AP News, December 26th, 2006
New York punter Ben Graham bobbled a snap, botching a field goal attempt for the Jets and causing a scoreless tie against the Miami Dolphins after the first quarter Monday night.
The Jets drove 67 yards on their third possession and were in field goal range when Graham let the wet ball slip through his fingers. New York kicker Mike Nugent scooped up the loose ball, stumbled and was tackled by Andre Goodman. Goodman injured his left shoulder on the hit, and his return was questionable.
The poor Christmas weather 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.
Neither team did much before New York's long drive that ended without points. Miami has gone five quarters without scoring.
The game held playoff implications for the Jets and several other AFC teams.
The Jets benefited greatly from New England's victory in Jacksonville on Sunday _ even though it doomed New York's slim shot of unseating the Patriots as division champions.
The Jets (8-6) will earn a wild-card spot with a victory against the Dolphins (6-8) and another win next week against Oakland.
Cincinnati, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Kansas City trail the Jets by a half-game in the wild-card chase and all were rooting for the Dolphins, who have been eliminated from the postseason for the fifth consecutive year.
