MIAMI – The Jets went conservative yesterday, waiting for the mistakes that have doomed the Miami Dolphins in every game this season.

Patience paid off. The Jets came up with four turnovers by Jay Fiedler in the second half, including an interception returned 66 yards for a touchdown by Donnie Abraham, and won 17-9 to improve to 3-0 for only the third time in franchise history.

“Our defense made huge plays,” quarterback Chad Pennington said. “We’re thrilled to be 3-0,because we’re winning as a team. The offense and defense have to complement each other, and that’s what happened.”

The Jets also won their first three games in 1966 and 2000, but failed to make the playoffs in those two seasons.

The Dolphins fell to 0-4 for the first time since their expansion season in 1966. They’ve scored two touchdowns this year while committing 14 turnovers and will need a dramatic improvement on offense to avoid their first losing season since 1988.

“Things aren’t going how we expected them to go – 0-4 around here is taboo,” cornerback Patrick Surtain said. “If we don’t stick together, we might as well give our helmets to the United Way.”

Next week Miami plays at New England, which has won 18 straight games.

It wasn’t all defense for the Jets: Curtis Martin topped 100 yards rushing for the third game in a row and the 50th time in his career, moving into 10th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 12,094 yards. He totaled 110 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.

The Jets’ Doug Brien kicked a 53-yard field goal, his longest since 1998.

With Fiedler back in the lineup after being benched for 2 1 /2 games, Miami totaled a season-high 293 yards to out gain the Jets. But five possessions in Jets territory produced only three field goals, and Fiedler’s two interceptions and two lost fumbles derailed Miami’s comeback bid.

The biggest turnover came when Abraham stepped in front of a pass intended for fullback Rob Konrad in the flat and sprinted untouched to the end zone for a 17-9 lead.

“The only thing I was thinking was, ‘Don’t drop it,'” Abraham said.

It was the third interception returned for a touchdown against the Dolphins this season. They’ve scored just two TDs – none in the first three periods – and 32 points.

Dolphins fans waited until the fourth quarter to boo, but many stayed home. While the announced crowd was a sellout of 73,157, there were about 15,000 empty seats and perhaps that many Jets fans.

The Jets won even though their offense was shut out in the second half. Martin has three consecutive 100-yard games for the first time since 1999. Jets center Kevin Mawae started his 158th consecutive game despite a broken right hand. He snapped with his left hand.