The Monday Night Miracle (American football)

NFL single game infobox
name=The Monday Night Miracle


caption=
visitor=Miami Dolphins
visitor abbr=MIA
visitor coach=Dave Wannstedt
visitor record=5-1
home=New York Jets
home abbr=NYJ
home coach=Al Groh
home record=5-1
visitor qtr1=17
visitor qtr2=6
visitor qtr3=7
visitor qtr4=7
visitor qtr5=0
visitor total=37
home qtr1=0
home qtr2=7
home qtr3=0
home qtr4=30
home qtr5=3
home total=40
date=2000-10-23
stadium=The Meadowlands
city=East Rutherford, New Jersey
referee=
attendance=
odds=
network=ABC
announcers=Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, and Dennis Miller|In the National Football League, "The Monday Night Miracle" refers to a Monday night game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins played at The Meadowlands on October 23, 2000.

Background

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" [cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/abcsports/mnf/s/greatestgames/miaminewyorkjets2000.html|title=MNF's Greatest Games: Miami-New York Jets 2000|first=Mike|last=Diegnan|publisher=ABC Sports Online|date=2002-12-04|accessdate=2008-02-19] .

The most miraculous play which occurred in this contest was the way the New York Jets scored the final touchdown of the fourth quarter, which tied the game at 37 and propelled the Jets into overtime. The Jets used a play they worked on in practice, but one that few expected would be called in a game situation, let alone one as critical as this: a pass to tackle eligible Jumbo Elliott. His diving, bobbling catch completed this historical "Monday Night Football" miracle. Actor (and later California Governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth, said at halftime, cquote|Wayne Chrebet will catch a pass and the Jets will win. They're a great team. Chrebet would catch a pass in the 4th quarter for a touchdown, and the Jets would go on to complete the historic comeback. One of the more ironic lines that goes unnoticed from the Jets Radio Broadcast was at the end of the third quarter when Howard David said "And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over." Although with the score 30-7, he could've meant that the game was out of reach for the Jets, and therefore basically over.

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 and was overshadowed by the series.

Scoring summary

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Dolphins
R1=17
R2=6
R3=7
R4=7
R5=0
RT=37
Home=Jets
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=30
H5=3
HT=40

*1st Quarter
**MIA - FG Mare 28
**MIA - Shepherd 42 pass from Fiedler (Mare kick)
**MIA - L. Smith 68 run (Mare kick)
*2nd Quarter
**MIA - FG Mare 42
**NYJ - Chrebet 10 pass from Testaverde (Hall kick)
**MIA - FG Mare 44
*3rd Quarter
**MIA - L. Smith 3 run (Mare kick)
*4th Quarter
**NYJ - Coles 30 pass from Testaverde (2pt conversion failed)
**NYJ - Wiggins 1 pass from Testaverde (Hall kick)
**NYJ - FG Hall 34
**NYJ - Chrebet 24 pass from Testaverde (Hall kick)
**MIA - Shepherd 46 pass from Fiedler (Mare kick)
**NYJ - Elliott 3 pass from Testaverde (Hall kick)The Jets made 20 first downs in the 4th quarter, as opposed to the Dolphins, who only managed one. Three of Testaverde's four 4th quarter touchdown passes went to players who had never scored an NFL touchdown. (Coles, Wiggins, Elliott)
*Overtime
**NYJ - FG Hall 40

References