Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets
1 2 3 4 OT FINAL
MIAMI 3 3 0 7 0 13
NEW YORK 7 3 3 0 3 16
NEW YORK – For a team that spent a majority of the regular season regarded as the NFL's best and most complete club, the New York Jets also overcame waves of adversity that would have crushed most teams.
That resilience was again on display as the team gritted out a 16-13 overtime victory over their AFC East rivals from Miami to advance to Super Bowl LII.
Weather was definitely a factor in Derek Carr's return as the wind wreaked havoc on both team's kicking games.
"It was crazy out there," Carr said. "You almost had to aim 5 yards to the right or left to try to complete a pass."
Both teams suffered key special teams errors, with the most costly coming for Miami in overtime as their second muffed punt of the game led to Adam Vinatieri's game winner.
"It was impacting both sides out there," Vinatieri said. "I thought I had it there to end regulation, but the wind just dragged the kick right."
For the Dolphins, this is the second consecutive season that their special teams unit has failed them to end their season.
A year ago, the typically steady Justin Tucker pushed a field goal and extra point in their divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Jatavis Brown was again dominant racking up 2.5 sacks and eight tackles on a day that saw both sides opt to dink-and-dunk their way down the field in an effort to avoid the other team's elite defenses.
"We are thrilled man," Brown said. "I said this earlier in the season, that I hoped we played them again. All our games are like Steelers vs Ravens from a few years back - it's a good, hard-hitting rivalry."
Teddy Bridgewater, in the losing effort, was 21-25 with 226 yards passing. His only TD came on a 62 yard dart to Keenan Allen late in the 4th quarter which helped get the game to OT.
"I was on cloud nine when Keenan took that to the house," Bridgewater said. "I really thought we had a chance to finish it off there. Hats off to the Jets though. Let's see if they can make it three AFC East Super Bowl champs in a row."
New York will face the winner of tonight's New Orleans and Tampa Bay matchup for the right to call themselves Super Bowl champions in Minnesota.
