Great Dolphins Moments from this Decade

[Aqua4Ever04]

After reading the That Feeling thread, I started thinking about games that made me feel great this past decade. Every season this time of year we're all left wondering, "What if that was the Dolphins celebrating out there?"

Well here's a thread to lift your spirit and jar your memory of a few great games from Dolphins past. Here we go.

2000 Wildcard playoffs vs. Indianapolis
After falling behind Manning and the Colts 14-0, the Dolphins stuck with Jay Fielder despite 3 first half interceptions. The game changed when the Dolphins decided to stick with Lamar Smith on the ground and Lamar wore the Indy defense out. 40 carries, 209 yards, and a game winning TD in over time later, the Dolphins had defeated the Colts on the record setting day from Lamar.

2001 vs. Oakland
It was week 2 and we were playing an AFC heavy weight in the Raiders. We trailed by 4 or 5 points (can't remember but it was more then a FG and less then a TD.) We had about 1:50 to go 80+ yards with Fiedler at the helm. After a terrific drive throwing the football, Fiedler ran it in with almost no time to play for the game winning score. The snap shot of Fiedler raising his hand into the air while laying in the end zone made the SI cover.

2002 @ Denver
It was week 6 and we and the Broncos were both 4-1 heading into the evening. The Broncos allowed about 50 yards rushing per game and this was Ricky Williams’ monster year. A Surtain INT to the house put the game almost out of reach but Brian Griese brought the Broncos back and gave them a 1 point lead with 55 seconds to play and 1 timeout to spend. After two incompletions, McMichael made an amazing 15 yard reception keeping the drive alive. A couple of plays later, Fiedler threw a hanger that tipped off a Denver defender's hands right into the lap of Dedric Ward. After the Broncos had celebrated what they thought was a game winning 50 yard FG by Jason Elam, we ran Olindo Mare out for a 56 yard FG with 10 seconds left trailing by 1. Olindo nailed the field goal and the Dolphins improved to 5-1.

This was the hardest hitting football game I had ever seen.

2003 @ Dallas
It was Thanksgiving Day and on the pre-game show Deion Sanders said, “The Dolphins might not score, I’m taking the Cowboys. The Cowboys were never close as 3 touchdown passes from Jay Fiedler to Chris Chambers earned the players co-MVP awards for the game and gave Miami a 40-21 victory.

2004 vs. New England
Monday Night Football and no body were giving the Dolphins a chance. The Dolphins were 2-11 and the Patriots were 12-1 so naturally it was expected to be a blow out. Coming behind from a 2 score deficit, Arturo Freeman’s interception was the 4th of the night for Brady and interim head coach Jim Bates threw a chest bump into Freeman after his game sealing pick. This all occurred after a 4th down 20 yard TD pass from A.J. Feeley to Darius Thompson to give Miami the lead.

2005 vs. Buffalo
Three first quarter touchdown passes from J.P. Losman to Lee Evans had the Dolphins in a 21-0 hole early on. In the 3rd quarter, Gus Frerotte took a safety and was knocked out cold from the big blow. Enter Sage Rosenfels and the Dolphins saw their greatest comeback perhaps in team history. 15 catches, 238 yards and a game winning TD with 6 seconds to play from Chris Chambers sealed a 24-23 victory.

2006 @ Chicago
The Dolphins were 1-6 and the Bears were 7-0. All week the media was hyping this game in comparison to the 1985 Dolphins and Bears match up. Once again, the Dolphins would spoil a Chicago pursuit of perfection. The Dolphins defense flustered and battered Bears’ QB Rex Grossman all day leading to 4 Bear’s turnovers and a 31-13 thumping. Ronnie Brown bruised the Chicago defense rushing for over 150 yards and punishing any blue jersey that got in his way. Joey Harrington’s 3 TD passes completed the Windy City blowout.

2007 vs. Baltimore
We all know this story because it’s extremely fresh in our minds. The Dolphins are 0-13 and on the verge of completing the only 0-16 season in team history. After the Ravens sent the game into over time in the closing seconds, Baltimore pushed the ball down the field on their opening drive of overtime. After Matt Stover missed a 45 yard game winning field goal try, Cleo Lemon took a sack and picked up the lost yardage on 2nd down. 3rd and 10 from the Miami 36 yard line, Lemon drops to throw and hits Greg Camarillo with a strike on a slant pattern. Unfortunately for the Ravens, the safeties were no where to be seen and Camarillo took it the distance for the game winning score. It was jubilation at Dolphin Stadium as the Dolphins closed out their only win of the season.

