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Having shared a division since the Dolphins' inauguration in 1966, Miami and the Jets are no stranger to one another. Traditionally, the games and the series have been very close.
Since the Dolphins and Jets play twice this season, we'll put together two separate pieces. With Sunday's contest on the road, we'll look at the five best memories for the Dolphins while visiting the Jets.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
All-Time Series: Jets lead 54-50-1
All-Time Series in New York: Jets lead 29-23
Last Meeting: Miami won 31-28 at home (Oct. 22, 2017)
Last Meeting in New York: Jets won 20-6 (Sept. 24, 2017)
TOP 5 MOMENTS
5. Dolphins Rally to Start 10-0
Miami Dolphins 31, New York Jets 17
Nov. 4, 1984
The Miami Dolphins arrived in the Meadowlands to kick off the month of November in 1984 with a perfect 9-0 record. That perfect record looked to be in jeopardy with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after running back Freeman McNeil scored from six yards out to give the Jets a 17-14 lead. Over the game's final 7:45 however, the Jets had no answer for Dan Marino and the Miami offense as they closed the game with 17 straight points. Marino's 47-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton midway through the period put the Dolphins ahead for good before Pete Johnson put the exclamation point on the win with a 2-yard touchdown with 1:57 to play.
4. Ginn Returns Two Kickoffs 100-Plus Yards for Scores
Miami Dolphins 30, New York Jets 25
Nov. 1, 2009
It had been 32 years since an NFL player had returned two kickoffs for a touchdown in the same quarter. That changed as the calendar turned to November in 2009 and Ted Ginn set his sights on the Meadowlands. On a day where the Dolphins managed just 104 yards of offense, they found a way to beat the Jets, thanks to three non-offensive touchdowns and two from Ginn. Ginn became the first Miami player ever to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game. Ginn gave the Dolphins the lead midway through the third quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return for a score. The next time he touched the football later in the quarter, he outdid himself, going 101 yards. Jason Taylor also returned a fumble for a score in the victory, but it was Ginn who stole the show.
3. Dolphins Hand Jets Worst Shutout Home Loss Ever
Miami Dolphins 43, New York Jets 0
Oct. 19, 1975
It's been more than 40 years since the date, but no team has ever handed the New York Jets a worse shutout loss at home than the Miami Dolphins did in 1975. Bob Griese passed for three touchdowns and ran for another for the Miami offense while Mercury Morris added 114 yards rushing and a score on the ground. The story for the Dolphins however, was the defense. As a unit, Miami held the Jets to just 176 yards of offense and forced eight turnovers. The Dolphins intercepted future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath six times. Safety Curtis Johnson was responsible for three of those.
2. Dolphins Go Worst to First, Clinch AFC East
Miami Dolphins 24, New York Jets 17
Dec. 28, 2008
After going just 1-15 in 2007, the Miami Dolphins arrived in East Rutherford for the 2008 regular season finale needing only a victory to finish 11-5, win the AFC East and tie the greatest single-season turnaround in league history. In what would be quarterback Brett Favre's final game as a New York Jet, the Dolphins intercepted the Hall of Famer three times. Andre' Goodman was responsible for two of them while defensive end Phillip Merling returned his 25 yards for a touchdown. Still midway through the third quarter, Miami was on the short end of a 17-14 score. That's when Miami quarterback and longtime Jet, Chad Pennington looked to the end zone and found tight end Anthony Fasano for 20 yards and what would be the game's final touchdown. Pennington passed for 200 yards and a pair of scores while the defense did the rest as Miami claimed its first division title in eight years and the only one since.
1. The Fake Spike
Miami Dolphins 28, New York Jets 24
Nov. 27, 1994
Legendary Miami quarterback Dan Marino was in the process of leading one of his memorable comebacks in late November 1994. A 24-6 lead for the New York Jets had been whittled to three and after a first down completion inside the 10-yard-line with less than a minute to play, Marino motioned to his team that he had planned on spiking the ball and stopping the clock. But with 22 seconds left and the New York defense's guard down, Marino took the snap and instead looked to the corner of the end zone where he found Mark Ingram for the fourth touchdown connection between the two on the day and the game-winning score. Marino finished the day with 359 yards passing while Ingram finished with 117 yards receiving and four scores. The victory would be enormous as Miami went on to win the AFC East. That particular play continues to live in Dolphins lore.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
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