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1985 Miami Dolphins season
20th season in franchise history
20th season in franchise history
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Miami Dolphins |
| year | 1985 |
| record | 12–4 |
| division_place | 1st AFC East |
| coach | Don Shula |
| general manager | Mike Robbie |
| owner | Joe Robbie |
| stadium | Miami Orange Bowl |
| playoffs | **Won [Divisional Playoffs](1985-86-nfl-playoffs)** |
| (vs. [Browns](1985-cleveland-browns-season)) 24–21 | |
| Lost [AFC Championship](1985-86-nfl-playoffs) | |
| (vs. [Patriots](1985-new-england-patriots-season)) 14–31 | |
| pro bowlers | 4 |
| QB Dan Marino | |
| WR Mark Clayton | |
| G Roy Foster | |
| C Dwight Stephenson | |
| shortnavlink | Dolphins seasons |
(vs. Browns) 24–21 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Patriots) 14–31 QB Dan Marino WR Mark Clayton G Roy Foster C Dwight Stephenson
The 1985 Miami Dolphins season was the 20th season in franchise history. The club won their fourth consecutive AFC East championship and appeared in the AFC Championship Game. It was the first season since their undefeated 1972 season without offensive lineman Ed Newman.
Due to Dan Marino's offseason holdout, and an injury to receiver Mark Duper, the Dolphins were only 5–4 through Week 9, and in third place in the AFC East, behind the 7–2 Jets and 6–3 Patriots. Their 220 points scored through Week 9 were fifth in the league, and 85 points fewer, than in 1984 at the same point in the season.
The Dolphins righted the ship, however, and won their final seven games, including an upset of the then-undefeated Chicago Bears in a Week 13 Monday Night contest. This was the last time until 2021 that the Dolphins had won 7 games in a row. Miami won the division and defeated the AFC Central champion Cleveland Browns 24–21 in their first playoff game. Their season would end with a 31–14 home loss to division rival New England in the AFC Championship Game.
Off-season
Quarterback Dan Marino, coming off a record-shattering 1984 season, held out through training camp. This, and an injury to wide receiver Mark Duper, got the Dolphins out to a slow start.
Draft
Main article: 1985 NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Condren | Running back | Gettysburg |
| Robert Weir | Defensive end | SMU |
| Mike White | Center | Alabama |
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
-
Owner – Joe Robbie
-
General manager – Mike Robbie
-
Head coach – Don Shula
-
Quarterbacks – David Shula
-
Running backs – Carl Taseff
-
Wide receivers – David Shula
-
Offensive line – John Sandusky
-
Defensive coordinator – Chuck Studley
-
Defensive line – Mike Scarry
-
Linebackers – Bob Matheson
-
Secondary – Mel Phillips
-
Special teams – Tom Keane
-
Strength and conditioning – Junior Wade
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
| Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Week | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Date | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Result | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Record | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Venue | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | at [Houston Oilers](1985-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 23–26 | 0–1 | Houston Astrodome | 47,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 15 | **[Indianapolis Colts](1985-indianapolis-colts-season)** | **W** 30–13 | 1–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 53,693 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 22 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1985-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 31–0 | 2–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 69,791 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 29 | at [Denver Broncos](1985-denver-broncos-season) | **W** 30–26 | 3–1 | Mile High Stadium | 73,614 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 6 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1985-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **W** 24–20 | 4–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 72,820 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at **[New York Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season)** | **L** 7–23 | 4–2 | Giants Stadium | 73,807 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 20 | [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1985-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **W** 41–38 | 5–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 62,335 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 27 | at [Detroit Lions](1985-detroit-lions-season) | **L** 21–31 | 5–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 75,291 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 3 | at **[New England Patriots](1985-new-england-patriots-season)** | **L** 13–17 | 5–4 | Sullivan Stadium | 58,811 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 10 | **[New York Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season)** | **W** 21–17 | 6–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 73,965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 17 | at **[Indianapolis Colts](1985-indianapolis-colts-season)** | **W** 34–20 | 7–4 | Hoosier Dome | 59,666 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 24 | at **[Buffalo Bills](1985-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 23–14 | 8–4 | Rich Stadium | 50,474 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [Chicago Bears](1985-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 38–24 | 9–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 75,594 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 8 | at [Green Bay Packers](1985-green-bay-packers-season) | **W** 34–24 | 10–4 | Lambeau Field | 52,671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[New England Patriots](1985-new-england-patriots-season)** | **W** 30–27 | 11–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 69,489 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 22 | **[Buffalo Bills](1985-buffalo-bills-season)** | **W** 28–0 | 12–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 64,811 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 13
;Bears
- Steve Fuller 11/21, 169 Yds, TD, 2 INT
- Walter Payton 23 Rush, 121 Yds
- Willie Gault 2 Rec, 79 Yds ;Dolphins
- Dan Marino 14/27, 270 Yds, 3 TD, INT
- Tony Nathan 15 Rush, 74 Yds
- Mark Duper 5 Rec, 107 Yds
Miami finished 12–4 in 1985 and, in an epic Monday Night Football showdown on December 2, 1985, handed the previously-undefeated Chicago Bears their only defeat of the season. Several members of the 1972 Dolphins were in attendance at the game.
After rallying from a 21–3 third quarter deficit in the divisional playoffs to beat the Cleveland Browns 24–21, many people were looking forward to a rematch with Chicago in Super Bowl XX. The Cinderella New England Patriots, the Dolphins' opponents in the AFC Championship, had different plans. New England forced six turnovers on the way to a 31–14 win – the Patriots' first in Miami since 1966. The Patriots had lost 18 games in a row at the Orange Bowl. In 1969, the Boston Patriots had beaten the Dolphins at Tampa Stadium.
Standings
Final roster
Player stats
Passing
| Dan Marino | 567 | 336 | 4137 | 30 | 21 | 84.1 |
|---|
Playoffs
Schedule
| Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Round | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Date | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Result | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Venue | Miami Dolphins | year=1985 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Divisional | AFC Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Cleveland Browns](1985-cleveland-browns-season) | **W** 24–21 | Miami Orange Bowl | 75,128 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 12 | [New England Patriots](1985-new-england-patriots-season) | **L** 14–31 | Miami Orange Bowl | 74,978 |
AFC divisional playoff
The game is known as 'Marino's 18-point comeback.'
AFC Championship Game
In an upset, the Patriots converted 6 Dolphins turnovers into 24 points.
Awards and honors
- Dan Marino, 1985 1st Team All-Pro and AFC Pro Bowl selection
- Mark Duper, franchise record, most receiving yards in one game, 217 yards on November 10.
References
References
- (2007). "Numbelievable!". Triumph Books.
- [http://pfref.com/tiny/YRahs Pro-Football-Reference: In a single season, in 1985, in the regular season, from team's 1st game to 9th game, sorted by descending Points For]
- [http://pfref.com/tiny/uL0Y5 Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, in 1984, in the regular season, from team's 1st game to 9th game, sorted by descending Points For]
- Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich [http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0312110731/soft-cover/ The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition], p.506, Martin's Press, August 1994, {{ISBN. 0-312-11073-1
- ''NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book'', Workman Publishing Co, New York, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 60.
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