So that's our history for this decade. Let's just hope that next season doesn't end in the sheer pain that the 2007 season ended with.

GO DOLPHINS!

 

[SkapePhin]

I came in expecting a blank post, I leave dissapointed.

 

[Straztheman]

I have a bunch of those games on tape. And let me tell you they are amazing to watch but at the same time sad becuase of wat we had recently here in Miami.

 

[Namor]

After that playoff win against Indy....several years of crap.

 

[Smacks]

No SB, no highlights

 

[SwimminInIndy]

Those are all great memories and were awesome to look back on. Nowadays being a Dolphin fan you have to cherish the small victories, in a time of few big ones.

 

[canes_fan_83]

someone throw out "Wanny being fired"

 

[Jt0323]

After reading the That Feeling thread, I started thinking about games that made me feel great this past decade. Every season this time of year we're all left wondering, "What if that was the Dolphins celebrating out there?"

Well here's a thread to lift your spirit and jar your memory of a few great games from Dolphins past. Here we go.

2000 Wildcard playoffs vs. Indianapolis
After falling behind Manning and the Colts 14-0, the Dolphins stuck with Jay Fielder despite 3 first half interceptions. The game changed when the Dolphins decided to stick with Lamar Smith on the ground and Lamar wore the Indy defense out. 40 carries, 209 yards, and a game winning TD in over time later, the Dolphins had defeated the Colts on the record setting day from Lamar.

I remember watching this game! I became a huge Lamar Smith fan after this! great game by him!

2001 vs. Oakland
It was week 2 and we were playing an AFC heavy weight in the Raiders. We trailed by 4 or 5 points (can't remember but it was more then a FG and less then a TD.) We had about 1:50 to go 80+ yards with Fiedler at the helm. After a terrific drive throwing the football, Fiedler ran it in with almost no time to play for the game winning score. The snap shot of Fiedler raising his hand into the air while laying in the end zone made the SI cover.

This is another game i remember like yesterday. I remember seeing the SI cover after this. I remember watching the begining of this on the computer (using the helmets) and at the end they put it on tv

2002 @ Denver
It was week 6 and we and the Broncos were both 4-1 heading into the evening. The Broncos allowed about 50 yards rushing per game and this was Ricky Williams’ monster year. A Surtain INT to the house put the game almost out of reach but Brian Griese brought the Broncos back and gave them a 1 point lead with 55 seconds to play and 1 timeout to spend. After two incompletions, McMichael made an amazing 15 yard reception keeping the drive alive. A couple of plays later, Fiedler threw a hanger that tipped off a Denver defender's hands right into the lap of Dedric Ward. After the Broncos had celebrated what they thought was a game winning 50 yard FG by Jason Elam, we ran Olindo Mare out for a 56 yard FG with 10 seconds left trailing by 1. Olindo nailed the field goal and the Dolphins improved to 5-1.

I remember watching this game in my room. Like the first two games i remember it like yesterday. Such a great start to the season, i remember when Fielder broke his thumb. Even though this game was great it cause the downfall of the season.

2003 @ Dallas
It was Thanksgiving Day and on the pre-game show Deion Sanders said, “The Dolphins might not score, I’m taking the Cowboys. The Cowboys were never close as 3 touchdown passes from Jay Fiedler to Chris Chambers earned the players co-MVP awards for the game and gave Miami a 40-21 victory.

I was at my uncles watching this game. Fiedler and Chambers were amazing. I remember JT TD. great moment.

2004 vs. New England
Monday Night Football and no body were giving the Dolphins a chance. The Dolphins were 2-11 and the Patriots were 12-1 so naturally it was expected to be a blow out. Coming behind from a 2 score deficit, Arturo Freeman’s interception was the 4th of the night for Brady and interim head coach Jim Bates threw a chest bump into Freeman after his game sealing pick. This all occurred after a 4th down 20 yard TD pass from A.J. Feeley to Darius Thompson to give Miami the lead.

This is my 2nd favorite moment, This game was amazing to watch. I was the only one in my house watching and i was so pumped when JT forced Brady to throw an INT. I loved Jim Bates jumping and celebrating when they won!

2005 vs. Buffalo
Three first quarter touchdown passes from J.P. Losman to Lee Evans had the Dolphins in a 21-0 hole early on. In the 3rd quarter, Gus Frerotte took a safety and was knocked out cold from the big blow. Enter Sage Rosenfels and the Dolphins saw their greatest comeback perhaps in team history. 15 catches, 238 yards and a game winning TD with 6 seconds to play from Chris Chambers sealed a 24-23 victory.

