The Clock Play
Encyclopedia
The Clock Play aka The Fake Spike Game refers to a National Football League
game that took place on November 27, (Week 12) between the Miami Dolphins
and New York Jets
that featured one of the most audacious finishes in league history. The play was devised by quarterbacks
Dan Marino
and Bernie Kosar
, the latter being a backup for Marino at Miami at the time.
, but all five teams in the division were within two games of the division lead; the Bills
had fallen to 6-6 following a Thanksgiving Day loss in Detroit
while the Patriots
had begun a late-season surge following victories over the Vikings
and San Diego
and were 5-6 facing the 5-6 Colts
that same Sunday. The Jets were coming off a victory at Minnesota
while the Dolphins had suffered back-to-back losses to Chicago
and in Pittsburgh
.
The Jets raced to 17-0 lead before the Dolphins got on the board on Dan Marino
's touchdown to Mark Ingram . The Jets scored again on Johnny Mitchell
's touchdown catch before Marino found Ingram again and then completed a two-point try to Irving Fryar
. In the fourth Boomer Esiason
was intercepted for the first time; this set up a third Marino-to-Ingram score. The Dolphins blitzed Esiason and Tim Bowens
forced three fumbles recovered by the Jets; this forced a Jets punt, but O.J. McDuffie fumbled the punt to the Jets. The Jets drove to the Miami 38 with six minutes remaining but Esiason was intercepted again. The Jets forced another Dolphins punt, but with 2:34 to go J.B. Brown of the Dolphins picked off Esiason again.
With 22 seconds remaining in regulation and trailing 24-21, the Dolphins had the ball at the Jets' 8-yard line but were out of timeouts. Running to the line of scrimmage, Marino yelled "Clock! Clock! Clock!" and motioned that he was going to spike the ball to stop the clock and set up an attempt at a game-tying field goal. The Jets defense, anticipating a spike, lined up haphazardly; the matchup Marino was paying particular attention to was between Ingram and rookie Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn
. Marino took the snap and made a motion downward, but instead of spiking the ball he dropped back to pass, while Ingram ran to the corner of the endzone with Glenn biting on the fake. With the Jets caught off-guard, Marino threw the pass to Ingram in the front corner of the endzone.
The 28–24 victory moved the Dolphins to 8–4 and despite subsequent losses to Buffalo and Indianapolis
the 10-6 Dolphins edged the 10-6 Patriots, who had won their last seven games, for the division title (winning on a season sweep of New England), the twelfth in the team's history. The Dolphins lost the divisional championship against the San Diego Chargers 21-22.
The comeback was Marino's 29th in his career, and his fifth against the Jets.
The Jets, meanwhile, went into a tailspin. Coach Pete Carroll
called the loss "staggering" but it proved even more than that; the Jets collapsed, losing for the remainder of the 1994 season. Carroll was fired after the season, but the Jets' slump continued as they won just four of their next 28 games.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
game that took place on November 27, (Week 12) between the Miami Dolphins
1994 Miami Dolphins season
The 1994 season was the 29th in Dolphins history. On March 23, the NFL approved the transfer of majority interest in the club from the Robbie family to Wayne Huizenga.-Staff:-Schedule:-Notable Games:* September 4 vs. New England Patriots:...
and New York Jets
1994 New York Jets season
The 1994 New York Jets season was the 35th season for the team and the 25th in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 8–8 record from 1993 under new head coach Pete Carroll...
that featured one of the most audacious finishes in league history. The play was devised by quarterbacks
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
and Bernie Kosar
Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
, the latter being a backup for Marino at Miami at the time.
Summary
The game itself pitted the 7-4 Dolphins against the 6-5 Jets; entering this game the Dolphins and Jets led the AFC EastAFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
, but all five teams in the division were within two games of the division lead; the Bills
1994 Buffalo Bills season
The 1994 Buffalo Bills season was the 35th season for the team franchise and the 25th in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1994 season with a record of 7 wins and 9 losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division. The Bills were 4–4 at home...
had fallen to 6-6 following a Thanksgiving Day loss in Detroit
1994 Detroit Lions season
The 1994 season marked the Lions second consecutive playoff appearance. For the second consecutive year, the Lions lost in the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-NFC Wild Card Game:...
while the Patriots
1994 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1994 season with a record of ten wins and six losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East division....
