Miami Dolphins: Top 5 moments of the 1990s

2. Thanksgiving/The Leon Lett Game

One of the most visually memorable moments in Miami Dolphins history was the snowy Thanksgiving matchup against the Cowboys in Dallas.

The Dolphins trailed by a single point with 15 seconds left on the clock, when Pete Stoyanovich’s 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Cowboys front line. The ball bounced towards the endzone as Dallas players waved their arms for teammates to clear out. Had they let the Dolphins jump on it first, it would have been Cowboys ball at the ten-yard line with just a QB kneel separating them from victory. Instead, defensive lineman Leon Lett inexplicably and unsuccessfully dove for the ball, giving the Dolphins new life by simply touching the ball. Miami’s offensive lineman jumped on the football, giving Miami the ball at the two-yard line with three seconds left. The second attempt at the kick was successful, and the Dolphins wound up being victorious.

After a hot start to the 1993 season, the Thanksgiving classic would be the final game that the Dolphins would win that season. An achilles injury to Dan Marino a month prior kept him out of the holiday showdown and ultimately for the remainder of the season, and 9-2 Miami would lose its last five contests and miss out on the playoffs entirely.