That game was symbolic of the pantyhose Marino years and Shula's inept coaching throughout that era. The 1994 Dolphins were an ultimate fraud. Check the rushing numbers. We were out rushed 40 attempts to 8 despite leading virtually the entire game, often by wide margin. That should be impossible with any threat of functioning brain cells but we accomplished it.
I was charting the game in the Treasure Island sportsbook in Las Vegas and getting antsy while talking to my friends Dave and Rick as the numbers mounted in San Diego's favor yet the Dolphins continued to lead big. It was guaranteed to fit the prized halftime betting system that I had discovered six years earlier, when rushing attempt numbers are in opposition to the scoreboard. San Diego was a 1 point favorite prior to the game but Miami's phony impression in the first half led the sportsbooks to make the second half merely a pick-em, despite the Chargers' glaring edge at the line of scrimmage. Based on my research, San Diego had roughly an 85% likelihood to cover the second half, based on the lack of rushes for the team in the lead.
Dave, Rick and I played it big but for years we kicked ourselves for not unloading more. It's still the ultimate example of that system in a high profile game. The system still works, BTW, despite geniuses at FootballOutsiders and elsewhere determined to pretend that rushes don't matter. Classic example of fantasy goofballs completely ignorant of situational application.
I was annoyed that the Dolphins didn't win narrowly, partially because they would have been a sitting rushless duck in a later playoff game, another gimme.
Cry for the '74 Dolphins, not the subsequent frauds.
