The Monday Night Miracle (American football)
Encyclopedia
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 Giants Stadium
on October 23, 2000
.
's "fake spike
", this game was for first place in the AFC East as both teams entered the game with identical 5-1 records. 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
.
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."
The Jets proceeded to stage a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 unanswered points to tie the game at 30. On the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage after the game was tied, they took a lead on a long touchdown pass by Jay Fiedler
. However, the Jets still managed to drive downfield and tie the game. Improbably, the tying touchdown was caught by offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott, playing as a tackle-eligible
. After Elliott caught the touchdown pass, Dennis Miller remarked how opposing defenses, "couldn't keep him down forever." Jets kicker John Hall
won the game with a field goal with 8:13 remaining in the extra session.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger
, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth, said after halftime, Chrebet would catch a pass in the fourth quarter for a touchdown to tie the game at 30–30, and the Jets would go on to complete the historic comeback.
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 "Lets go Yankees" chants countered by "Lets Go Mets" chants during the third quarter.
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)
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, "The Monday Night Miracle" refers to a Monday night
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game between the New York Jets
2000 New York Jets season
-Schedule:The Jets were ranked 12th in the NFL in total offense and finished tied with Philadelphia for 10th in total defense.-Best performances:* Curtis Martin, Week 14, 203 Rushing Yards vs. Indianapolis...
and Miami Dolphins
2000 Miami Dolphins season
The 2000 season was the 33rd in franchise history. Dave Wannstedt was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on January 16, 2000.-NFL Draft:-Preseason:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-Awards and honors:...
played at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
on October 23, 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
.
Background
Like their 1994 showdown at Giants Stadium which was made famous (or infamous, depending on viewpoint) by Dan MarinoDan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
's "fake spike
The Clock Play
The Clock Play aka The Fake Spike Game refers to a National Football League game that took place on November 27, between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets that featured one of the most audacious finishes in league history...
", this game was for first place in the AFC East as both teams entered the game with identical 5-1 records. 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
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
.
At the end of the third quarter with the score 30–7 in Miami's favor, Jets broadcaster Howard David
Howard David
-Biography:Over the years, David has been the radio play-by-play man for several pro sports teams including the NBA's New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics, and the NFL's New York Jets and Miami Dolphins...
announced, "And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over."
The Jets proceeded to stage a furious rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 unanswered points to tie the game at 30. On the Dolphins' first play from scrimmage after the game was tied, they took a lead on a long touchdown pass by Jay Fiedler
Jay Fiedler
Jay Brian Fiedler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League.-Early life and high school years:Fiedler was born to a Jewish family on Long Island in Oceanside, New York...
. However, the Jets still managed to drive downfield and tie the game. Improbably, the tying touchdown was caught by offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott, playing as a tackle-eligible
Tackle-eligible play
In football, the tackle-eligible play is a forward-pass play in which coaches will attempt to create mismatches against a defense by inserting an offensive tackle , into an offensive formation as an eligible receiver, usually as a tight end or as a fullback...
. After Elliott caught the touchdown pass, Dennis Miller remarked how opposing defenses, "couldn't keep him down forever." Jets kicker John Hall
John Hall (American football)
John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
won the game with a field goal with 8:13 remaining in the extra session.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, while visiting the ABC broadcast booth, said after halftime, Chrebet would catch a pass in the fourth quarter for a touchdown to tie the game at 30–30, and the Jets would go on to complete the historic comeback.
The Monday night game for the Jets was in between Games 2 and 3 of the All New York (Yankees
2000 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2000 season was the 98th season for the Yankees in New York, and their 100th overall going back to their origins in Baltimore. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The team finished 1st in the AL East with a record of 87–74, 2.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, after...
vs. Mets
2000 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 2000 season was the 39th regular season for the Mets. They went 94-68 and finished 2nd in the NL East, but earned the NL Wild Card. They made it to the World Series where they were defeated by their crosstown rival New York Yankees. They were managed by Bobby Valentine...
) 2000 World Series
2000 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 2000 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe opener fell on two anniversaries. Twenty-five years prior, Boston Red Sox's catcher Carlton Fisk ended Game 6 of the 1975 World Series with his famous home run off the left field foul pole in Fenway Park in Boston to beat...
. The series overshadowed the game. In fact, the crowd broke out into "Lets go Yankees" chants countered by "Lets Go Mets" chants during the third quarter.
Scoring summary
- 1st Quarter
- MIA - FG MareOlindo MareOlindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
28-yards, 3-0 MIA - MIA - ShepherdLeslie ShepherdLeslie Glenard Shepherd is a former professional American football player in the National Football League. He played seven years, the first five with the Washington Redskins, and one apiece for the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins...
42-yard pass from FiedlerJay FiedlerJay Brian Fiedler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League.-Early life and high school years:Fiedler was born to a Jewish family on Long Island in Oceanside, New York...
(Mare kick), 10-0 MIA - MIA - L. Smith 68-yard run (Mare kick), 17-0 MIA
- MIA - FG Mare
- 2nd Quarter
- MIA - FG Mare 42-yards, 20-0 MIA
- NYJ - ChrebetWayne ChrebetWayne Chrebet is a former football player who played 11 seasons as a wide receiver for the New York Jets of the NFL from 1995 to 2005.- High school and college career :...
10-yard pass from TestaverdeVinny TestaverdeVincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
(HallJohn Hall (American football)John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
kick), 20-7 MIA - MIA - FG Mare 44-yards, 23-7 MIA
- 3rd Quarter
- MIA - L. Smith 3-yard run (Mare kick), 30-7 MIA
- 4th Quarter
- NYJ - ColesLaveranues ColesLaveranues Leon Coles is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University....
30-yard pass from Testaverde (2pt conversion failed), 30-13 MIA - NYJ - WigginsJermaine WigginsJermaine Wiggins is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Georgia....
1-yard pass from Testaverde (Hall kick), 30-20 MIA - NYJ - FG Hall 34-yards, 30-23 MIA
- NYJ - Chrebet 24-yard pass from Testaverde (Hall kick), 30-30 Tie
- MIA - Shepherd 46-yard pass from Fiedler (Mare kick), 37-30 MIA
- NYJ - Elliott 3-yard pass from Testaverde (Hall kick), 37-37 Tie
- NYJ - Coles
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-yards, 40-37 NYJ