Dolphins–Patriots rivalry
| |||
| First meeting |
November 27, 1966 Patriots 20, Dolphins 14 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Latest meeting |
September 18, 2016 Patriots 31, Dolphins 24 | ||
| Next meeting | January 1, 2017 | ||
| Statistics | |||
| Meetings total | 102 (including the playoffs) | ||
| All-time series | Dolphins lead 53-49 (including the playoffs) | ||
| Postseason results |
Patriots lead 2-1
| ||
| Largest victory |
Dolphins: 52-0 (1972) Patriots: 34-0 (1980) | ||
| Longest win streak |
Dolphins: 9 (1989–93) Patriots: 7 (2 times: 1986-88, 2010-2013) | ||
| Current win streak | Patriots: 1 win (2016–present) | ||
The Dolphins–Patriots rivalry is an American football rivalry between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots of the National Football League. The Dolphins lead the series 53-49.[1]
While not as famous as some other rivalries, the rivalry has a long history that dates back to the 1960s. The beginning of the rivalry was dominated by the Dolphins, as the time the Dolphins were one of the NFL's most successful teams, while the Patriots were one of the worst. The Patriots finally made the Super Bowl in 1985.
Starting in 1986, the rivalry was a little bit more even, with the Pats having a 7-game winning streak from 1986 to 1988. The Dolphins then took over the rivalry once again, winning 13 of the next 15 matchups between the 2 teams. Both teams had great quarterbacks in the 90s, with the Patriots having Drew Bledsoe and the Dolphins with Dan Marino. The Dolphins continued to dominate the rivalry through the late 1990s with the Dolphins sweeping the Patriots in back to back years, 1999 and 2000.
Since 2003, the Patriots dominated the rivalry, they won the next 4 meetings, while the Dolphins were struggling. In 2004, one of the most famous moments in the rivalry happened where the Dolphins, 2-11 at the time, upset the 12-1 Patriots in a game that has been known as "The Night That Courage Wore Orange". In 2008, the rivalry briefly intensified when the Dolphins became the only team other than the Patriots since 2003 to win the AFC East. In week 3 of the aforementioned 2008 season, the Dolphins used the Wildcat formation to throw the Patriots off and went on to upset them, 38-13.[2]
Results
1960s (Dolphins 4-3)
| Year | Date | Result | Winner | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | November 27 | 20-14 | Patriots | Orange Bowl |
| 1967 | October 15 | 41-10 | Patriots | Fenway Park |
| December 17 | 41-32 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1968 | November 24 | 34-10 | Dolphins | Fenway Park |
| December 8 | 38-7 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1969 | November 9 | 17-16 | Dolphins | Alumni Stadium |
| December 8 | 38-23 | Patriots | Tampa Stadium |
1970s (Dolphins 13-7)
| Year | Date | Result | Winner | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | September 20 | 27-14 | Patriots | Harvard Stadium |
| December 8 | 37-20 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1971 | October 17 | 41-3 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| December 8 | 34-13 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | |
| 1972 | November 12 | 52-0 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| December 3 | 37-21 | Dolphins | Schaefer Stadium | |
| 1973 | September 30 | 44-23 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| October 28 | 30-14 | Dolphins | Schaefer Stadium | |
| 1974 | September 15 | 34-24 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| December 15 | 34-27 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1975 | September 28 | 22-14 | Dolphins | Schaefer Stadium |
| December 1 | 20-7 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1976 | September 19 | 30-14 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| October 31 | 10-3 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1977 | November 13 | 17-5 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| December 11 | 14-10 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium | |
| 1978 | October 22 | 33-24 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| December 18 | 23-3 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1979 | October 21 | 28-13 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| November 29 | 39-24 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
1980s (tie 10-10)
| Year | Date | Result | Winner | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | September 20 | 34-0 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| December 8 | 16-13 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1981 | November 8 | 30-27 | Dolphins | Schaefer Stadium |
| December 6 | 24-14 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1982[nb 1] | November 8 | 3-0 | Patriots | Schaefer Stadium |
| 1983 | September 11 | 34-24 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| November 13 | 17-6 | Dolphins | Sullivan Stadium | |
| 1984 | September 9 | 28-7 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| October 21 | 44-24 | Dolphins | Sullivan Stadium | |
| 1985 | November 3 | 17-13 | Patriots | Sullivan Stadium |
| December 16 | 30-27 | Dolphins | Orange Bowl | |
| 1985 | January 12, 1986 | 31-14 | Patriots | Orange Bowl |
| 1986 | October 5 | 34-7 | Patriots | Sullivan Stadium |
| December 22 | 34-27 | Patriots | Orange Bowl | |
| 1987 | September 13 | 28-21 | Patriots | Sullivan Stadium |
| December 28 | 24-10 | Patriots | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 1988 | November 6 | 21-10 | Patriots | Sullivan Stadium |
| November 20 | 6-3 | Patriots | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
| 1989 | September 17 | 24-10 | Dolphins | Sullivan Stadium |
| December 10 | 31-10 | Dolphins | Joe Robbie Stadium | |
Notes
- ↑ The Dolphins and Patriots only played once in 1982 due to the strike shortened season