Powered by:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
Contains commercial content
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / 25-Year Phiniversary: Marino, Dolphins End Career of Legendary Montana in Wild Card Showdown

25-Year Phiniversary: Marino, Dolphins End Career of Legendary Montana in Wild Card Showdown

25 years ago today, Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins topped the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card game to end the legendary career of Joe Montana.
Publish Date: 12/31/2019
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 31: Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (R) is congratulated by Kansas City Chiefs quaterback Joe Montana (L) 31 December after their American Football Conference playoff game in Miami. The Dolphins defeated the Chiefs 27-17. (COLOR KEY: Chief' s have red helmet). (Photo credit should read DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images)

In his only Super Bowl appearance, Miami Dolphins’ legendary quarterback Dan Marino was outdueled by Joe Montana as the San Francisco 49ers topped Miami in Super Bowl XIX, 38-16.

The final meeting between the two legends however, went the way of Marino and brought about the end of Montana’s legendary career. On this day 25 years ago, Marino’s Dolphins soared past Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card playoff, 27-17.

The Dolphins had finished the regular season with a record of 10-6 and as AFC East champions as they arrived at Joe Robbie Stadium on Dec. 31, 1994. The Chiefs finished 9-7 and clinched a playoff spot with a 19-9 win over the Los Angeles Raiders during the final weekend of the regular season.

Early on, it was Montana who stole the show. The Chiefs raced to an early touchdown lead as the veteran threw first-quarter touchdown passes to tight end Derrick Walker and then a 57-yard scoring strike to fullback Kimble Anders. Those two touchdown tosses were sandwiched around a 1-yard touchdown run by Miami’s Bernie Parmalee.

After Miami’s Pete Stoyanovich and Kansas City’s Lin Elliott traded field goals early in the second quarter, the Dolphins drew even late in the half and never looked back. In the final minute of the second quarter, Marino capped a 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to reserve tight end Ronnie Williams to knot the score at 17 at the break.

Miami took its first lead and went ahead for good on the opening drive of the second half. Marino capped the march with a 7-yard touchdown toss to Irving Fryar. From there, the Dolphins’ defense would do the rest.

Stoyanovich’s second 40-yard field goal of the day later in the third quarter would cap the scoring, but Miami cornerback J.B. Brown and safety Michael Stewart would come up with big plays to help preserve the victory.

Up 27-17, Brown intercepted Montana near the goal line early in the fourth quarter to help keep it a 2-score game. On the next drive, Stewart ripped the ball from the hands of Chiefs’ running back and future Hall of Famer, Marcus Allen, to give the Dolphins the ball back.

Video: 1994 Wk 18 AFC Wild Card Miami Beats KC 27-17; Highlights

1994 Wk 18 AFC Wild Card Miami Beats KC 27-17; Highlights

The two turnovers proved to be major difference-makers as the Dolphins avoided giving the ball away. Montana passed for 314 yards in what would be his final NFL game while Marino threw for 257 yards on 22-for-29 passing. Anders led all receivers with 103 yards while Allen was the top rusher with 64 yards on the ground and a game-high 113 yards from scrimmage. Parmalee rushed for a team-high 57 yards to go with a team-high 91 yards from scrimmage for Miami while Fryar paced the Dolphins with 71 yards receiving.

Although he fell well short against Montana in the Super Bowl showdown a decade prior, it was Marino and the Dolphins that ultimately brought the legend Montana’s career to an end. That victory came on this day a quarter-century ago.

Mike Ferguson is a contributor for The Grueling Truth, covering Florida sports and sports history. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. To keep up with all of his work, like his Facebook page.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
The 10 Biggest Upsets in NFL Playoff History: Which Upset was the Greatest?
I did not include Super Bowls in this ranking. These games were ...
Bet365 Promo
Ranking Top 10 Best NFL Stadiums: What Are the Best NFL Stadiums to Visit?
Today, we will look at the top NFL stadiums to visit. We ...
Tom Brady is the GOAT? Have you ever heard of Joe Montana?
Ok, I know from the outset this is a settled case, right? ...
The Greatest College Basketball Team of All Time
Rating the greatest college basketball teams ever has been done many times ...
Indiana Basketball Weekly
Welcome to Indiana Basketball Weekly, your dedicated podcast for all things Indiana ...
NFL Betting Show
Welcome to the NFL Betting Show, your go-to podcast for all things ...
1986 Kansas City Chiefs: A Special Season
The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs stand out as an exceptional exception during ...
Top 18 Greatest College Football Coaches of All-time
Current active coaches are not included in this list. That means don't ...
Grading every NFL team’s picks from the 2021 NFL Draft
Quickly, click away if you’re going to get upset by reading draft ...
Sportsbook of the month
Bet365 - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Latest News
Knocked out in his last fight, Sebastian Fundora gets title shot
Sebastian "The Towering Inferno" Fundora throws hands with ...
Ursa Major or Minor: Was it Jeffries or Liston? 
James Jackson Jeffries and Charles L. “Sonny” Liston; ...
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Updated 3.0 with Trades included!
Free agency is all but done at this ...
Top 10 Sweet 16 Upsets of all time: Michael Jordan is on the list!
Sweet 16 is where Cinderella mostly goes to ...
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Indiana Basketball Weekly: IU/Maryland Recap, Hoosiers with come from behind win!
Indiana Basketball Weekly: IU/Maryland Recap, Hoosiers with come from behind win!
Video: Survive and Advance: Are the Transfer Portal and NIL Killing College Sports!
Survive and Advance: Are the Transfer Portal and NIL Killing College Sports!
Video: NIT Quarterfinal Preview: Indiana State vs Cincinnati
NIT Quarterfinal Preview: Indiana State vs Cincinnati
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.7/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.7/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.6/5
Caesars
Caesars
Caesars Review
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 OR Bet $5 and Get $150
T&Cs apply
4.7/5
At bet365 we don't do ordinary, that's why if you sign up now you'll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.7/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterJosh SchwartzSimon BriffaMark LewisSamuel Teets
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site