The Miami Dolphins might win this season, but the New York Jets made sure it didn’t happen today. The visitors played stifling defense in a 40-13 road destruction, collecting five takeaways and holding the ‘Fins to just six points. On the other side of the ball, RB Thomas Jones picked up his first TD since January and his backfield partner, Leon Washington, had two scores as the Jets tallied their highest scoring output of the ’07 season.

New York’s AFC representative improved to 3-9, completing a season sweep of the 0-12 Dolphins in fine fashion. Many pundits believed the Dolphins had the goods to pull off an upset, but the Jets, who have won two of three post-bye outings, were on a different level than their opposition.

“They didn’t have a win all season, but we were the underdog,” said sensational rookie LB David Harris. “They were favored to win and that didn’t sit well with us. We tried to go out there and prove that we were a good team.”

Miami actually held a 13-10 lead in the second quarter, but that was answered by a 30-point onslaught.  The Jets outgained their winless rivals by almost 200 yards (372-187). Kellen Clemens led an efficient and creative offensive attack, throwing for 236 yards and a score even though he was sacked six times. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had three players line up at quarterback, keeping the Dolphins off-balance.

“There were a lot of times when we got the ball in Miami territory,” Clemens said. “And as an offense, you love that short field. It’s a testament to our defense and how well they played today.”

Despite combining for four turnovers in the first 30 minutes, the teams played a highly entertaining first half. The Jets, who had 231 offensive yards, tied a season high with 20 points during the opening 30 minutes and held a seven-point lead at the break.

Wearing their blue and gold Titans throwbacks for the second time in 2007, the Jets ran a gadget play to strike first. Washington, working out of the shotgun formation, faked a handoff to Thomas Jones and scored on an 18-yard keeper just six minutes into the contest.

“We worked on getting different guys involved in different ways," said Jets head coach Eric Mangini, "and that does put some pressure on the defense to adjust and figure out who’s going to cover who and where you’re going to line up.”

Jay Feely hit a pair of long field goals — 53 and 44 yards — as Miami answered with six points. The second kick followed a Joey Porter interception of Clemens inside Jets territory. Safety Cameron Worrell reached Brad Smith at the perfect moment and Porter found the high carom.

With the lead trimmed to one, Clemens went to Justin McCareins for a downfield strike. The 51-yard gain set up a short Mike Nugent field goal and the Jets increased their advantage to 10-6 with 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Then the Dolphins got the better of a turnover exchange. Darrelle Revis’ interception of John Beck went for naught because it put the Dolphins’ defense on the field. Will Allen came unsuspected on a corner blitz and jarred the ball loose from the Jets’ signalcaller. Corner Michael Lehan collected the rock in midair and raced home for 43 yards and the lead.

But that would be it for the Dolphins. A short toss from Clemens to Brad Smith turned into a 19-yard score and the visitors regained the advantage at 17-13. Kerry Rhodes’ team-leading fourth pick set up Nugent from 40, ending the second stanza.

“He’s a young guy, so he is going to stare down a little bit,” Rhodes said of Beck. “I was able to bait him a little bit. I showed I was going to go away from the backside, but I knew he wanted to go there. It was his first read on the play.”

The Jets’ thievery continued in the third quarter. OLB Bryan Thomas raced around right end and ripped the ball loose from Beck, with Victor Hobson’s recovery leading to another Nugent field goal. The 35-yarder pushed the advantage to 23-13.

“Usually you don’t get the multiple opportunities that you got there, but you’re always trying to find the football when you’re sacking the quarterback," Mangini said.

“I think he got a little gun-shy,” added Rhodes of the rookie passer. “He threw a couple of picks and started holding the ball a little bit. It was good coverage by us in the secondary and the guys capitalized and made big plays. They just didn’t go for the sacks, but they went for the big plays and got it out.”

Harris, whose eight tackles paced the defense, got in the act on the Dolphins’ next possession, finding the loose ball after racking up a strip-sack of Beck. Eight plays later, Jones entered the end zone for the first time in 242 carries. The rout was on at 30-13.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, I can get in the end zone a couple more times,” TJ said.

Beck’s misery was intensified by Drew Coleman. The second-year corner recorded the Jets’ fifth and final takeaway, Nugent tacked on his fourth field goal from 26 yards and the Jets were fourth-quarter cruising at 33-13.

Feeling better about themselves, the Jets return to the Meadowlands next weekend and will host the Cleveland Browns. It will be a good test for the surging Jets as the Brownies have playoff aspirations.

Jets-Dolphins Game Stats

In Place of J-Co

Justin McCareins started for the visitors opposite veteran WR Laveranues Coles. While the Jets were fortunate to get Coles back —the veteran had missed two of the past three games — they were without the services of Jerricho Cotchery. A right index finger injury forced Cotchery to the sideline for the first time since his rookie 2004 season. Coles, coming off an ankle injury, gutted it out and produced a game-high five receptions.

Titans Times Two

The Jets honored the NY Titans for the second time this season and first time on the road. They wore the 1962 unis back in October against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Meadowlands, a 16-9 loss.