Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins

Dan Marino threw a 12-yard touchdown to Mark Clayton with 3:12 left and the Miami Dolphins beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-16 at Joe Robbie Stadium in the AFC wild-card round. Marino finished 19 of 30 for 221 yards with two touchdowns. Tony Paige caught the other Marino touchdown. Steve DeBerg threw for 269 yards. The Dolphins improved to 13-4 and advanced to the divisional round at Buffalo.[1][2]

Dan Marino's 12-yard touchdown to Mark Clayton with 3:12 remaining was the difference in a 17-16 wild-card round win for the Miami Dolphins over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs led 16-3 at the half. Marino's two second-half touchdown drives produced 14 points and the kind of fourth-quarter comeback the Dolphins' offense had not produced consistently across the year.

DeBerg finished 17 of 30 for 269 yards with one touchdown (to Stephone Paige, 26 yards) and one interception. Christian Okoye ran 13 times for 83 yards. The Chiefs' offense produced one touchdown drive and three Nick Lowery field goals. The Dolphins' 16-point hole came from Lowery's three first-half field goals and the Paige touchdown.

Marino was efficient in the second half. Pete Stoyanovich kicked a 58-yard field goal in the second quarter; the Dolphins' first-half production was the kind of margin a Don Shula team has built playoff comebacks around. Tony Paige caught a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth to cut it to 16-10. Clayton's 12-yard score with 3:12 left was the winner.

Dolphins 17, Chiefs 16. Margin: plus 1. AFC Wild Card.

• Marino: 19 of 30, 221, 2 TDs (Paige 1, Clayton 12 GW), 0 INTs.
• Mark Clayton: 5 catches for 66, 1 TD (12y GW with 3:12 left).
• Tony Paige: 5 catches for 30, 1 TD (1y).
• Mark Duper: 3 catches for 36.
• Sammie Smith: 20 carries for 82.
• Pete Stoyanovich: 1 FG (58y).
• DeBerg (KC): 17 of 30, 269, 1 TD (Paige 26), 1 INT.
• Okoye (KC): 13 carries for 83.
• Stephone Paige (KC): 8 catches for 142, 1 TD.
• Nick Lowery (KC): 3 FGs (27, 25, 38).
• Dolphins 13-4; Chiefs out. Dolphins advance to Buffalo.

A 17-16 AFC wild-card round home win for the Miami Dolphins over the Kansas City Chiefs at Joe Robbie Stadium. Miami improves to 13-4 and advances to the divisional round at Buffalo.

How it unfolded

Lowery's 27-yard field goal opened the scoring. Stoyanovich's 58-yard kick tied it 3-3. Stephone Paige caught a 26-yard touchdown from DeBerg to make it 3-10. Lowery added a 25-yarder for 3-13 at the half. The Chiefs extended to 3-16 on Lowery's 38-yard field goal in the third. Tony Paige's 1-yard touchdown from Marino cut it to 10-16 in the fourth. Clayton's 12-yard touchdown from Marino with 3:12 left made the final 17-16.

The turning point

The Tony Paige 1-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 10-16. With the Dolphins trailing two scores in the third quarter and Marino's offense having produced six points across the first three quarters, the Paige touchdown gave the home team a one-score game and the kind of comeback path Marino needs.

By the numbers

Marino 19 of 30 for 221 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The 12-yard winner to Clayton was Marino's first walk-off playoff touchdown since 1985. DeBerg 17 of 30 for 269 with a touchdown and an interception. Stephone Paige 8 catches for 142 with the 26-yard score.

What it means

13-4. Divisional round at Buffalo next Saturday. The Dolphins' first playoff win since 1985 advances them to the AFC's #1 seed in the second-round game.