In a Sunday showdown that defies the usual hype of postseason thrillers, the Miami Dolphins face off against the San Francisco 49ers. Both sitting at 6-8, these teams are holding onto postseason hopes by a thread. For the Dolphins, it’s wild-card or bust, while the 49ers cling to mathematical hope in the NFC West.
This matchup might stir memories of another era—Super Bowl XIX, forty seasons ago, when these two squads were at the pinnacle of the NFL world. Back then, Bill Walsh’s 15-1 49ers took on Don Shula’s 14-2 Dolphins, marking Miami’s last Super Sunday appearance. What unfolded wasn’t the Dolphins’ day to shine, but a pivotal chapter in football lore.
Behind the Dolphins’ hype was a young Dan Marino, only in his second NFL season. His arm had orchestrated an aerial spectacle that year, racking up 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns, offset by 17 interceptions—a stat line that led Miami to an NFL-best 513 points and earned him the MVP trophy. The Dolphins rode his arm to decisive playoff wins over Seattle and Pittsburgh, bursting into the Super Bowl with momentum.
Yet, their foes, the 49ers, had been on a mission of their own. Following a Super Bowl XVI victory, a playoff miss in ’82, and a near-miss in ’83, San Francisco stormed through 1984, winning their first six games before a sole loss to Pittsburgh, then bulldozing their way to a 15-1 record. They made short work of the Giants and Bears to set up the Super Bowl face-off with Miami.
On January 20, in the Californian sunshine of Palo Alto, Joe Montana—aka “Joe Cool”—matched wits with Marino. Montana commanded the field with 331 yards passing and three touchdowns, chipping in 59 rushing yards and yet another score. Roger Craig etched his name into the history books, becoming the first to notch three touchdowns in a Super Bowl.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, struggled to keep pace. Marino, despite 318 passing yards and a touchdown, faced two interceptions and four sacks—a reality check against Walsh’s formidable unit. The 49ers emerged triumphant, 38-16, clinching their second Super Bowl title and sending Miami back to the drawing board—a place they’ve been ever since, as the Super Bowl stage has eluded them for four decades.
So as these teams renew their rivalry, fans can’t help but glance over their shoulders at that memorable clash from NFL yesteryear. It’s a reminder of what once was—a time of legends and legacies, when the Dolphins and 49ers were the cream of the crop, setting the stage for countless football stories.