Soon afterward, quarterback Dan Marino sliced his way through the media mass to make his way up to the podium. Marino talked briefly, then as soon as the "retirement question" parted a reporter's lips, out scrambled the future Hall of Famer, looking more nimble than ever.

The Dolphins had no answers for the Jacksonville Jaguars during their 62-7 loss in the AFC division playoff game. They had even fewer concerning their own future following the debacle.

The Jaguars' rout not only meant an end to the Dolphins' disappointing season. It marked the beginning of what promises to be an offseason in South Florida as eventful as any daytime soap.

Mystery, intrigue -- it's all there for your enjoyment. All that was missing was the violence, but that was taken care of by the Jacksonville wrecking ball that finished Miami's season in the most crushing of ways.

Unless the Dolphins had reached the Super Bowl, the subplots would have thickened as soon as the final whistle sounded on their season. They finally came to an apex in Jacksonville and continued when J.J. announced his retirement Sunday:

• Will Marino be back?
• Will new coach Dave Wannstedt even want to keep Marino around?

The only question answered after the debacle was who will coach the team next year. And now a franchise that began the season so well that there was talk of a Super Bowl appearance is in a precarious situation along with the other five NFL teams with coaching vacancies.

"We've got a whole offseason to go back and look at this performance," said Miami defensive end Trace Armstrong after his unit surrendered the second-most points in NFL playoff history (the 1940 Bears scored 73 against the Redskins) and the most by any Dolphins team ever. "After this, I'm sure a lot of things will change around here."

As for what those changes might be, who knows? J.J. didn't talk Saturday. Neither was Marino.

"Don't ask me that question," said the 17-year veteran about Saturday possibly being his last game. And when prodded about his career having a void without winning a Super Bowl, Marino answered, "That's enough, guys," before storming out.

This dark cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over the Dolphins since their midseason skid. They've managed to put off the inevitable by making the playoffs and advancing with an improbable victory last week over Seattle in the first round.

Was Saturday's loss Dan Marino's final game? Jaguars fans sure seemed to hope so.(AP)

But the way in which the Jaguars totally dismantled the Dolphins begs for questions to be answered about the lackluster performance as well as the direction of the team.

After the first quarter, the Jags had a 24-0 lead and the game was never in doubt. The same things that plagued the Dolphins for much of the regular season resurfaced.

The offense was as turnover-prone as ever, and the defense was abused by a young, quick running back.

Marino, who committed two of his three turnovers in the first quarter, accounted for 10 of Jacksonville's first-quarter points. Marino's first pass was intercepted at Miami's 46-yard line and led to a field goal. Two series later, Tony Brackens forced a Marino fumble and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown.

Marino completed his lone TD pass in the waning moments of the half but the Dolphins still trailed 41-7 at the break. After directing the Dolphins to a three-and-out on their first drive of the second half, Marino was yanked for Damon Huard.

"Coach Johnson, at halftime, told me he would maybe put Damon in because of the circumstances in the game," said Marino, who finished the game with 95 yards passing, two interceptions and a fumble. "I asked him if I could have another shot, and it didn't go so well."

Neither did things for the Dolphins defense. Taylor ripped through Miami like an August hurricane, rushing for 130 of his 135 yards in the first period. With the Jags pinned at their own 10-yard line, Taylor sped around right end and 90 yards and four missed tackles later found his way into the end zone and record book for a 17-0 lead. Taylor's 90-yard TD run was the longest in playoff history and the final blow to Miami's feeble hopes of a comeback.

"He's a tremendous back," Armstrong said. "He hits the hole quicker than anybody I've seen. He's able to break tackles, and he could run it inside, outside."

About the only thing that did cool off the Jags was the impromptu third-quarter shower from the sprinkler system. For about 30 seconds, Alltell Stadium's south end zone sprinklers were inadvertently turned on.

"I don't know what was going on," defensive end Kenny Mixon said. "I don't know who's staying, coming or going. I don't know jack. But we need to do something ... anything to get this thing turned around. Sixty-two to seven? Did you see that bulls--- out there?"

If Saturday was indeed his last game, it wasn't the way Marino had planned to end his storied career -- with a poor performance and the lowest QB rating ever (67.4).

It wasn't quite the ending J.J. had planned for his ride into the sunset either.

"He's very disappointed," Wannstedt said of J.J. "As excited and positive we were last week with the win on the road, it's a big disappointment."

Same old questions for the Dolphins. Only time will reveal the answers.