National Football League

Taylor, Edwards lead Jets past Dolphins 31-23

Published Sep. 27, 2010 6:17 a.m. ET

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To kick off the victory celebration, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan helped soak Jason Taylor by dumping a bucket of sideline refreshment on him.

Braylon Edwards happily settled for slaps on the back.

Taylor managed a sack in his homecoming game, and Edwards caught a 67-yard touchdown pass that helped the Jets beat the Miami Dolphins 31-23 Sunday night.

Mark Sanchez threw three touchdown passes for the second week in a row, and Drew Coleman's fourth-down interception in the end zone with 27 seconds left sealed the win for the Jets, who forged a three-way tie atop the AFC East with the Dolphins and Patriots. All are 2-1.

The victory capped an emotional week for Taylor and a tumultuous one for Edwards. The star receiver was arrested in Manhattan on a drunken-driving charge around 5 a.m. Tuesday and apologized the next day.

''He worked so hard all week long,'' Sanchez said. ''As soon as he stepped in the building, he let everything outside the building go. ... We loved him all week long, just the same as before the incident, and we'll continue doing the same thing.''

Edwards was benched for the first quarter but made it to the end zone soon enough, turning a short pass into the score that put the Jets ahead to stay.

''I really am glad that I have teammates and an organization like the Jets,'' Edwards said. ''They've been very supportive, been there for me and they've allowed me to have a better week than maybe somewhere else.''

A capacity crowd included Miami Heat newcomer LeBron James, who wore a Florida Marlins cap. Fans roared when he was shown on the video scoreboard, while they booed Taylor, playing against the Dolphins for the first time after 12 seasons with Miami.

Taylor drew hoots when he represented his new team for the coin toss, and again when he sacked Chad Henne in the first period.

''They booed, and I smiled,'' Taylor said. ''It was about what I expected. I'm the visiting team now.''

LaDainian Tomlinson's 1-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left put the Jets up 31-23. The Dolphins then drove 64 yards to the 5 with 34 seconds remaining, but Henne's fourth-down pass was deflected by Eric Smith and intercepted by Coleman.

Smith also blocked a punt to set up a field goal.

''We kept fighting at the end,'' Henne said. ''Sad how it turned out.''

Henne threw for a career-high 363 yards, while Brandon Marshall had 10 catches for 166 yards. But Miami led for only 18 seconds - after Marshall caught an 11-yard pass for his first score with the Dolphins, putting them up 17-14.

Edwards quickly struck back, catching a pass near the sideline, then sprinting the final 55 yards untouched after cornerback Jason Allen fell.

''Not a good feeling,'' Allen said. ''My job is to not let him catch any balls, and he caught the ball.''

It was Edwards' longest reception since joining New York last year.

''All week we said we just want to make plays after the catch,'' he said. ''Anybody can throw a deep ball. For us, we just wanted yards after the catch. It was a situation where I caught it outside and Jason slipped, and I was able to go the distance.''

Sanchez hit Dustin Keller for scores of 24 and 12 yards to put the Jets ahead 14-0, which helped negate the Dolphins' potent ground game. Ronnie Brown ran for only 54 yards, and Ricky Williams was held to 28.

''This is one of those games where you got to have it,'' Marshall said. ''We just didn't get it done tonight.''

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