1984 Miami Dolphins season

The 1984 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 19th season, and 15th in the National Football League. It was also the 15th season with the team for head coach Don Shula. The Dolphins sought to build on a spectacular 1983 season where they went 12–4 with rookie quarterback Dan Marino, only to be upset by the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs.

1984 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	Don Shula
Home field	Miami Orange Bowl
Results
Record	14–2
Division place	1st AFC East
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Seahawks) 31–10 Won AFC Championship (Steelers) 45–28 Lost Super Bowl XIX (vs. 49ers) 16–38

The Dolphins playing against the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.

The Dolphins won the 1984 AFC Championship, and appeared in Super Bowl XIX, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 38–16. To date this is the last season the Dolphins appeared in the Super Bowl.[lower-alpha 1]

Second year quarterback Dan Marino's passing ability became the focal point of Miami's offense and in 1984 he exploded to set league records with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. Marino's touchdown record was broken by Peyton Manning twenty years later and the yardage record was broken by Drew Brees twenty-seven years later. The Dolphins attempted early on to make a run at a perfect season twelve years after pulling off the feat, as they won their first eleven games but were upended in overtime by the San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins scored more than 500 points for the first and to date only time in their history,[lower-alpha 2] as they scored 513 points and finished 14–2, their best record since the undefeated season.

The year began on a somber note, as running back David Overstreet was killed in a traffic collision in June. The Dolphins wore helmet decals with the number 20 (his jersey number) in his memory during this season.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1984 NFL Draft

1984 Miami Dolphins draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	14	Jackie Shipp	ILB	Oklahoma
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1984 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Al Del Greco	Kicker	Auburn

Week 1 roster

Miami Dolphins roster

Quarterbacks 13 Dan Marino 10 Don Strock Running backs 34 Woody Bennett FB 20 Joe Carter 37 Andra Franklin FB 31 Eddie Hill 22 Tony Nathan Wide receivers 82 Fernanza Burgess 81 Jimmy Cefalo 83 Mark Clayton 85 Mark Duper 88 Vince Heflin 11 Jim Jensen 89 Nat Moore Tight ends 84 Bruce Hardy 87 Dan Johnson 80 Joe Rose		Offensive linemen 61 Roy Foster G 79 Jon Giesler T 74 Cleveland Green T 68 Eric Laakso T 72 Ronnie Lee G 64 Ed Newman G 57 Dwight Stephenson C 60 Jeff Toews C Defensive linemen 70 Bill Barnett DE 73 Bob Baumhower DT 78 Charles Benson DE 75 Doug Betters DE 58 Kim Bokamper DE 71 Mike Charles DE		Linebackers 56 Charles Bowser OLB 53 Jay Brophy MLB 51 Mark Brown MLB 59 Bob Brudzinski OLB 55 Earnest Rhone OLB 50 Jackie Shipp MLB 52 Sanders Shiver OLB 54 Rodell Thomas LB Defensive backs 47 Glenn Blackwood SS 42 Lyle Blackwood FS 43 Bud Brown SS 49 William Judson CB 40 Mike Kozlowski FS 44 Paul Lankford CB 28 Don McNeal CB 45 Robert Sowell CB Special teams 4 Reggie Roby P 5 Uwe von Schamann K				77 A. J. Duhe MLB (IR) 52 Ron Hester LB (IR) 67 Bob Kuechenberg G (IR) 32 Tommy Vigorito HB (IR) 41 Fulton Walker CB (IR) Rookies in italics [{{{rosterlink}}} Roster] updated {{{Date}}} [{{{depthlink}}} Depth chart] • [{{{translink}}} Transactions] 49 active, 6 inactive, 0 practice squad, {{{unsigned}}} unsigned → AFC rosters → NFC rosters
AFC East BUF MIA NE NYJ North BAL CIN CLE PIT South HOU IND JAX TEN West DEN KC LV LAC NFC East DAL NYG PHI WAS North CHI DET GB MIN South ATL CAR NO TB West ARI LAR SF SEA

