Nugent's field goal lifts Jets past Fins

New York moved closer to an improbable playoff berth with the 13-10 win.
MIAMI (AP) -- The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, and small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left Monday night.
A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with an ugly but crucial comeback victory.
New York overcame steady rain, a sputtering offense and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win 13-10.
All of the points came in the final 17:25. Miami kicked a tying field goal with 2:09 left, but on the Jets' next play, Leon Washington caught a short pass from Chad Pennington and broke loose for a 64-yard gain.
Four plays later, Nugent kicked a 30-yarder. That meant the Jets (9-6) can clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat Oakland (2-13) in their final regular-season game Sunday.
Losing season
For the Dolphins (6-9), the defeat ensures the first losing season for Nick Saban in his 13 years as a college and NFL coach. Miami was eliminated from the playoff race a week ago.
The Jets botched their first field goal attempt, but smoothly executed a second try to take a 3-0 lead after three quarters.
Punter Ben Graham bobbled a snap in the first quarter, letting the wet ball slip through his fingers. He hung on to his second try, and Nugent kicked a 22-yarder with 2:25 remaining in the third for the game's only points.
There were 17 punts, several dropped balls and numerous injuries on a rain-soaked field on Christmas night.
Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor left the game in the third period with an eye injury.
Jets receiver Laveranues Coles left in the second with a chin laceration, an injury caused when Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas drilled him to the ground. He returned in the third quarter.
Teammate Leon Washington was hit nearly as hard on the previous play, but jumped up.
Coles, who caught a career-high 12 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown last week against Minnesota before leaving the game with a bruised back and ribs, stayed on the ground for several minutes before getting helped to the bench.
Trainers bandaged his chin and worked on his helmet. He returned in the second half.
The sloppy Christmas weather -- heavy rain started an hour before kickoff and continued into halftime -- played a factor from the start.
Receivers dropped balls, running backs slipped making cuts, and quarterbacks struggled with a wet ball. Dolphins cornerback Eddie Jackson even injured his knee early in the second quarter without any contact, apparently slipping on the loose turf.
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