JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chad Henne completed a team- record 17 consecutive passes, Ricky Williams ran for 108 yards and a score, and the Miami Dolphins turned in one of their best defensive efforts of the season en route to a 14-10 victory Sunday over the Jaguars.
After starting 0-3, the Dolphins (7-6) moved above .500 for the first time in 2009 and positioned themselves right in the middle of the crowded AFC postseason race, while improving to 6-0 in December under coach Tony Sparano.
“All I know is that we’re one step closer than we were before we started today,” Sparano said. “There’s no question this team feels they can go out and win every week.”
The loss snapped Jacksonville’s five-game winning streak at home and left the Jaguars (7-6) likely needing to beat undefeated Indianapolis and New England to secure a wild-card spot.
Miami, which won its sixth consecutive game decided by seven points or fewer, stopped Garrard on fourth-and-3 with 1:20 remaining and then sacked Garrard on the final play to seal the victory.
The Dolphins held Maurice Jones-Drew to 59 yards and a touchdown, sacked Garrard three times and forced six three-and-outs on Jacksonville’s first eight possessions.
“You stop their run game, make them one dimension, then you can tee off on them,” Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell said.
Henne set the team record for consecutive completions in a game, falling one shy of Chad Pennington’s franchise mark of 18 set over two games in 2008.