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	TV Time(ET)	TV Announcers	Attendance
1	September 2, 1984	at Washington Redskins	W 35–17	NBC 1:00pm	Charlie Jones & Bob Griese	52,683
2	September 9, 1984	New England Patriots	W 28–7	NBC 1:00pm	Jay Randolph & Bob Griese	66,083
3	September 17, 1984	at Buffalo Bills	W 21–17	ABC 9:00pm	Frank Gifford & OJ Simpson	65,455
4	September 23, 1984	Indianapolis Colts	W 44–7	NBC 4:00pm	Charlie Jones & Bob Griese	55,415
5	September 30, 1984	at St. Louis Cardinals	W 36–28	NBC 1:00pm	Jay Randolph & Bob Griese	46,991
6	October 7, 1984	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 31–7	NBC 1:00pm	Jay Randolph & Bob Griese	59,103
7	October 14, 1984	Houston Oilers	W 28–10	NBC 1:00pm	Gary Gerould & Harvey Martin	54,080
8	October 21, 1984	at New England Patriots	W 44–24	NBC 1:00pm	Charlie Jones & Bob Griese	60,711
9	October 28, 1984	Buffalo Bills	W 38–7	NBC 4:00pm	Charlie Jones & Bob Griese	58,824
10	November 4, 1984	at New York Jets	W 31–17	NBC 4:00pm	Charlie Jones & Bob Griese	72,655
11	November 11, 1984	Philadelphia Eagles	W 24–23	CBS 1:00pm	Frank Glieber & Jean Fugett	70,227
12	November 18, 1984	at San Diego Chargers	L 28–34	NBC 4:00pm	Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen	53,041
13	November 26, 1984	New York Jets	W 28–17	ABC 9:00pm	Frank Gifford, OJ Simpson & Don Meredith	74,884
14	December 2, 1984	Los Angeles Raiders	L 34–45	NBC 4:00pm	Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen	71,222
15	December 9, 1984	at Indianapolis Colts	W 35–17	NBC 1:00pm	Jay Randolph & Reggie Rucker	60,411
16	December 17, 1984	Dallas Cowboys	W 28–21	ABC 9:00pm	Frank Gifford, OJ Simpson & Don Meredith	74,139

Season summary

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 7 7 21 0 35 Redskins 0 10 0 7 17 Date: September 2 Location: RFK Stadium Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese

[1]

Dan Marino had one of the best passing days of his career, completing 21 of 28 passes for 311 yards with 5 TDs and no interceptions for a Passer Rating of 150.4. This game also marked the emergence of Jim "Crash" Jensen, who lined up as a receiver for the first time and caught 2 of Marino's TD passes.

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Patriots 0 7 0 0 7 • Dolphins 0 7 14 7 28 Date: September 9 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Chuck Heberling Television network: NBC

[2]

Dan Marino increased his two game total of seven touchdown passes as he tossed a pair of scoring strikes to Mark Clayton within a 1:36 span in the third quarter to lead Miami to its 17th straight victory against the Patriots at The Orange Bowl. Miami intercepted four Steve Grogan passes. Mike Kozlowski returned one 26 yards, then laterred to William Judson who rambled the remaining 60 yards for a touchdown.

Week 3

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 7 7 7 0 21 Bills 0 3 7 7 17 Date: September 17 Location: Rich Stadium Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 54°F; wind 8 Referee: Bob Fredric TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith & O.J. Simpson

Scoring summary Q1 2:09 MIA Duper 11 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 7–0 Q2 6:04 MIA Clayton 12 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 14–0 Q2 0:05 BUF Danelo 33 yard field goal MIA 14–3 Q3 10:27 MIA Moore 1 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 21–3 Q3 3:57 BUF Neal 1 yard run (Danelo kick) MIA 21–10 Q4 9:20 BUF Dawkins 37 yard pass from Ferguson (Danelo kick) MIA 21–17

[3]

Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total Colts 0 7 0 0 7 • Dolphins 7 16 14 7 44 Date: September 23 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese

[4]

Week 5

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 6 20 0 10 36 Cardinals 0 14 7 7 28 Date: September 30 Location: Busch Stadium Referee: Pat Haggerty TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph, Bob Griese

[5]

Week 6

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 0 21 3 7 31 Steelers 0 0 7 0 7 Date: October 7 Location: Three Rivers Stadium Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph, Bob Griese

[6]

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 0 0 3 7 10 • Dolphins 0 7 7 14 28 Date: October 14 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould, Dave Rowe

[7]

