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Dolphins edge Jets in the rain

Dec 13, 2010 - 5:49 AM East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Chad Henne found Brandon Marshall for the game's only touchdown in the first quarter, and the Dolphins pulled out a gritty 10-6 win over the New York Jets in rainy conditions at New Meadowlands Stadium.

The Dolphins (7-6) were out-gained in yards, 280-131, but took advantage of two Mark Sanchez turnovers in the opening quarter to come away with their third straight road win against their AFC East rival.

Henne was a woeful 5-of-18 for 55 yards and lost two fumbles in the win, while Sanchez finished 17-of-44 for 216 yards with an interception and a lost fumble.

"The turnovers obviously hurt us early. We had a lot of poor execution on offense in particular," the usually boisterous Rex Ryan said of his Jets. "I'm very concerned...We have to make sure we find a way to get better."

Prior to an embarrassing 45-3 loss to the division-leading Patriots on Monday, the Jets (9-4) had won four in a row, three coming in the overtime or in the closing seconds.

Again New York had a chance to pull one out, getting the ball at its own 25- yard line with 2:16 remaining trailing, 10-6.

Jerricho Cotchery's 15-yard grab moved the ball to the New York 47, and Sanchez spiked the ball to stop the clock with 1:35 to play.

The Dolphins' defense stepped up from there with a six-yard sack. After Sanchez threw behind Dustin Keller for an incomplete pass on third down, Cameron Wake sealed the outcome with his second sack in the final series.

"The defense played outstanding," Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano said. "We knew this was going to be one of these type of football games...It's a big win."

Nolan Carroll picked off Sanchez at the Jets' 42-yard line to set up Dan Carpenter's 47-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter.

Three plays later, Sanchez lost a fumble at his own 26, leading to Marshall's six-yard touchdown catch.

The Jets penetrated enemy territory four times in the second quarter but only came away with three points. They punted the first and last time, turned it over on downs when Shonn Greene was stuffed on 4th-and-1 from the 37, and got a 35-yard field goal from Nick Folk with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the frame.

Santonio Holmes dropped a sure touchdown prior to the field goal.

Heavy rains came pouring down during a scoreless, punt-filled third quarter.

Sanchez and Holmes weren't on the same page on a fourth-down play early in the fourth, resulting in a possession-changing incompletion.

But Holmes came down with a diving 42-grab to move the Jets to the Miami 32 on the next series, setting up Folk's 42-yard kick with 5:21 to go.

The next three series all ended in punts after three unsuccessful plays.

Game Notes

Miami was coming off a 13-10 loss to Cleveland last week...Jets offensive tackle Damien Woody left early with a knee injury and did not return... Marshall, who missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury, ended with two catches for 16 yards...Ronnie Brown led the Dolphins with 55 yards on 16 carries...LaDainian Tomlinson paced the Jets with 49 yards on 19 carries... The Dolphins recorded six first downs while giving up 14...Miami logged six sacks, while the Jets had five...Carroll was injured late in the third quarter when he was running down the sideline on punt coverage and was intentionally tripped by Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi.