Dolphins–Patriots rivalry

Dolphins-Patriots rivalry

Miami Dolphins New England Patriots
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 January 8, 1983 Dolphins 28, Patriots 13 January 12, 1986 Patriots 38, Dolphins 14 December 28, 1997 Patriots 17, Dolphins 3
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.

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.

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	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