had begun a late-season surge following victories over the Vikings
1994 Minnesota Vikings season
-Awards and honors:* Cris Carter, Led NFL in receptions* Cris Carter, All-Pro selection* Cris Carter, Pro Bowl selection* Warren Moon, Pro Bowl Selection 1994* Warren Moon, NFL Leader, Passing Yards, -Milestones:...
and San Diego
1994 San Diego Chargers season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:...
and were 5-6 facing the 5-6 Colts
1994 Indianapolis Colts season
The 1994 Indianapolis Colts season was the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League and 11th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1994 season with a record of 8 wins and 8 losses, and finished third in the AFC East division.-Staff:-...
that same Sunday. The Jets were coming off a victory at Minnesota
1994 Minnesota Vikings season
-Awards and honors:* Cris Carter, Led NFL in receptions* Cris Carter, All-Pro selection* Cris Carter, Pro Bowl selection* Warren Moon, Pro Bowl Selection 1994* Warren Moon, NFL Leader, Passing Yards, -Milestones:...
while the Dolphins had suffered back-to-back losses to Chicago
1994 Chicago Bears season
The 1994 Chicago Bears season was their 75th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 9–7 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. The club was one of four teams from the NFC Central to make the playoffs. This was also the NFL's 75th Anniversary so it saw the Bears...
and in Pittsburgh
1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1994 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers marked their third consecutive trip to the playoffs under head coach Bill Cowher. For the second time in Cowher's three seasons as head coach of the Steelers the team was the top seed in the AFC playoffs...
.
The Jets raced to 17-0 lead before the Dolphins got on the board on Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
's touchdown to Mark Ingram . The Jets scored again on Johnny Mitchell
Johnny Mitchell
Johnny Mitchell, Jr. is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys...
's touchdown catch before Marino found Ingram again and then completed a two-point try to Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...
. In the fourth Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
was intercepted for the first time; this set up a third Marino-to-Ingram score. The Dolphins blitzed Esiason and Tim Bowens
Tim Bowens
Tim Bowens is a former American Football defensive tackle, was chosen with the 20th pick of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins received some initial criticism for the pick, because he was overweight and had only played 9 gamed in his college career at Mississippi...
forced three fumbles recovered by the Jets; this forced a Jets punt, but O.J. McDuffie fumbled the punt to the Jets. The Jets drove to the Miami 38 with six minutes remaining but Esiason was intercepted again. The Jets forced another Dolphins punt, but with 2:34 to go J.B. Brown of the Dolphins picked off Esiason again.
With 22 seconds remaining in regulation and trailing 24-21, the Dolphins had the ball at the Jets' 8-yard line but were out of timeouts. Running to the line of scrimmage, Marino yelled "Clock! Clock! Clock!" and motioned that he was going to spike the ball to stop the clock and set up an attempt at a game-tying field goal. The Jets defense, anticipating a spike, lined up haphazardly; the matchup Marino was paying particular attention to was between Ingram and rookie Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn
Aaron Glenn
Aaron DeVon Glenn is a retired American football cornerback. He last played for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League, although he joined the Houston Texans prior to retirement so he could retire with his former team. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the first...
. Marino took the snap and made a motion downward, but instead of spiking the ball he dropped back to pass, while Ingram ran to the corner of the endzone with Glenn biting on the fake. With the Jets caught off-guard, Marino threw the pass to Ingram in the front corner of the endzone.
The 28–24 victory moved the Dolphins to 8–4 and despite subsequent losses to Buffalo and Indianapolis
1994 Indianapolis Colts season
The 1994 Indianapolis Colts season was the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League and 11th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Colts finished the National Football League's 1994 season with a record of 8 wins and 8 losses, and finished third in the AFC East division.-Staff:-...
the 10-6 Dolphins edged the 10-6 Patriots, who had won their last seven games, for the division title (winning on a season sweep of New England), the twelfth in the team's history. The Dolphins lost the divisional championship against the San Diego Chargers 21-22.
The comeback was Marino's 29th in his career, and his fifth against the Jets.
The Jets, meanwhile, went into a tailspin. Coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
called the loss "staggering" but it proved even more than that; the Jets collapsed, losing for the remainder of the 1994 season. Carroll was fired after the season, but the Jets' slump continued as they won just four of their next 28 games.