MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins' late-season surge came too late.

Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels sparked a fourth-quarter rally for the second time in three games, and the Dolphins earned their fourth consecutive victory yesterday by beating the New York Jets, 24-20.

But Miami (7-7) was eliminated from the playoff race when Pittsburgh and San Diego won.

"We're just trying to find something to build on," said Marty Booker, who caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Rosenfels for the go-ahead score. "We want to finish the season strong, and hopefully it'll carry over to next year."

Injury-plagued New York (3-11) merely wants to finish the season. The loss in the Jets' final away game left them 0-8 on the road for the first time.

"There are a lot of bad stats this year," coach Herman Edwards said.

It was small consolation that the Jets led on the road for the first time this season. That came when Brooks Bollinger and Doug Jolley connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-10 midway through the third quarter.

New York's lead lasted 10 minutes before Ricky Williams tied the game with a 23-yard run. On the Dolphins' next possession, Rosenfels and Booker put them ahead to stay.

BROWNS 9, RAIDERS 7

OAKLAND, Calif. — The ball popped loose, and the referee signaled that Oakland had possession at its 19.

Just when it seemed as if the game was over, a replay review overturned Reuben Droughns' fumble and led to another loss by Raiders (4-10).

Phil Dawson's 37-yard field goal two plays after the replay helped Cleveland (5-9) snap a three-game losing streak.

"It was a huge play for us to get the ball turned over to our offense and essentially win the football game," Oakland linebacker Danny Clark said. "For it to get overturned, it was one of biggest disappointments of the year."