Hard for me to come up with "best" in the last 30 years.
Irving Fryar was there for at least the first game in 1994 because he had the game winning touchdown catch against the Patriots that they won 39-35 in Marino's first game back after his injury.
He started his Miami career in 1993.I meant he didn’t start his Miami career in 1994....
The 1990 team was a legit contender too. The 1990 Bills— the best Bills team— stood in their way and nobody in the AFC was getting by them that year. But they had the same ceiling as any Dolphins team (and AFC team) of that era— the AFC championship. No way any Miami team of the early 90s was winning in the Super Bowl.The 2000 era teams were pretenders....bad quarterbacking and a defense that caved when it mattered.
The 92’-94’ Dolphins were the last time this team was a legitimate contender, unfortunately 93’ was cut short by Dan’s Achilles.
What’s sad is the last two Conference championships this team made were both in Miami and were marred by excessive fumbles...85’ and 92’.
That 1993 team was just as big a “what if” [Marino doesn’t get injured], and I think they would have had even more of a chance of making the AFC championship than the 2002 team. And I’m not even a guy that thinks that 1993 would have been “the year.”1990, 1994, 1995 (biggest disappointment) and 2002 (other biggest disappointment).
To me, the 2002 season may have been the biggest “what if” of my lifetime following the Fins. If Fiedler doesn’t get hurt, we may very well have made it to the AFC Championship (even the SB). Ray Lucas played a good double agent that year.
93 would have been my other one. We were what? 9-2 when Marino went down? I think we'd have had a better chance against one of those Dallas teams than against the 9ers in 94. Would we have won? Probably not, but it would have been a decent game I think.That 1993 team was just as big a “what if” [Marino doesn’t get injured], and I think they would have had even more of a chance of making the AFC championship than the 2002 team. And I’m not even a guy that thinks that 1993 would have been “the year.”
But the 1993 team was very good and losing Marino on that team was far more crippling than losing Fiedler on a team with Ricky Williams going wild and an allegedly great defense. Let’s face it: that defense was not getting it done in the playoffs and neither was Fiedler. It was all on Ricky. And the biggest reason that team wasn't going anywhere: poor coaching and drafting.
No, they were 9-2 after Thanksgiving and then lost all the rest; Marino was injured early in the season. So they showed a lot of fight until the team’s talent slowly bled out due to injury and even Shula couldn’t get that last win they needed to get into the playoffs.93 would have been my other one. We were what? 9-2 when Marino went down? I think we'd have had a better chance against one of those Dallas teams than against the 9ers in 94. Would we have won? Probably not, but it would have been a decent game I think.
I guess I didnt really get into Fins football until 1994.No, they were 9-2 after Thanksgiving and then lost all the rest; Marino was injured early in the season. So they showed a lot of fight until the team’s talent slowly bled out due to injury and even Shula couldn’t get that last win they needed to get into the playoffs.
The biggest missed opportunities were all the years in the front half of Marino’s career when he dragged sub .500 teams to 8 wins— never enough for the playoffs, but good enough to torpedo the draft position. 1986-1988 were awful, awful years and a waste of Marino.I guess I didnt really get into Fins football until 1994.
I think there were a lot of missed opportunities, especially in the back half of Marino's career.
Yes— 1994.I don’t remember the year but the best chance we ever had was the year we lost to sandiego after being up by like 21 points at halftime.