Round 3: '86-Miami 24, '76-Cincinnati 21

Miami receives the opeing kickoff and will start their first possession on their own 33. 4 plays later that are at the Bengal 39 and knocking on the door. Marino drops back and looks for Duper on the fly but the ball is tipped at the line and intercepted by Reggie Williams. Coach Staton wonders if this is the dreaded 4 int game that he knows Marino will have someday! The Bengals start the drive at their own 42 and go on a 10 play, 7 minute TD scoring drive that is capped off by a 1 yard Boobie Clark run. Miami's next drive turns out to be their longest of the day, a 10 play 73 yarder that ends with a 12 yard toss to Nat Moore for 6 points. The Bengals next drive ends after 8 plays and they are forced to punt. James Pruitt takes the kick and scampers 92 yards down the sideline for a quick 6.

These are unexpected points and they loom large in the end as Miami only wins by 3. Cincinnati begins their 2nd 10 yard drive and goes 74 yards for the score when Ken Anderson finds Lenvil Elliot in the endzone on a 10 yard toss. It is now 14-14 and 2:46 until half. Do the Dolphins run out the clock or go for a score? Well Coach Staton wants to get this offense into gear because Cincinnati will start the second half with the ball and his defense has showed no signs of stopping the powerful Bengals running game. The Miami offense cannot find the next gear and promptly go 3 and out, doh! This gives the Bengals the ball at their own 37 with a little over 2 minutes to work with. Coach Staton is conceding the 3 points but hopes his defense can keep them out of the endzone. His fear turns to hope as Anderson fumbles the ball on the first play and Mark Brown recovers for the Dolphins. 2 plays later Miami has it 1st and goal from the 10 but Marino throws his 2nd INT as he is picked at the 5 yard line by Ken Riley. A costly turnover that sends Miami into the locker room very demoralized.

Both sides start the second half very sluggish with 3 and outs and sees the Bengals start the next drive on their own 32. 3 plays later and it's 1st and goal from the 9 thanks to a 43 yard bomb to Isaac Curtis.

Looking to go up by 6, Anderson seeks out Bruce Coslet in the endzone but the pass is intercepted by John Offerdahl. The whole stadium breathes a collective sigh of relief as a dejected Bengals offense heads back to the sideline. Miami cannot make them pay for the turnover and goes 3 and out again. The Bengals next drive will only last two plays as Anderson never gets the snap and Miami's Bob Baumhower makes the recovery at the Cincinnati 27. Miami will make them pay this time as Marino finds Tony Nathan for a short 11 yard toss and run. A Reveiz extra point makes it 21-14 Miami. Starting at their own 20 the Bengals drive to the Miami 40 and are faced with a 4th and 2.

Already down a score and knowing that a two touchdown deficit would be almost impossible to overcome the Bengals braintrust goes for it and Anderson is stopped for a 1 yard loss. 8 plays later and Reveiz tacks on 3 points with a 45 yard field goal. Miami now has some breathing room with a 24-14 lead. Cincinnati's last scoring drive sees them march 80 yards uncontested down the field and ends on a 1 yard Clark touchdown plunge. 24-21 with 10 minutes left. Miami's next drive travels 25 yards and ends with a Marino pick near midfield by Ron Pritchard. Is this the break the Bengals have been looking for? Sadly the Bengals pick a bad time to go 3 and out and have to punt the ball back to Miami. Thirty yards later and Miami has driven to the Cincinnati 35. It seems fate has smiled on the Bengals once more because Marino throws his 4th pick of the game. Marvin Cobb intercepts it at the 2 yard line and the Bengals will start from their own 4 with 4:30 to go. Using over 3:30 to gain 36 yards leaves Cincinnati facing a 4th and 16 thanks to a Mike Smith sack back on first down. The do not make it and Miami runs out the last 47 seconds to hold on for the victory."

-contributed by George Staton-