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Five-time Louisiana Champion Alfred Carlin was playing Black in this winning position. "Winning" doesn't necessarily mean "checkmating", although that would be nice of course. Winning move can also mean a move that creates an advantage that is great enough to reasonably win the game later on--such as by winning one or more pieces with some combination of checks, captures, and threats. (Colloquially, players often call everything except pawns "pieces"--because pawns are just that special.)
While looking at captures the weakness of the f2-square may stand out since it is attacked by the knight on h3 and defended only by the king. Additionally, the knight on f3 is under attack by the rook--the rook also attacks f2, and one could imagine that if the knight can be made to move, Rxf2 would be checkmate! This opens up possibilities one might ordinarily find repugnant and makes them enticing. The rook on b2 is also unprotected; this coincidence would suggest that ...Qd4 should win because it attacks the weakness on f2 and b2. A move like Ne5 or Nd4 lacks the force of attacking two weaknesses and is less logical. If White plays Nxd4, Rxf2# wins instantly. But your opponent also has a right to live and would play Rxe7+! creating a space for the king on e1 so that Rxf2 is not mate before playing Nxd4. But don't give up on the idea--just change the order of operations. After 1...Nxf2 2.Kxf2 Qd4+! White has no time for Rxe7 due to the check, and has to give up the rook for the sacrificed knight (the knight is pinned). White can avoid this, but only by giving up the pawn on f2 and leaving their king vulnerable.