Week 8

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 3 13 14 14 44 Patriots 3 7 7 7 24 Date: October 21 Location: Sullivan Stadium Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese

[8]

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 0 0 7 7 • Dolphins 7 17 0 14 38 Date: October 28 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese

[9]

Week 10

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 7 0 7 17 31 Jets 7 3 0 7 17 Date: November 4 Location: Giants Stadium Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 49°F; wind 13 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Griese

Scoring summary Q1 7:38 MIA Moore 37 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 7–0 Q1 5:03 NYJ Walker 33 yard pass from Ryan (Leahy kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 2:14 NYJ Leahy 32 yard field goal NYJ 10–7 Q3 4:21 MIA Bennett 3 yard run (von Schamann kick) MIA 14–10 Q4 9:31 NYJ McNeil 6 yard run (Leahy kick) NYJ 17–14 Q4 7:45 MIA Clayton 47 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 21—17 Q4 3:56 MIA von Schamann 30 yard field goal MIA 24–17 Q4 1:57 MIA Johnson 2 yard run (von Schamann kick) MIA 31–17

[10]

Week 11

1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 14 0 3 6 23 • Dolphins 0 7 7 10 24 Date: November 11 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Tom Dooley Television network: CBS

[11]

Week 12

1 2 3 4 OT Total Dolphins 0 21 7 0 0 28 • Chargers 7 7 0 14 6 34 Date: November 18 Location: Jack Murphy Stadium Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen

[12]

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Jets 7 3 7 0 17 • Dolphins 0 14 14 0 28 Date: November 26 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Fred Wyant TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson

[13]

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 7 10 7 21 45 Dolphins 7 6 14 7 34 Date: December 2 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen

[14]

Week 15

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 7 0 14 14 35 Colts 7 10 0 0 17 Date: December 9 Location: Hoosier Dome Game weather: Indoors (dome) Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph, Reggie Rucker

[15]

Week 16

1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 0 0 7 14 21 • Dolphins 0 7 7 14 28 Date: December 17 Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Pat Haggerty TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson, Don Meredith

[16]

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	December 29, 1984	Seattle Seahawks	W 31–10	73,469
Conference Championship	January 6, 1985	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 45–28	76,029
Super Bowl	January 20, 1985	N San Francisco 49ers	L 16–38	84,059

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins^(1)	14	2	0	.875	8–0	10–2	513	298	W2
New England Patriots	9	7	0	.563	6–2	9–3	362	352	W1
New York Jets	7	9	0	.438	3–5	7–7	332	364	L1
Indianapolis Colts	4	12	0	.250	2–6	4–8	239	414	L5
Buffalo Bills	2	14	0	.125	1–7	1–11	250	454	L2

Player stats

Passing

Player	Att	Comp	Yds	TD	INT	Rating
Dan Marino	564	362	5084	48	17	108.9

Postseason

Divisional

1 2 3 4 Total Seahawks 0 10 0 0 10 • Dolphins 7 7 14 3 31 Date: December 29 Location: Orange Bowl TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert, John Brodie

[17]

A year after being upended in the playoffs by the Seattle Seahawks the Dolphins routed Seattle 31–10. Dan Marino threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns despite being intercepted twice by Seahawks defensive back John Harris. The Dolphins rushed for 143 yards and a Tony Nathan rushing score as well.

Conference Championship

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 7 7 7 7 28 • Dolphins 7 17 14 7 45 Date: January 6 Location: Orange Bowl Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game weather: Sunny; 64°F Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary Q1 7:45 MIA Clayton 40 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 7–0 Q1 3:30 PIT Erenberg 7 yard run (Anderson kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 9:04 MIA von Schamann 26 yard field goal MIA 10–7 Q2 3:52 PIT Stallworth 65 yard pass from Malone (Anderson kick) PIT 14–10 Q2 2:30 MIA Duper 41 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 17–14 Q2 0:36 MIA Nathan 2 yard run (von Schamann kick) MIA 24–14 Q3 13:12 MIA Duper 36 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 31–14 Q3 7:55 PIT Stallworth 19 yard pass from Malone (Anderson kick) MIA 31–21 Q3 1:40 MIA Bennett 1 yard run (von Schamann kick) MIA 38–21 Q4 11:05 MIA Moore 6 yard pass from Marino (von Schamann kick) MIA 45–21 Q4 0:25 PIT Capers 29 yard pass from Malone (Anderson kick) MIA 45–28

In a shootout, quarterback Dan Marino led the Dolphins to a victory by throwing for 421 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Steelers quarterback Mark Malone recorded 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted three times.

