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Matt Moore steps in after Jay Cutler's injury, leads Dolphins past Jets
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- With two Miami Dolphins quarterbacks now hurt, Matt Moore may finally get the nod to start.
He earned it Sunday, coming off the bench to help Miami erase a 14-point deficit in the final 12 minutes and beat the New York Jets 31-28.
The performance could intensify a quarterback controversy, or Moore might get a promotion by default for Thursday's game at Baltimore.
https://youtu.be/6MDwEU3jyAc
A hit by Jets linebacker Jordan Jenkins sidelined Jay Cutler with a chest injury in the third quarter. Cutler was to undergo an MRI, and it was uncertain how long he'll be sidelined.
If Cutler's available, what would coach Adam Gase do?
"I'll get there," Gase said. "It's just hard for me to say anything right now."
Miami (4-2) earned a split of its season series with the Jets (3-4).
https://youtu.be/oxKm2ZYdjN4
Here are things to know about the Dolphins' latest comeback win:
WHO'S THE QB?
Playing for the first time this year, Moore threw an interception, but then hit Kenny Stills for a pair of scores as Miami rallied.
The offense has sputtered this season with Cutler, but Moore declined to lobby for the starting job against Baltimore.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Moore said. "Those are decisions to be made, and they're out of my hands."
When Miami's Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending injury early in training camp, Gase coaxed Cutler out of retirement and quickly gave him the starting job. Moore has been with the Dolphins since 2011 and has never complained about being the backup.
Against the Jets, he went 13 for 21 for 188 yards.
"The great thing about Matt is that he's a veteran," Gase said. "He has a knack for going out there and playing the game without fear."
NOT NORMAL
A week ago, the Dolphins began wearing shirts that read: "We r not normal" -- and more than ever, they appear to fit.
Miami is in the thick of the AFC East race despite being outscored by 20 points this season. The Dolphins have overcome 17- and 14-point second-half deficits the past two weeks, and in games decided by seven points or less, they've won 12 in a row -- two shy of the NFL record.
"Once we get in the fourth quarter, we know we've got to own the fourth quarter," safety Reshad Jones said.
PIVOTAL PICK
After Moore's two touchdown throws tied the game, Bobby McCain made his second career interception to set up Miami's winning field goal.
"It's like you're in a movie," Dolphins linebacker Rey Maualuga said. "When Bobby had that interception, it shifted from `We're coming back' to `Holy cow, we're going to win this game.'"
BOUNCING BACK
The Jets return home to face Atlanta next Sunday, and they'll need to rebound from consecutive tough losses to AFC East rivals.
A late disputed call was the difference in a defeat against New England a week ago. Blowing a big lead at Miami might be even tougher to shake.
"It's going to hurt," linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. "You're going to feel it on this plane ride back. You'll feel it on the way to the facility. But you have to have a short-term memory if you want to be successful."
INJURIES
Jets: T Brandon Shell suffered a neck injury in the first quarter. LB Darron Lee went to the sideline with cramps in the second quarter. Reserve CB Xavier Coleman suffered a shoulder injury in the third period.
Dolphins: LT Laremy Tunsil suffered a knee injury and DE Andrew Branch hurt his groin. Both departed in the third quarter.
