Marino, Dolphins Have Their Number

The New York Jets have gone from also-ran to front-runner in only one season under Coach Bill Parcells, but one thing hasn’t changed--they can’t beat the Miami Dolphins.

Karim Abdul-Jabbar resurrected Miami’s beleaguered running game with 103 yards and two touchdowns Sunday as the Dolphins defeated the Jets, 24-17. The Dolphins share first place in the AFC East with the Jets and Patriots at 6-4.

Dan Marino, questionable before the game because of a sore left ankle, threw for 186 yards and one touchdown as the Dolphins defeated the Jets for the seventh consecutive time in games Marino starts.

Miami swept New York for the second consecutive season and ruined a fine performance by Jet quarterback Glenn Foley, who made his first start of the season.

“This puts us back in contention, but the sad part is it makes you sick that we lost to Chicago and Buffalo,” Marino said. “We really could be in great shape.”

Foley completed 25 of 48 passes for 322 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. He had come off the bench the last two games to lead the Jets to victories and take the job from Neil O’Donnell.

New York cut the Dolphin lead to 24-17 with a 43-yard touchdown run by Adrian Murrell with 7:37 left. It was the longest scoring run of Murrell’s career and he had only 26 yards rushing otherwise.

Foley then tried to lead the Jets on another scoring drive, but Miami stopped them on fourth and five at the Dolphin 30 with 3:48 left on a controversial call.

Wayne Chrebet was ruled to have dropped a pass when he hit the ground; the reception would have gained a first down. Replays indicated Chrebet caught the pass and controlled the ball as he stretched for more yardage.

“I felt I caught it,” Chrebet said. “I don’t know where that would have put us. I don’t know if it would have carried us to the end zone.”

Parcells wouldn’t make a definitive comment on the catch, but field judge John Robison said he spoke to him after the game and said: “I don’t think you want to print what he said. He indicated that if there was a mistake, then I cost him the game.”

The Jets had one more chance when they drove to the Dolphin 35 with 1:00 remaining, but George Teague made an interception on third down to clinch the victory.

“We aren’t the most talented team in the world,” Parcells said. “We have to be on top of our game to win. We weren’t quite on top of it today.”

Abdul-Jabbar was on top of his game.

The Dolphins were ranked 29th in the league in rushing, but Abdul-Jabbar reached 100 yards for the third time in four games against the Jets. He scored a touchdown on Miami’s opening drive on a four-yard sweep.

Abdul-Jabbar was also effective on the Dolphins’ first possession of the second half, capping a 66-yard drive with a touchdown on a five-yard sweep.