58th season in franchise history
The 2023 season was the Miami Dolphins' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their eighth under general manager Chris Grier and their second under head coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins improved upon their 9–8 record from the previous two seasons after a Week 15 win over the New York Jets. With a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, they clinched a playoff spot for a second consecutive season. Despite leading the Buffalo Bills by three games with five to play, the Dolphins faltered late in the season and, combined with the Bills going undefeated since the bye, put AFC East control in their Week 18 matchup. In that game, the Dolphins lost to the Bills, giving the Bills the division. The loss meant 2008 would remain the most recent season the Dolphins won the AFC East. Throughout the year, the Dolphins were noted to struggle to beat teams with winning records.[1]
The Dolphins once again failed to win a playoff game, not having done so since 2000, losing to the eventual repeat Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 26–7 loss in one of the coldest games in NFL history. This game was Tyreek Hill, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Emmanuel Ogbah's return to Arrowhead. With the Detroit Lions defeating the Los Angeles Rams and advancing to the NFC Divisional round the following day, the Dolphins officially hold the longest active playoff victory drought in the NFL.
In their Week 3 70–20 victory over the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins became the first NFL team to score 70 points in a game since 1966.[2] This was the second most points scored in a regular-season game all time.[3]
Offseason
On January 19, 2023, the Dolphins parted ways with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.[4]
After firing Boyer, the Dolphins signed long time defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (well known for his defense being consistently ranked top-5 in major categories) to a contract making him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL.[5][6]
On March 12, the Dolphins agreed in principle to a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in which they acquired 6 time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 3rd round pick. The Rams used the pick to select Tennessee defensive end Byron Young. The trade was officially announced 3 days later after the start of the NFL league year.[7][8]
Free agent signings
Draft
Notes
- ^ Miami forfeited its first-round selection as well as its 2024 third-round selection as punishment for multiple violations of the league's anti-tampering policy in conversations with quarterback Tom Brady and Don Yee, the agent for then-New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (as well as Brady).
- ^ Miami traded San Francisco's selection, a 2024 fourth-round selection, and running back Chase Edmonds to Denver in exchange for Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round selection.
- ^ Miami traded their 2021 first-round pick (3rd overall) to the 49ers in exchange for their 2021 first-round pick (12th overall), 2022 first and third-round picks (29th and 102nd overall), and a first-round pick (29th overall) in 2023.
- ^ Miami traded New England's selection and tight end Hunter Long, to Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jalen Ramsey.
- ^ New England traded a third-round selection to Miami in exchange for wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round selection.
- ^ a b Miami traded fourth and sixth-round selections, and 2022 first, second, and fourth-round selections to Kansas City in exchange for wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
- ^ Miami traded a fifth-round selection to San Francisco in exchange for running back Jeff Wilson.
- ^ Chicago traded a sixth-round selection to Miami in exchange for wide receiver Jakeem Grant.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers
In a back-and-forth affair, the Dolphins got the better of the matchup, beating the Chargers 36–34. The Dolphins started off the season 1–0.
Week 2: at New England Patriots
Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 3: Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,522
- Referee: Clay Martin
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Game Book
The 70 points scored by the Dolphins are the highest by any team since 1966, and tied with the third highest points scored in NFL history. Miami had the opportunity to tie the single-game points record with 33 seconds remaining,[10] but opted to kneel the football instead of attempting a 45-yard field goal.[11] In addition to the 70 points scored, the Dolphins had 726 total yards, the second-most in league history, behind only the mark of 735 set by the Los Angeles Rams in a 1951 game against the New York Yanks.[12] They also became the first team in NFL history to gain 350 rushing and 350 passing yards in one game, and also are the first team in NFL history to score 5 passing and 5 rushing touchdowns in the same game.
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
A week after their historic performance, the Dolphins lost their first game of the regular season, falling to 3–1.
Week 5: vs. New York Giants
Week 5: New York Giants at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 6: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,529
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Game Book
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7: Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,879
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
- Recap, Game Book
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
Week 8: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs
NFL Germany games
This was Tyreek Hill's first game against the team he had once played for. This was also the second ever NFL game played in Germany, the previous one being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Seattle Seahawks game just a year prior.
Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 11: Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,026
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Game Book
Week 12: at New York Jets
Week 13: at Washington Commanders
Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 14: Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Despite leading 27–13 with just 3 minutes left, which gave the Dolphins a 99.7% chance to win the game, the Dolphins went on to lose 28–27, becoming the first team to blow a 14+ point lead in the final three minutes in regulation.[13][14]
Week 15: vs. New York Jets
Week 15: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: December 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,967
- Referee: Brad Rogers
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Game Book
Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 16: Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 18: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 18: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: January 7
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,292
- Referee: Alex Kemp
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
- Recap, Game Book
Standings
Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (3) Kansas City Chiefs
Notes
- ^ Due to an injury involving Daewood Davis, the game was terminated with around eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter.[9]
References
- ^ Why the injury-plagued Miami Dolphins are doomed against the Kansas City Chiefs, SportsNaut, January 10, 2024
- ^ Kerr, Jeff (September 24, 2023). "Dolphins score 70 points in rout of Broncos, record most yards ever in game in NFL history". CBS Sports.
- ^ De la Fuente, Homero; Almasy, Steve (September 24, 2023). "Miami Dolphins score 70 points and take a knee rather than take a shot at NFL scoring mark". CNN.
- ^ "Dolphins fire Josh Boyer after three seasons as defensive coordinator". NFL.com.
- ^ "Report: Vic Fangio officially joining Dolphins after Super Bowl". February 2, 2023.
- ^ "Report: Dolphins hire Vic Fangio, make him NFL's highest-paid coordinator | Fox Sports".
- ^ "Sources: Rams trading star CB Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins".
- ^ "Miami Dolphins make trade with L.A. Rams".
- ^ Edholm, Eric (August 26, 2023). "Dolphins-Jaguars preseason game suspended after Miami WR Daewood Davis carted off with injury". NFL.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "Dolphins 70-20 Broncos (Sep 24, 2023) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ Deen, Safid. "Miami Dolphins stop short of NFL scoring record with 70-point outburst – and fans boo". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "Dolphins make history with 70 points and 726 yards; Bills on deck". ESPN. September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Titans rally to upset Dolphins 28-27 on Monday Night Football: Live updates, highlights, stats and reaction, The Athletic, December 12, 2023
- ^ Mike McDaniel says Titans' comeback against Dolphins was 'hard, hard lesson' that no lead in NFL is safe, CBS Sports, December 12, 2023
- ^ Game was only available to KSHB and WTVJ. Out of market on Peacock.
External links
- Miami Dolphins official website
