The Fourth of July doesn’t roll around for another month, but the NFL Network provided some early fireworks this week — courtesy of Dan Marino. The network scheduled several re-airings of an unforgettable Dolphins showdown, their 39-35 comeback win against the New England Patriots in 1994.
The significance of the game? It was Dan Marino’s first game back from an Achilles tendon tear — an injury that prematurely ended his 1993 season. And Marino did not disappoint — throwing for nearly 500 yards and five scores as he willed the Dolphins to victory.
Marino’s incredible touch, arm strength and pocket presence drew “oohs” and “ahhs” from Miami’s faithful as the game aired — many lamenting on what could have been and what hasn’t been for so long.
The other apparent revelation in the re-airing of Marino’s magical shootout? The Dolphins as a whole weren’t really a great team — as evidenced by Dan’s lack of a Super Bowl. But they had an elite quarterback and as a result were always in contention. The parallel to today’s Dolphins? They need to get the quarterback situation right — at all costs.
Then and only then will the Dolphins every truly be “back”.
