Dolphins Clinch Wild-Card Berth : AFC: Stoyanovich, after missing extra-point attempt with 2:30 left, makes field goal to beat Jets, 19-17.

Pete Stoyanovich, who earlier missed an extra-point attempt, made a 37-yard field goal with seven seconds left as the Dolphins made the playoffs by beating the New York Jets, 19-17, Sunday night.

Stoyanovich, the NFL’s leading scorer, pushed an extra point wide right with 2:30 to go, allowing the Jets to hang onto a 17-16 lead.

“I had a lot of anger in myself, and I took it out on that last kick,” he said.

With the victory, Miami (10-5) clinched an AFC wild-card berth. The Dolphins can earn their first AFC East title since 1985 if they win next Sunday at New England and Buffalo loses at Houston.

“We won. We’re in. We’re still alive in the division,” Coach Don Shula said. “That’s all we can ask for. We’re pretty happy about the victory.”

The Dolphins have made the playoffs 14 times in Shula’s 23 years at Miami, but only twice since 1985. They broke a three-game losing streak against the Jets (4-11).

Miami’s high-priced offense again sputtered, but turned two short fourth-down passes into touchdowns. Mark Clayton scored from 39 yards and Tony Martin from 55 after taking passes from Dan Marino.

It was after Martin’s touchdown that Stoyanovich missed the extra point. Miami then stopped the Jets on three plays following the kickoff.

“If we make a first down, we win the game,” Jet Coach Bruce Coslet said.

Louie Aguiar’s 29-yard punt gave the Dolphins the ball at Jets’ 45 with 1:05 left.

“I just choked, and it cost us,” Aguiar said.

Marino connected with Fred Banks for 11 yards and Mark Duper for 17, giving Miami a first down at the 22 with 39 seconds to go. Two plays later, Stoyanovich came on to kick the winner.

“Can you imagine the pressure he was under after missing the PAT?” Shula said.

“It was a way to come out of the dark,” Stoyanovich said. “Sometimes you don’t get another opportunity.”