This was my favorite Dolphin memory. This made me a Sage Rosenfels fan for life! great game and a great ending. I can watch highlights of this game all day long

2006 @ Chicago
The Dolphins were 1-6 and the Bears were 7-0. All week the media was hyping this game in comparison to the 1985 Dolphins and Bears match up. Once again, the Dolphins would spoil a Chicago pursuit of perfection. The Dolphins defense flustered and battered Bears’ QB Rex Grossman all day leading to 4 Bear’s turnovers and a 31-13 thumping. Ronnie Brown bruised the Chicago defense rushing for over 150 yards and punishing any blue jersey that got in his way. Joey Harrington’s 3 TD passes completed the Windy City blowout.

This game was like the patriot game. We played a team everyone thought would destroy us and we came out on top. JT was great this game.

 

[McMichael]

Pretty good thread, I like how you went into detail about each game,

A+ thread

 

[Rocky Raccoon]

excellent post Aqua.

Of all the games you mentioned, it's hard for me to pick which one was my favorite, they were all so special.

 

[chriscarter]

2001 vs. Oakland
It was week 2 and we were playing an AFC heavy weight in the Raiders. We trailed by 4 or 5 points (can't remember but it was more then a FG and less then a TD.) We had about 1:50 to go 80+ yards with Fiedler at the helm. After a terrific drive throwing the football, Fiedler ran it in with almost no time to play for the game winning score. The snap shot of Fiedler raising his hand into the air while laying in the end zone made the SI cover.

This is my favorite game ever. In fact, I just made a post in another thread about this very game. Fiedler is my main man. My main man Jay. Between that and Denver game, when he came off the bench with a broke thumb, Jay Fiedler became my second favorite quarterback in Miami Dolphins history -- mind you, Bob Greise was before my time. Hell, I might be among a very select few that actually owns a Jay Fiedler jersey ... And I wear it with pride!

 

[Rocky Raccoon]

2001 vs. Oakland
It was week 2 and we were playing an AFC heavy weight in the Raiders. We trailed by 4 or 5 points (can't remember but it was more then a FG and less then a TD.) We had about 1:50 to go 80+ yards with Fiedler at the helm. After a terrific drive throwing the football, Fiedler ran it in with almost no time to play for the game winning score. The snap shot of Fiedler raising his hand into the air while laying in the end zone made the SI cover.

This is my favorite game ever. In fact, I just made a post in another thread about this very game. Fiedler is my main man. My main man Jay. Between that and Denver game, when he came off the bench with a broke thumb, Jay Fiedler became my second favorite quarterback in Miami Dolphins history -- mind you, Bob Greise was before my time. Hell, I might be among a very select few that actually owns a Jay Fiedler jersey ... And I wear it with pride!

I'm not embarrassed to admit that I was a HUGE Fiedler fan. No one could match his heart and while he was no Peyton Manning he did enough to help win us games.

 

[dQbell]

The 2001 Raiders game is my favorite. Fiedler was a great competitor, and still our best QB since Marino.

 

[brandon1986]

i was also a huge fan of fiedler, the guy wasnt the greatest qb in the world but the guy won and he had guts

i remember a game against the redskins(can remember the year) and i think feeley was starting and fiedler was on the bench(we were wearing those ugly orange unis) and the phins were losing

and they brought fiedler off the bench he had a thumb injury or something like that and he came off the bench and came back and won the game
that showed people the heart he had

 

[WISfinfan13]

another game I will always remeber is the game that followed us beating the Patriots in 2004. We played the Cleveland Browns. Both of us were terrible and I knew it was going to be one of the worst games in NFL Prime time History. It was a Sunday or Monday night. And I thought it was going to cost us a draft pick. It ended up that the Browns had a better division record than us and we got the 2nd overall pick while the Browns got the 3rd. Pretty Ironic moment in this decade...

Its sad but the games you mentioned definately are the best memories I have had of the Dolphins. I remember crying as an 8 year old when Stoyonivich missed the Field goal that should have beat the chargers the year they got spanked by the 49ers in the Super Bowl. I also remember the Dolphins getting beat by the Bills a couple times in the 90's watching Marino go down in defeat. Im optimistic the best is yet to come. I just cant wait for my memories be include the Fins beating up the Patriots in the playoffs. Lets keep our chins up!!! Winning football is on its way to Miami!!! I can feel it!!! Lets go Dolphins!!!