Miami Dolphins: Top 5 moments of the 1990s

3. Trace Armstrong’s Sack

While the rest of our top-five moments of the 90s happened within a 54-week span between November 1993 and November 1994, the third entry on our list was perhaps the final signature play of the decade for the Miami Dolphins.

An aging Marino had led the Dolphins to a Wild Card appearance during the 1998 season, and the team had a date with the division rival Buffalo Bills on January 2nd, 1999. Buffalo was led by quarterback Doug Flutie, who turned an 0-3 start in to a playoff bid for the Bills. The teams split their two regular season meetings, and the postseason game lived up to the expectations. The Dolphins held a commanding ten point lead with three minutes left, but Flutie did his best to orchestrate yet another miracle in Miami. Buffalo added a field goal to make it a one score game, and then subsequently recovered the onside kick to give themselves a shot at tying or winning the game. Flutie led his team down to the Miami 5 yard line, and had 17 seconds and a fresh set of downs to try and punch the ball in to the end zone. Dolphins defensive end Trace Armstrong had other ideas. The Bills unsuccessfully attempted to block him with running back Thurman Thomas, but Armstrong shed the block and leveled Flutie as he wound up to pass the ball in to the endzone.

The ball was jarred loose and the Dolphins would jump on it, ensuring the final home playoff victory of Dan Marino’s career.