Super Bowl

Main article: Super Bowl XIX

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 10 6 0 0 16 • 49ers 7 21 10 0 38 Date: January 20 Location: Stanford Stadium Game attendance: 84,059

[18]

Super Bowl XIX was played on January 20, 1985, and featured the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers won their second Super Bowl, defeating the Dolphins 38–16. Dan Marino, the Dolphins quarterback passed for one touchdown and two interceptions, while Joe Montana, the 49ers quarterback passed for 3 touchdowns and rushed for another.

• MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 37 yards 3–0 MIA
• SF – TD: Carl Monroe 33-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 7–3 SF
• MIA – TD: Dan Johnson 2-yard pass from Dan Marino (Uwe von Schamann kick) 10–7 MIA
• SF – TD: Roger Craig 8-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 14–10 SF
• SF – TD: Joe Montana 6-yard run (Ray Wersching kick) 21–10 SF
• SF – TD: Roger Craig 2-yard run (Ray Wersching kick) 28–10 SF
• MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 31 yards 28–13 SF
• MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 30 yards 28–16 SF
• SF – FG: Ray Wersching 27 yards 31–16 SF
• SF – TD: Roger Craig 16-yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) 38–16 SF

Awards and honors

• Dan Marino, 1984 NFL MVP
• Dan Marino, 1984 PFWA MVP
• Dan Marino, 1984 NEA MVP
• Dan Marino, 1984 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• Dan Marino, 1984 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year
• Dan Marino, Bert Bell Award[19]

Final roster

1984 Miami Dolphins final roster

	Quarterbacks 13 Dan Marino 10 Don Strock Running backs 34 Woody Bennett FB 20 Joe Carter RB 31 Eddie Hill RB 46 Pete Johnson FB 22 Tony Nathan RB Wide receivers 81 Jimmy Cefalo 83 Mark Clayton 85 Mark Duper 88 Vince Heflin KR 11 Jim Jensen WR/RB/QB 89 Nat Moore Tight ends 84 Bruce Hardy 87 Dan Johnson 80 Joe Rose		Offensive linemen 61 Roy Foster G 79 Jon Giesler T 74 Cleveland Green T 72 Ronnie Lee G/T/TE 64 Ed Newman G 57 Dwight Stephenson C 60 Jeff Toews C Defensive linemen 70 Bill Barnett DE 73 Bob Baumhower DT 78 Charles Benson DE 75 Doug Betters DE 58 Kim Bokamper DE 71 Mike Charles DE 76 Steve Clark DT/G		Linebackers 56 Charles Bowser OLB 53 Jay Brophy MLB 51 Mark Brown MLB 59 Bob Brudzinski OLB 77 A. J. Duhe MLB 55 Earnest Rhone OLB 50 Jackie Shipp MLB 52 Sanders Shiver OLB Defensive backs 47 Glenn Blackwood SS 42 Lyle Blackwood FS 43 Bud Brown SS 49 William Judson CB 40 Mike Kozlowski FS 44 Paul Lankford CB 28 Don McNeal CB 45 Robert Sowell CB 41 Fulton Walker CB/KR/PR Special teams 4 Reggie Roby P 5 Uwe von Schamann K		Reserve lists 37 Andra Franklin FB (IR) 52 Ron Hester LB (IR) 67 Bob Kuechenberg G (IR) 68 Eric Laakso T (IR) 54 Rodell Thomas LB (IR) 32 Tommy Vigorito HB (IR) Practice squad {{{practice_squad}}} Rookies in italics 49 active, 6 inactive, 0 practice squad

Notes

1. As of 2015 season
2. as of 2015 season

References

1. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
2. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
3. Pro-Football-Reference.com
4. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
5. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
6. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
7. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
8. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
9. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
10. Pro-Football-Reference.com
11. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
12. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
13. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
14. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
15. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
16. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
17. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
18. The Football Database. Retrieved 2018-Feb-18.
19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

• Miami Dolphins on Pro Football Reference
• Miami Dolphins on jt-sw.com