Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller
Dec 1, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Reuters

The Miami Dolphins averted what would have been an embarrassing loss to one of National Football League’s (NFL) worst teams by kicking in a late field goal and notching a 16-13 victory over the New York Jets on NFL Monday Night Football.

The Jets held a 10-0 early in the game and a 13-6 lead entering the fourth quarter but the Dolphins stayed on it and dominated the final quarter, 10-0. Caleb Sturgis had three field goals in the game including one under the last two minutes to give the Dolphins the lead and the game. New York had a chance to take the lead after the game was tied at 13-13 when Nick Folk blew a second field goal attempt of the game.

Lamar Miller rushed for 56 yards with one touchdown while Ryan Tannehill passed for 235 yards, completing 25-of-35 attempts. Tannehill drove a nine-play 57-yard drive to set-up the Sturgis game-winner late in the game. Mike Wallace (69 yards, 6 receptions), Jarvis Landry (68 yards, 8 receptions) and Dion Sims (58 yards, 4 receptions) were the Tannehill’s top targets on this night.

"We had to draw a line in the dirt. No more," Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake said via ESPN.COM emphasising their extra effort in the second half when they made the rally and shut down the Jets. "We came out in the second half scheme-wise the same, but guys played the way they're supposed to play."

The Jets dropped their 10th of 12 games this season and are out of playoff contention. The Dolphins improved to 7-5 to tie five other teams— the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns— for the final wildcard slot in the AFC. Among those mentioned squads, Miami will take on the Ravens in Week 14 for what is a crucial game as the playoffs nears.