Jets Take Advantage of Marino’s Absence : AFC: Kosar turns the ball over three times in fourth quarter as Miami loses to New York, 17-16.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —  Without Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins are no better--and sometimes worse--than some of the NFL’s weakest teams.

Last week, the New Orleans Saints got their first victory against the Dolphins and the New York Jets joined the get-well club Sunday by ending a four-game losing streak with a 17-16 decision over punchless Miami.

Bernie Kosar, Marino’s replacement, turned the ball over three times in the final quarter as the Dolphins (4-3) lost their third consecutive game.

Kosar, who threw two interceptions and lost a fumble down the stretch, said, “It was very disappointing because we expect ourselves to make the plays.”

The good news for Miami is Marino is expected back next week after sitting out two games after an operation on his right knee.

“We’ll see how he feels this week and what he can do in practice,” Dolphin Coach Don Shula said. “But whether it’s Dan or Bernie, we’ve got to make the plays.”

The Jets (2-6) made all the plays in the second half in rallying from 9-0 and 16-10 deficits.

The Jets won despite gaining only 200 total yards, converting one of 10 third-down plays and holding the ball for only 24:12.

Johnny Mitchell, whose fumble on the previous series helped give Miami the lead, redeemed himself by catching a three-yard touchdown pass from Bubby Brister and Nick Lowery added the game-winning extra-point with 13:05 to play. It was the Jets’ first fourth-quarter touchdown in 12 games.

The score was set up by Carter’s second big kickoff return, a 31-yarder, and came on the ensuing series after Terry Kirby scored on a two-yard run to put Miami ahead, 15-10. Shula elected to kick instead of going for two, giving the Jets the chance to win.

“Our thinking was that at 15-10, if we missed the two-point conversion, two field goals could beat us,” Shula said. “Our charts said we should go for one.”

Kosar, who completed 27 of 42 passes for 191 yards with three interceptions, had his chances in the closing minutes. He fumbled after being sacked by Marvin Washington at the Jet 47 with 5:37 remaining and was intercepted by Vance Joseph at the New York 20 with 2:24 left.

Victor Green iced New York’s victory by picking off a wobbly pass by Kosar at the Jet 35 with 1:11 to play.

After being limited to only 67 yards in the first half, and with the crowd at Giants Stadium chanting for Glenn Foley to replace Brister with the Dolphins leading, 9-0, the Jets suddenly got on track.

Carter returned the second-half kickoff 57 yards to the Dolphin 36, and five plays later rookie Wayne Chrebet caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brister, who was playing with Boomer Esiason out because of post-concussion problems.

It didn’t take New York long to get the lead. Linebacker Mo Lewis intercepted a Kosar pass that tipped off the hands of Kirby and returned it seven yards to the Dolphin 25. Nick Lowery then kicked a 50-yard field goal for a 10-9 lead.

“Today, I think people could see what I can do and what we can do when we don’t make errors,” said Brister, who was 15 for 26 for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

Said Jet defensive end Erik Howard: “Maybe they weren’t the same team, but we also weren’t the same team they faced the first time around.”