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It's a little slow from here to the draft so I thought I'd put together a list of the top 10 Dolphin teams of all-time. This is just my opinion so feel free to chime in.
1. 1972 (17-0 Super Bowl Champs) --- It's hard to argue with perfection, but it was about more than going 17-0. This is the only team in NFL history to lead the NFL in most points scored, fewest points allowed, being first in total offense and first in total defense in the same season. The Dolphins showed off their tremendous depth as backup quarterback Earl Morrall started nine regular season games. Most teams wouldn't survive an injury to their starting quarterback, which speaks highly for Morrall. Miami had to win on the road in Pittsburgh to advance to the super bowl as there was no home field advantage in 1972. In the Super Bowl, the Dolphins came within 2:07 to shutting out the Redskins before the bizarre play by Garo Yepremian. Miami allowed just one play of 15 yards in that game against a Washington team that absolutely destroyed defending champion Dallas in the NFC Championship game.
2. 1973 (15-2 Super Bowl Champs) -- I believe Don Shula called this his best team ever at one point and it really was an extension of the 1972 unit. This team was dynamite in the playoffs scoring a touchdown on its first possession in each postseason matchup and outscoring playoff opponents 85-33. That included a 27-10 win over a loaded Oakland Raiders team and a dominate super bowl win over the Vikings (24-7). In that game Minnesota didn't score until the fourth quarter. In two consecutive super bowl titles, Miami's defense gave up one offensive touchdown.
3. 1971 (12-4-1 Super Bowl Loss) --- There will always be a special place in my heart for this team as this was the year I became a Dolphin fan. The team was a little up and down, but played very well in the playoffs beating an all-world Kansas City Chiefs team in the longest game ever played (on Christmas) and then shutting out the Baltimore Colts, 21-0, to get to their first super bowl. That game was close at the half with the Dolphins trailing 10-3, but was all Dallas the rest of the way.
4. 1984 (16-3 Super Bowl Loss) --- Dan Marino's first full season for the Dolphins was magical as the team started 11-0 en route to a 14-2 season. In a time when quarterbacks took time to adjust to the NFL, the NFL had to adjust to Dan Marino as he set all kinds of records that stood for quite some time. Unfortunately, the season ended with a blowout loss to the 49ers -- one of the best teams in the super bowl era. I still believe that Miami teams wins against most super bowl entrants.
5. 1982 (9-3 Super Bowl Loss) -- This may go down as Don Shula's best coaching season getting a team on the brink of a super bowl title with David Woodley at quarterback. At the height of the Killer Bees, Miami had a championship caliber defense and led Washington 17-13 in the fourth quarter. If not for Joe Theisman saving a touchdown by tipping the ball away from Kim Bokamper, the Dolphins might have led 24-13. With that lead, the Redskins may have abandoned the running game led by John Riggins.
6. 1974 (11-4 Lost in first round of playoffs) --- Billed as super bowl VIII 1/2, the Sea of Hands game is considered one the best NFL games ever. As a fan this game felt like it was stolen from Miami as Ken Stabler, barely avoiding a sack, tossed the ball in the direction of the endzone and found a Raider at the other end draped by a slew of Dolphin defenders. It effectively ended Miami's short-lived dynasty and a chance for the team to win three in a row. Had the Dolphins won they would have faced Pittsburgh at home it what figured to be another epic battle.
7. 1985 (13-5 Lost in AFC Championship Game) --- At the nine game mark, the Dolphins were struggling with a 5-4 record but won their final seven games to finish 12-4 on the season. One of those games was the famous Monday night win over the undefeated Chicago Bears. A rematch against the Bears in the Super Bowl seemed likely, but the Dolphins turned the ball over six times in an AFC Championship loss to New England.
8. 1992 (12-6 Lost in AFC Championship Game) --- Rebounding from an 8-8 season, Miami won it's first six games and went 11-5 to win the AFC East title. The Dolphins shutout San Diego, 31-0, in the first round of the playoffs. But, as was the case through most of the 1990's Miami didn't match up well against Buffalo and lost in the AFC Championship game to the Bills, 29-10.
9. 1990 (13-5 Lost divisional round of playoffs) --- After four consecutive years not making the playoffs, Miami returned in 1990 going 12-4 on the season and earning a wildcard berth. Miami beat Kansas City, 17-6, in the wildcard round but lost to Buffalo, 44-34, in the divisional round.
10. 1994 (11-7 Lost division round of playoffs) -- Dan Marino earned Comeback Player of the Year and the Dolphins beat the Chiefts, 27-17, in the wildcard round. The Dolphins lost a heartbreaker, 22-21, against the Chargers after leading, 21-6, in the divisional round. I felt that team was the last chance for Marino and Don Shula to return to the super bowl.
