Future Hall of Famer Dan Marino showed he still has a little magic left in his ageing arm as he engineered three second-half scoring drives to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 20-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in an AFC wild card game on Sunday.
Marino completed four passes for 84 yards to set up a two-yard touchdown run by J J Johnson with 4:48 left that completed Miami's rally from a 17-10 deficit and spoiled Seattle's first play-off appearance since 1988.
Miami coach Jimmy Johnson said the plan was for his defence to keep the contest close so Marino and company could win it in the fourth quarter. His team executed that plan to near perfection as the Dolphins ended a streak of seven consecutive post-season road losses.
"I thought our guys stuck exactly to the plan," Johnson said. "This is the first time in 28 years Miami won a road play-off game, so quite an accomplishment by these players."
The Dolphins (9-7) earned a meeting next weekend with the Central Division champion Jacksonville Jaguars (14-2). In the other AFC contest, the Indianapolis Colts (13-3) play host to the Tennessee Titans (14-3).
Seattle's Jon Kitna was playing his first play-off game, while the 38-year-old Marino tossed his 31st post-season touchdown pass in the third quarter of his 17th playoff game.
The Dolphins stuck to Johnson's plan to run the ball in the first half with Marino passing for only 28 yards as Seattle built a 10-3 lead at intermission on a Kitna TD pass to Sean Dawkins and a 50-yard Todd Peterson field goal.
But the NFL's most prolific passer, in perhaps his last shot at a long-denied Super Bowl ring, was in top form in the second half to help erase the memory of a frustratingly uneven, injury-plagued season.
"I thought Dan did a great job. He made some great throws and the receivers made the plays," said Johnson, who has a strained relationship with his legendary quarterback. "Overall, I can't be any happier."
In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings hurt the Dallas Cowboys on the ground and in the air on Sunday on the way to a decisive 2710 victory in their wild card game.
The Vikings dominated the line of scrimmage, springing running back Robert Smith for a team play-off record 140 yards.
Having established their running game, Jeff George took to the air, completing touchdown passes to Smith, Randy Moss, and Cris Carter.
"It's been a long time coming. This is huge. This is very sweet," said nine-year veteran George of his first career play-off win.
The Vikings (11-6) now take their explosive offence on the road for a showdown with the NFC's top team, the West champions St Louis Rams (13-3) next Sunday.
"It's going to be a big challenge for us but we're excited," said George.
In next weekend's other NFC divisional play-off, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Washington Redskins, who romped past Detroit 27-13 on Saturday.
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