By Darin 
The Clock is Ticking… And So Is the Deception
It was Week 13 of the 1994 NFL season, November 27th, and the Miami Dolphins were locked in a fierce battle with their division rivals, the New York Jets, at Giants Stadium. With the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, the Jets held a slender lead, and the Dolphins were frantically marching down the field to set up a potential game-tying field goal.
The Dolphins, led by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, had advanced the ball deep into Jets territory. However, they had no timeouts left. With only 30 seconds left, every second counted. After a quick completion to Irving Fryar brought the ball to the Jets’ 8-yard line, Marino rushed the offense to the line of scrimmage.
The situation screamed for one thing: the quick, ceremonial spike of the ball to stop the clock and organize the next play. Marino knew the Jets’ defense expected it, and he used that expectation as his greatest weapon.
The Play That Fool Us All
Marino stepped under center, frantically gesturing to his team and the referee as if he were simply stopping the clock. Instead of spiking the ball, however, he took the snap and immediately fired a pass to wide receiver Mark Ingram in the end zone. The Jets’ defense was frozen—they had already pulled up, anticipating the stoppage of play. Ingram caught the ball cleanly for the game-winning touchdown.
The trick play was a monumental display of football intelligence and deception. The successful two-point conversion sealed the dramatic comeback, giving the Dolphins a stunning victory and shattering the hopes of the Jets faithful.
An Iconic Moment in NFL History
The “Fake Spike Game” remains one of the most famous and replayed non-Super Bowl moments in NFL history. It solidified Dan Marino’s reputation as a quarterback willing to gamble everything, and it perfectly encapsulates the drama, rivalry, and brilliant coaching—or stunning lack thereof—that makes the NFL an unforgettable sport.
Marino Wins With Fake Spike 28 Nov 1994, Mon Putnam Reporter Dispatch (White Plains, New York) Newspapers.com