Thought it might be time for one non-training camp related post! So a bit of nostalgia.
It is just a personal perspective, but I have always traced the long term decline of the Dolphins back to one play in the amazing Jets-Dolphins game in 1986. Just wanted to see if anyone thinks the same....
For those not around at the time, Miami had been in the Superbowl in 1984 and the AFC Championship in 1985. Although the defence was suspect, with Marino and co most people would have thought the Dolphins odds-on for another division title in 1986. They were 1-1 heading into the week 3 game at the Jets. Obviously, it was one of the most amazing games in NFL history with Marino throwing for 6 TD's and the Jets tying the game as time expired.
However, the moment I will always remember came just afterwards. The Jets, with huge momentum and the remaining crowd in uproar, won the overtime toss and elected to receive. The Jets return man (can't remember his name) came out to about the 20 and was hit hard and fumbled, with Miami recovering. Marino ran onto the field with the ball in immediate field goal range. However, the officials waived him away, claiming the runner had been down before the fumble.
This was the first year of instant replay and the system had been a disaster in the first two weeks of the season. Reviews were meant to be instigated in the replay officials office and the referee buzzed to stop the play, but the whole process was all over the place. The TV replay came up and immediately showed the ball was fumbled before the runner was down. The Jets however ran straight to the line and ran a quick play before the officials could act. Four plays later, Wesley Walker caught the 50 yard TD to end the game.
To me, the loss destroyed the Dolphins in 1986 and they were never the same team after that game. Shula had never looked so shocked and angry on the sideline. The manner of the loss (conceding a TD on the last play and a bomb to lose in OT) was what made it so bad. The next week they were embarrased at home by the 49ers and struggled for the rest of the year (and most of the rest of the decade).
I always wondered what would have happened if that fumble has been reversed. There is no doubt if the replay guys had checked it they would have ruled it a fumble and Miami would almost certainly have won the game. Many will argue that the Dolphins defence was awful and it would have caught up with them anyway (they were obviously shown up in the AFC Championship game the year before), but I am not so sure. They weren't great but Shula had managed to hold things together in the past and Marino and the offence were at the height of their powers. However, I think that that game was such a disaster it really was the final straw for the team. The Dolphins could not even field a competitive defence for many years after this game.
I was only 16 at the time and lived in the UK. I heard about the loss immediately, but only saw the highlights a week later (still have the tape!). I will never forget that fumble - up until that game, the Dolphins had an aura about them - it was the start of the Marino era and success looked inevitable - but it was blown away that day. If they had gotten the call and won the game, everyone would have remembered Marino's 6 TDs and forgotten how bad the defence was. I think the whole 1986 season (and what followed) would have turned out differently if they had called for instant replay. But it didn't happen.
Anyone out there remember this game?
It is just a personal perspective, but I have always traced the long term decline of the Dolphins back to one play in the amazing Jets-Dolphins game in 1986. Just wanted to see if anyone thinks the same....
For those not around at the time, Miami had been in the Superbowl in 1984 and the AFC Championship in 1985. Although the defence was suspect, with Marino and co most people would have thought the Dolphins odds-on for another division title in 1986. They were 1-1 heading into the week 3 game at the Jets. Obviously, it was one of the most amazing games in NFL history with Marino throwing for 6 TD's and the Jets tying the game as time expired.
However, the moment I will always remember came just afterwards. The Jets, with huge momentum and the remaining crowd in uproar, won the overtime toss and elected to receive. The Jets return man (can't remember his name) came out to about the 20 and was hit hard and fumbled, with Miami recovering. Marino ran onto the field with the ball in immediate field goal range. However, the officials waived him away, claiming the runner had been down before the fumble.
This was the first year of instant replay and the system had been a disaster in the first two weeks of the season. Reviews were meant to be instigated in the replay officials office and the referee buzzed to stop the play, but the whole process was all over the place. The TV replay came up and immediately showed the ball was fumbled before the runner was down. The Jets however ran straight to the line and ran a quick play before the officials could act. Four plays later, Wesley Walker caught the 50 yard TD to end the game.
To me, the loss destroyed the Dolphins in 1986 and they were never the same team after that game. Shula had never looked so shocked and angry on the sideline. The manner of the loss (conceding a TD on the last play and a bomb to lose in OT) was what made it so bad. The next week they were embarrased at home by the 49ers and struggled for the rest of the year (and most of the rest of the decade).
I always wondered what would have happened if that fumble has been reversed. There is no doubt if the replay guys had checked it they would have ruled it a fumble and Miami would almost certainly have won the game. Many will argue that the Dolphins defence was awful and it would have caught up with them anyway (they were obviously shown up in the AFC Championship game the year before), but I am not so sure. They weren't great but Shula had managed to hold things together in the past and Marino and the offence were at the height of their powers. However, I think that that game was such a disaster it really was the final straw for the team. The Dolphins could not even field a competitive defence for many years after this game.
I was only 16 at the time and lived in the UK. I heard about the loss immediately, but only saw the highlights a week later (still have the tape!). I will never forget that fumble - up until that game, the Dolphins had an aura about them - it was the start of the Marino era and success looked inevitable - but it was blown away that day. If they had gotten the call and won the game, everyone would have remembered Marino's 6 TDs and forgotten how bad the defence was. I think the whole 1986 season (and what followed) would have turned out differently if they had called for instant replay. But it didn't happen.
Anyone out there remember this game?
