With the help of the replay official, the New York Jets avoided a sweep at the hands of the Miami Dolphins with a game-winning field goal.
Sam Ficken’s 44-yard field goal as time expired gave the New York Jets their fourth win in five games, as his boot gave them a 22-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins. It marked the Jets’ first win over Miami since 2017.
Miami opened the scoring by concluding a 16-play, 92-yard drive with the first appearance of Jason Sanders, whose first three boots were under 30 yards. The Jets (5-8) would respond by going 74 yards on 10 plays, the last of which was a 26-yard scoring hookup between Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson, the latter’s fourth touchdown score of the season.
Sam Darnold's first score to Robby Anderson after he steps up in the pocket against a 3-man Dolphins rush. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/omirw60rvy
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) December 8, 2019
Ficken would miss the extra point, but would kick a 37-yarder on the Jets’ next drive, one started by a Nate Hairston interception. It was his first since his time as an Indianapolis Colt in November 2017.
We'll take that back. #MIAvsNYJ | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/gEgSaggeyk
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 8, 2019
Miami would reply with another Sanders triple, but the Jets built a two-possession lead with another Darnold touchdown pass, this one also ending a long drought. Demaryius Thomas’ 14-yard scoring catch, one that needed a replay review to confirm, marked his first end-zone visit since November of last season while with the Houston Texans.
Video review saves the day for Demaryius Thomas and the Jets. Initially called an incomplete pass, but later overturned. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/jnRBDa2Aos
— ESNY (@EliteSportsNY) December 8, 2019
Miami continued to keep pace over the middle frames thanks to the efforts of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The veteran and ex-Jets starter used both his hands and feet to keep Miami in the game. Sanders’ field goals continued to dominate the scoresheet, but Fitzpatrick impressed with several surprising rushes.
Sign Ryan Fitzpatrick to a lifetime extension. pic.twitter.com/klsuUhFnjh
— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) December 8, 2019
Big field goals went on to define the final stages of the game. Sanders’ seventh field goal, a Miami record, gave them the lead, but the Jets embarked on the winning drive with a little help from the camera. On a third-down incompletion under two minutes, the referees went to video review to check for pass interference. Dolphins defender Nik Needham was called for interfering with Vyncint Smith. Granted new life, the Jets set the stage for Ficken’s heroics.
Money.#MIAvsNYJ | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/qeUNR45PA5
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 8, 2019
With the win, the Jets will have a short week to prepare for the AFC-leading Baltimore Ravens, squaring off with them on the road on Thursday night (8:15 p.m., Fox/NFL Network).
