SAME OLD JETS LOSE FINALE TO PENNINGTON'S DOLPHINS

[Gen X Jet]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282008/sports/jets/same_old_jets_lose_finale_to_penningtons_146254.htm

MIAMI WINS AFC EAST WITH 24-17 WIN

Go ahead and say it - Same Old Jets.

A season that began with raised expectations when Brett Favre arrived that night in Cleveland ended with that same familiar empty feeling so many Jets seasons have concluded with.

Miami came to the Meadowlands and beat the Jets, 24-17, today but that was just the final spiral in a downward descent that began with losses to Denver and San Francisco, continued with a tease of a victory against Buffalo and a loss in snowy Seattle. The Jets (9-7) now face a winter of uncertainty. Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback, who never looked comfortable in a Jets uniform is almost certainly gone.

Will coach Eric Mangini be out the door behind him? It seemed impossible when the Jets were 8-3 after wins in New England and Tennessee. But losses in four of their final five games have brought questions about Mangini's coaching ability.

Favre had a dismal finale for the Jets, with three interceptions, looking like an injured, old man. On the other sideline, Chad Pennington wasn't great but did enough to beat his old mates. The Dolphins (11-5) won the AFC East a year after finishing 1-15. Pennington began the season fighting for the Jets starting quarterback job. He ended the Jets season today, returning to Giants Stadium to add another twisted chapter to the Jets tortured history.

In truth, though, the end result didn't even matter for the Jets. Their fates were sealed in Buffalo and Baltimore, where the Patriots and Ravens ensured there would be no January football for Gang Green. A loss by either team coupled with Jets win would have given the Jets a playoff berth.

The Jets' last fourth-quarter gasp ended with Favre's third interception of the day, this one an inexplicable toss that ended up in Andre Goodman's hands.

Momentum swung the Jets way to start the second half. Trailing 14-9, the Jets defense held Miami to a three-and-out and long snapper John Denney's snap went over punter Brandon Fields' head. Fields fell on the ball at the Miami 28, turning the ball over on downs.

Leon Washington scored on a 10-yard run with 10:33 left in the third quarter, and Favre hit Jerricho Cotchery to convert the two-point conversion and take a 17-14 lead.

Pennington had an answer, though. On the first play of the next drive, Pennington threw 44 yards to Ted Ginn on a flea-flicker. Pennington, known for his weak arm during eight seasons with the Jets, threw the ball short, but Ginn came back to it between Kerry Rhodes and Ty Law for the catch. The Dolphins took a 21-17 lead five plays later when tight end Anthony Fasano beat Abram Elam for a 20-yard touchdown pass from Pennington. The Dolphins tacked on a fourth-quarter field goal to make it 24-17.

After a Pennington fumble, Favre found Jerricho Cotchery for a 26-yard pass, then hit Laveranues Coles on a crossing pattern for a 13-yard touchdown. The Jets botched the extra point when holder Reggie Hodges bobbled the snap and Jay Feely never got the kick off, leaving them with a 6-0 lead.

With the Jets in the lead and Baltimore holding a slim lead over Jacksonville, the Jets still looked alive at about 5:15 p.m. It wouldn't last for 20 minutes.

The Ravens took a 17-7 lead at 5:18, then Miami scored on a 27-yard strike from Pennington to Ted Ginn to grab a 7-6 lead. Ginn got just enough separation from cornerback Dwight Lowery down the left sideline for the score.

Ginn's touchdown came at 5:31. Three minutes later Favre threw his second interception of the game, this one to defensive end Phillip Merling, who returned it 25 yards for a touchdown, and a 14-6 Miami lead. Favre tried to force a screen pass to Thomas Jones that Merling snatched then ran past Favre for the score. Favre appeared to injure his arm on the play but remained in the game.