Memorable Miami Dolphins Games : Dec 31, 1994 KC vs Miami WILD CARD ROUND

December 31, 1994

Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins (Joe Robbie Stadium)

This game was a wild-card playoff matchup featuring Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Joe Montana.

This was the same season Dan Marino pulled off the “fake spike” and beat the New York Jets.

The two Hall of Fame quarterbacks had met twice before, the first time Marino was a rookie in 1983, with the Dolphins coming out on top, 20-17.

The second time was the 1985 Super Bowl, which the Dolphins lost 38-16.

This Chiefs roster also included Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen, who played most of his career with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Kansas City won the toss and began their opening drive on their twenty-yard line after a touchback.

Montana efficiently drove the team to a score with a one-yard pass to tight end Derrick Walker.

The Dolphins’ wide receiver O.J. McDuffie returned the ensuing kickoff to the twenty-eight-yard line. Marino moved the team with runs by Bernie Parmalee and passes to wide receiver Irving Fryar.

The drive resulted in a one-yard run by Bernie Parmalee to tie the game at 7-7.

The Chiefs quickly mounted another drive, culminating in a fifty-seven-yard pass from Montana to Fullback Kimble Anders.

The first quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 14-7.

In the second quarter, the teams traded field goals to bring the score to 17-10 before Marino answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive with passes to Irving Fryar, O.J. McDuffie, and tight end Keith Jackson.

The Dolphins tied the game at 17-17 with a one-yard pass from Marino to tight end Ronnie Williams as the half ended.

The Chiefs scored only 17 points in the game, as the Dolphins’ defense dominated the second half.

To begin the third quarter, Marino led the Dolphins to a 64-yard scoring drive, which ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Irving Fryar.

Both teams traded punts, after which Marino drove the Dolphins to a 40-yard field goal by kicker Pete Stoyanovich.

The Dolphins led 27-17, and after both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter, Miami won their playoff game.

The Dolphins’ defense sealed the victory with two turnovers by Kansas City: cornerback J.B. Brown intercepted a Montana pass at the goal line, and linebacker Michael Stewart recovered a forced fumble from Marcus Allen.

We later learned that this would be the final game in the NFL for legendary quarterback Joe Montana.

The Miami Dolphins advanced to the divisional round but narrowly lost to the San Diego Chargers by a score of 22-21.