Esiason’s Big Day Leads Jets Past Dolphins, 24-14 : AFC: New York quarterback passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns against Miami.

Boomer Esiason continued his comeback, and this time Dan Marino failed to produce one.

Esiason passed for two touchdowns, scored another and topped 300 yards passing for the second consecutive week, as the New York Jets beat the Miami Dolphins, 24-14, Sunday.

Esiason’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Pat Chaffey with 4:44 remaining gave New York a 10-point cushion and averted any Marino magic.

“I have a lot of respect for Dan, but I never for one minute thought we would lose the game,” Esiason said.

Marino has rallied Miami from behind to win in the fourth quarter 25 times, including in the season opener a week ago at Indianapolis. But the Dolphins’ hopes ended when Leonard Marshall recovered Marino’s fumble at the Jets’ 30-yard line with two minutes remaining.

The result left both teams at 1-1.

Esiason completed 22 of 33 passes for 323 yards. A week ago, Esiason had his first 300-yard game since 1991.

As usual, Miami brought out the best in the Jets. Four of New York’s 13 victories in the past three seasons have come against the Dolphins.

The Jets’ front seven was dominant, limiting Miami to 27 yards rushing and sacking Marino three times.

Chaffey capped a 73-yard drive with his touchdown catch over the middle on third-and-seven. The Jets were successful on 10 of 16 third-down situations.

Esiason completed a long pass to set up each of New York’s first three scores. His 46-yard pass play to Terance Mathis on a flea-flicker led to Cary Blanchard’s 39-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.

Linebacker John Offerdahl and tight end Keith Jackson, two of Miami’s best players, sat out the second half because of injuries. Offerdahl hurt his left shoulder in the first quarter, and Jackson pulled his right hamstring in the second quarter.