1. 1972 (17-0 Super Bowl Champs) --- It's hard to argue with perfection, but it was about more than going 17-0. This is the only team in NFL history to lead the NFL in most points scored, fewest points allowed, being first in total offense and first in total defense in the same season. The Dolphins showed off their tremendous depth as backup quarterback Earl Morrall started nine regular season games. Most teams wouldn't survive an injury to their starting quarterback, which speaks highly for Morrall. Miami had to win on the road in Pittsburgh to advance to the super bowl as there was no home field advantage in 1972. In the Super Bowl, the Dolphins came within 2:07 to shutting out the Redskins before the bizarre play by Garo Yepremian. Miami allowed just one play of 15 yards in that game against a Washington team that absolutely destroyed defending champion Dallas in the NFC Championship game.
2. 1973 (15-2 Super Bowl Champs) -- I believe Don Shula called this his best team ever at one point and it really was an extension of the 1972 unit. This team was dynamite in the playoffs scoring a touchdown on its first possession in each postseason matchup and outscoring playoff opponents 85-33. That included a 27-10 win over a loaded Oakland Raiders team and a dominate super bowl win over the Vikings (24-7). In that game Minnesota didn't score until the fourth quarter. In two consecutive super bowl titles, Miami's defense gave up one offensive touchdown.
3. 1971 (12-4-1 Super Bowl Loss) --- There will always be a special place in my heart for this team as this was the year I became a Dolphin fan. The team was a little up and down, but played very well in the playoffs beating an all-world Kansas City Chiefs team in the longest game ever played (on Christmas) and then shutting out the Baltimore Colts, 21-0, to get to their first super bowl. That game was close at the half with the Dolphins trailing 10-3, but was all Dallas the rest of the way.
4. 1984 (16-3 Super Bowl Loss) --- Dan Marino's first full season for the Dolphins was magical as the team started 11-0 en route to a 14-2 season. In a time when quarterbacks took time to adjust to the NFL, the NFL had to adjust to Dan Marino as he set all kinds of records that stood for quite some time. Unfortunately, the season ended with a blowout loss to the 49ers -- one of the best teams in the super bowl era. I still believe that Miami teams wins against most super bowl entrants.
5. 1982 (9-3 Super Bowl Loss) -- This may go down as Don Shula's best coaching season getting a team on the brink of a super bowl title with David Woodley at quarterback. At the height of the Killer Bees, Miami had a championship caliber defense and led Washington 17-13 in the fourth quarter. If not for Joe Theisman saving a touchdown by tipping the ball away from Kim Bokamper, the Dolphins might have led 24-13. With that lead, the Redskins may have abandoned the running game led by John Riggins.
6. 1974 (11-4 Lost in first round of playoffs) --- Billed as super bowl VIII 1/2, the Sea of Hands game is considered one the best NFL games ever. As a fan this game felt like it was stolen from Miami as Ken Stabler, barely avoiding a sack, tossed the ball in the direction of the endzone and found a Raider at the other end draped by a slew of Dolphin defenders. It effectively ended Miami's short-lived dynasty and a chance for the team to win three in a row. Had the Dolphins won they would have faced Pittsburgh at home it what figured to be another epic battle.
7. 1985 (13-5 Lost in AFC Championship Game) --- At the nine game mark, the Dolphins were struggling with a 5-4 record but won their final seven games to finish 12-4 on the season. One of those games was the famous Monday night win over the undefeated Chicago Bears. A rematch against the Bears in the Super Bowl seemed likely, but the Dolphins turned the ball over six times in an AFC Championship loss to New England.
8. 1992 (12-6 Lost in AFC Championship Game) --- Rebounding from an 8-8 season, Miami won it's first six games and went 11-5 to win the AFC East title. The Dolphins shutout San Diego, 31-0, in the first round of the playoffs. But, as was the case through most of the 1990's Miami didn't match up well against Buffalo and lost in the AFC Championship game to the Bills, 29-10.
9. 1990 (13-5 Lost divisional round of playoffs) --- After four consecutive years not making the playoffs, Miami returned in 1990 going 12-4 on the season and earning a wildcard berth. Miami beat Kansas City, 17-6, in the wildcard round but lost to Buffalo, 44-34, in the divisional round.
10. 1994 (11-7 Lost division round of playoffs) -- Dan Marino earned Comeback Player of the Year and the Dolphins beat the Chiefts, 27-17, in the wildcard round. The Dolphins lost a heartbreaker, 22-21, against the Chargers after leading, 21-6, in the divisional round. I felt that team was the last chance for Marino and Don Shula to return to the super bowl.
