
Third down efficiency5/174/16
Fourth down efficiency0/01/2
Total yards433455
Passing yards235376
Passing – completions/attempts16/3536/59
Rushing yards19879
Rushing attempts3822
Yards per rush5.23.6
Penalties–yards13–953–30
Sacks against–yards2–151–2
Fumbles–lost0–01–1
Interceptions thrown33
Time of possession36:1130:36

Individual stats
Dolphins Passing
Player C/ATT* Yds TD INT
Jay Fiedler16/3525023
Dolphins Rushing
Player Cara Yds TD LGb
Lamar Smith23155268
Jay Fiedler424015
Rob Konrad51103
J. J. Johnson2603
Thurman Thomas4204
Dolphins Receiving
Player Recc Yds TD LGb
Oronde Gadsden7119029
Leslie Shepherd394246
Hunter Goodwin21308
Lamar Smith29012
Thurman Thomas1808
Rob Konrad1707
Jets Passing
C/ATT* Yds TD INT
Vinny Testaverde36/5937853
Jets Rushing
Player Cara Yds TD LGb
Curtis Martin1465034
Vinny Testaverde1707
Dwight Stone1404
Richie Anderson6304
Jets Receiving
Player Recc Yds TD LGb
Richie Anderson12109019
Curtis Martin872015
Wayne Chrebet6104228
Laveranues Coles455130
Dedric Ward340027
Jumbo Elliott1313
Jermaine Wiggins1111
Jerald Sowell1-60-6

*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)

See also

References
  1. "Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - October 23rd, 2000". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. October 23, 2000 Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Boxscore from Pro Football Reference
  3. Diegnan, Mike (December 4, 2002). "MNF's Greatest Games: Miami-New York Jets 2000". ABC Sports Online. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  4. "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League. January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  5. Battista, Judy (October 24, 2000). "The Jets Are the Last Team Standing". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
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