The Last Time Was 1984, Right? Or Was It 1972...or 1973? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

The Last Time Was 1984, Right? Or Was It 1972...or 1973?

McMikey Mike

McMikey Mike

Active Roster
Joined
Sep 14, 2023
Messages
1,950
Reaction score
4,750
Location
FLORIDA
If Miami can win against Baltimore on Sunday, the Dolphins will be the #1 seed in the AFC and the #1 team in the league.

Were the Miami Dolphins the #1 seed in the AFC and the #1 team in the league entering the playoffs in 1984? It's either that year or the infamous 1972 season of the perfect record, right? (EDIT: Or was it 1973? hahaha! Thx for the assist @Ozfin!)

There have been a few milestones marked by this Dolphins team this year. First time in 15-years...first time in 23-years...first time in 30-years...and now an opportunity for a 40+ year milestone? Someone pinch me! This is how long some of us old-timers have been waiting for this team to turn it around.

That 1PM game on Sunday is for all the AFC marbles and perhaps just a skooge more respect that this team deserves. Exciting stuff, isn't it?
 
Last edited:
1984 Playoffs - Dolphins
DivisionSatDecember 29, 1984WSeattle Seahawks
ConfChampSunJanuary 6, 1985WPittsburgh Steelers
SuperBowlSunJanuary 20, 1985LSan Francisco 49ers

In 1984, Miami had a bye week, which means we were one of two top seeds back then. But were we the #1 seed and considered #1 in the league at the time? San Fran with Coach Walsh and QB Montana might have been considered #1 in the league going into the playoffs.

1984 Playoffs - 49ers
DivisionSatDecember 29, 1984WNew York Giants
ConfChampSunJanuary 6, 1985WChicago Bears
SuperBowlSunJanuary 20, 1985WMiami Dolphins

**************

In 1973, the Dolphins' Conference Playoff Games were all at home. The Vikings had to play for their Conference Championship in Dallas, even though the Cowboys entered the playoffs with a record of 10-4. So perhaps it was indeed 1973 that the Dolphins were the #1 seed in the AFC and #1 team in the league at the end of that regular season.

1973 Playoffs - Dolphins
DivisionSunDecember 23, 1973WCincinnati Bengals
ConfChampSunDecember 30, 1973WOakland Raiders
SuperBowlSunJanuary 13, 1974WMinnesota Vikings

1973 Playoffs - Vikings
DivisionSatDecember 22, 1973WWashington Redskins
ConfChampSunDecember 30, 1973WDallas Cowboys
SuperBowlSunJanuary 13, 1974LMiami Dolphins
 
Last edited:
TheMageGandalf said:
No, if I remember right, we got that because Houston lost to Buffalo. If not we would've traveled for that Afc championship game.
Click to expand...
Actually, not quite. Houston played that game at Buffalo 🦬. Had they won like they should have, they would have come to us and had to play on grass where they stunk. I don’t know if there was another team who had a better seeding than us in the conference but lost in the first round - it’s possible but it wasn’t the Oilers.
 
royalshank said:
Actually, not quite. Houston played that game at Buffalo 🦬. Had they won like they should have, they would have come to us and had to play on grass where they stunk. I don’t know if there was another team who had a better seeding than us in the conference but lost in the first round - it’s possible but it wasn’t the Oilers.
Click to expand...
Yeah I looked it up 😂 the game that changed it was that Pittsburgh was the 1 seed. But they lost to Buffalo and since Buffalo was the 4 we got the home game...but had Pitt beat Buffalo we'd have traveled
 
So yes in 1984 we were the 1 seed....never again...until hopefully now...

...been 2 seed a few times like 1985 and 1992...(only going by after 1984)
 
In 1972 we were, of course, undefeated but still had to play the AFC championship in Pittsburgh. In 1973, my understanding was, the rule changed and the top seed got to play its games at home. We had the best record in the AFC (in the NFC both the Vikings and Rams also finished 12-2).

But the NFC championship was played in Dallas even though the Cowboys finished 10-4. So maybe the old rule remained in effect in the NFC? Anyone know?
 
Keypusher said:
In 1972 we were, of course, undefeated but still had to play the AFC championship in Pittsburgh. In 1973, my understanding was, the rule changed and the top seed got to play its games at home. We had the best record in the AFC (in the NFC both the Vikings and Rams also finished 12-2).

But the NFC championship was played in Dallas even though the Cowboys finished 10-4. So maybe the old rule remained in effect in the NFC? Anyone know?
Click to expand...

This ^^^ is the really interesting thing about the '72 & '73 seasons and I'm having trouble finding an answer. I know for sure the AFC Championship game venue was on some kind of rotating basis, which is why the '72 game was played in Pittsburg. Eventually, those Conference Championship games were to be played at the venue of the top surviving seed in the playoffs, but was that change in effect for '73? Perhaps not. I'm still researching it...but it would make sense that if Miami won the Conference Championship in '72, the '73 Conference Championship would be played at the Orange Bowl...(based on that rotating scheme even if Miami had not survived in the playoffs that year...making it a "neutral" field)?
 
Keypusher said:
In 1972 we were, of course, undefeated but still had to play the AFC championship in Pittsburgh. In 1973, my understanding was, the rule changed and the top seed got to play its games at home. We had the best record in the AFC (in the NFC both the Vikings and Rams also finished 12-2).

But the NFC championship was played in Dallas even though the Cowboys finished 10-4. So maybe the old rule remained in effect in the NFC? Anyone know?
Click to expand...

The rule was changed for 1975 so the teams with the best regular season record hosted divisional and then conference playoffs.
Only 4 teams in each conference - the 3 division winners and 1 wild card. The wild card team couldn't face it's divisional winner in the divisional playoff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom