1970 Miami Dolphins season

1970 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	Don Shula
Home field	Miami Orange Bowl
Results
Record	10–4
Division place	2nd AFC East
Playoff finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 21–14

The 1970 Miami Dolphins season was the team's fifth, and first in the National Football League (NFL). 1970 marked the team's first winning season, and their first playoff appearance. The 1970 was also the first season under head coach Don Shula.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1970 NFL Draft

1970 Miami Dolphins draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
2	29	Jim Mandich	Tight end	Michigan
3	55	Tim Foley *	Defensive back	Purdue
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1970 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office President – Joe Robbie Vice President – Don Shula Director of Player Personnel – Joe Thomas Head coaches Head Coach – Don Shula Offensive coaches Offense/Receivers – Howard Schnellenberger Offensive Backs – Carl Taseff Offensive Line – Monte Clark

Defensive coaches Defense/Linebackers – Bill Arnsparger Defensive Line – Mike Scarry Defensive Backs – Tom Keane

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	September 20, 1970	at Boston Patriots	L 27–14	0–1–0	32,607
2	September 27, 1970	at Houston Oilers	W 20–10	1–1–0	39,840
3	October 3, 1970	Oakland Raiders	W 20–13	2–1–0	57,140
4	October 10, 1970	at New York Jets	W 20–6	3–1–0	62,712
5	October 18, 1970	at Buffalo Bills	W 33–14	4–1–0	41,312
6	October 25, 1970	Cleveland Browns	L 28–0	4–2–0	75,313
7	November 1, 1970	at Baltimore Colts	L 35–0	4–3–0	60,240
8	November 8, 1970	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 24–17	4–4–0	58,171
9	November 15, 1970	New Orleans Saints	W 21–10	5–4–0	52,866
10	November 22, 1970	Baltimore Colts	W 34–17	6–4–0	67,699
11	November 30, 1970	at Atlanta Falcons	W 20–7	7–4–0	54,036
12	December 6, 1970	Boston Patriots	W 37–20	8–4–0	51,032
13	December 13, 1970	New York Jets	W 16–10	9–4–0	75,099
14	December 20, 1970	Buffalo Bills	W 45–7	10–4–0	70,990

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Baltimore Colts	11	2	1	.846	6–1–1	8–2–1	321	234	W4
Miami Dolphins	10	4	0	.714	6–2	8–3	297	228	W6
New York Jets	4	10	0	.286	2–6	2–9	255	286	L3
Buffalo Bills	3	10	1	.231	3–4–1	3–7–1	204	337	L5
Boston Patriots	2	12	0	.143	2–6	2–9	149	361	L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	December 27, 1970	at Oakland Raiders	L 21–14	54,401

External links

• 1970 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com