Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000

Who expected a Dolphins-Jets shootout?

Two of the top defenses fall apart in battle for the AFC East lead, but I’m still watching

By Andy Hanacek, Associate editor

If you also stayed up for the four-hour, 10-minute marathon, you are in the same boat with me and those fans who remained in the stands after their Jets fell behind 30-7 late in the third quarter. (You’re also probably turning your work in at the last minute, just as I’ve done with this column.) You probably expected a battle of the defenses as I did. But the game became quite a surprise.

Personally, I was disgusted with the Jets’ performance through three quarters. I almost turned off the game. My girlfriend fell asleep in the third quarter. I was disappointed because I had hoped to see a defensive gem turned in by both sides — a beat-them-into-submission, 10-7 type of game. The Jets and Dolphins had two of the higher-rated defenses in the league entering the game, and I thought I’d see sacks galore, bone-jarring run stuffing and stellar pass defense. The pass defense was the only one of those that came through, but only in spurts. The teams let me down but kept me entertained.

In the first half, the Dolphins’ defense played great football and got some help from Jets QB Vinny Testaverde, who was off his game. But in the third quarter the tide began to shift, and by the end of regulation, the Dolphins’ defense was imitating the poor play that plagued the Jets’ defense in the first half.

Did you realize there were only three sacks in this game? This from two defenses that had averaged nearly four sacks per game. The offensive lines played phenomenal games, protecting their QBs and supporting the run (Miami’s ground game, anyway).

Testaverde had me worried through three quarters. He looked bad. Very bad. I thought for certain his neck must’ve been bothering him. Most of his incompletions were terrible throws, and his three interceptions were either poor reads or poor throws. He almost threw a fourth interception on the first Jets fourth-quarter TD, but CB Sam Madison juggled the ball and WR Laveranues Coles hauled it in for a TD. Vinny ended the day with 378 yards and completed 36 passes in 59 attempts. He threw five TDs to four different receivers. I guess his neck went numb by the fourth quarter. Either that or the no-huddle offense allowed him to forget about it.

WR Wayne Chrebet was also a big difference-maker in the game. Chrebet’s deceptive speed was enough to get him open for two TD receptions on six catches for 104 yards.

The Dolphins’ loss overshadows a great showing by RB Lamar Smith, who ran for 155 yards and two TDs, including a 68-yard run in the first quarter.

Miami will rebound from this heartbreaking loss, but expect the Jets to carry this one with them for a while. The two defenses are better than the Monday-night game showed, and they will probably give up 30 points less often than they will produce 10-7 slugfest-type games.

Either way — an offensive showdown or a defense struggle — I’ll be watching and I’ll be entertained. Even if my girlfriend is sleeping through a historic fourth-quarter comeback.

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2000 - 2001 Season