1990 Miami Dolphins season

Last updated

1990 Miami Dolphins season
General manager Eddie Jones
Head coach Don Shula
Home field Joe Robbie Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Chiefs) 17–16
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Bills) 34–44
Pro Bowlers

The 1990 Miami Dolphins season was the team's twenty-first season in the National Football League and twenty-fifth overall. After four seasons out of the playoffs with a combined record of 30 wins and 33 losses, the Dolphins returned to postseason play for the first time since 1985 with twelve wins and four losses. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 17–16 in the Wild Card Game, before being knocked out of contention by the Buffalo Bills, 44–34 in the Divisional Playoff Game.

Contents

1990 marked the first time since their record 1972 perfect season that the Dolphins played the New York Giants, and merely the second in team history. [1] The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team's division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season. Also, the scheduled game between the Giants and Dolphins in 1987 was cancelled due to a players' strike. [2]

As of 2022, this was also the last time the Dolphins finished with at least twelve wins in the regular season.

Offseason

= Pro Bowler [3]

NFL Draft

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
9 Miami Dolphins Richmond Webb Tackle Texas A&M
40Miami Dolphins Keith Sims Guard Iowa State
67Miami Dolphins Alfred Oglesby Nose Tackle Houston
94Miami Dolphins Scott Mitchell QuarterbackUtah

Personnel

Staff

1990 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Junior Wade

Roster

1990 Miami Dolphins final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
47 active, 16 inactive, 1 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 9at New England Patriots W 27–241–0 Foxboro Stadium 45,305
2September 16 Buffalo Bills W 30–72–0 Joe Robbie Stadium 68,142
3September 23at New York Giants L 3–202–1 Giants Stadium 76,483
4September 30at Pittsburgh Steelers W 28–63–1 Three Rivers Stadium 54,691
5October 7 New York Jets W 20–164–1Joe Robbie Stadium69,678
6 Bye
7October 18 New England Patriots W 17–105–1Joe Robbie Stadium62,630
8October 28at Indianapolis Colts W 27–76–1 Hoosier Dome 59,213
9November 4 Phoenix Cardinals W 23–37–1Joe Robbie Stadium54,294
10November 11at New York Jets W 17–38–1Giants Stadium68,362
11November 19 Los Angeles Raiders L 10–138–2Joe Robbie Stadium70,553
12November 25at Cleveland Browns W 30–139–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 70,225
13December 2at Washington Redskins L 20–429–3 RFK Stadium 53,599
14December 9 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–20 (OT)10–3Joe Robbie Stadium67,034
15December 16 Seattle Seahawks W 24–1711–3Joe Robbie Stadium57,851
16December 23at Buffalo Bills L 14–2411–4 Rich Stadium 80,235
17December 30 Indianapolis Colts W 23–1712–4Joe Robbie Stadium59,547
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(1) Buffalo Bills 1330.8137–110–2428263L1
(4) Miami Dolphins 1240.7507–110–2336242W1
Indianapolis Colts 790.4383–55–7281353L1
New York Jets 6100.3752–64–10295345W2
New England Patriots 1150.0631–71–11181446L14

Player stats

Passing

PlayerAttCompYdsTouchdownsINTRating
Dan Marino5313063563211182.6

Receiving

PlayerReceptionsYardsAverageLongTouchdowns
Mark Clayton3240612.7433

Defense

PlayerTacklesSacksFumble Recoveries
Jeff Cross6011.52

Playoffs

AFC wild card game

Miami Dolphins 17, Kansas City Chiefs 16
Period1234Total
Chiefs376016
Dolphins0301417

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

With 2:28 left in the game, the Dolphins capped an 85-yard drive with quarterback Dan Marino's winning 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton.

AFC Divisional Playoff

Buffalo Bills 44, Miami Dolphins 34
Period1234Total
Dolphins31431434
Bills131431444

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Awards and honors

Milestones

Related Research Articles

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The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 21st season in the National Football League, the 28th as the Kansas City Chiefs and the 31st overall. The team improved from an 8–7–1 record to an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, they lost to the Miami Dolphins 17–16 in the wild-card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record 19 consecutive seasons with every home game sold out. The streak was finally broken in the final home game of the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs season versus Cleveland.

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The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 44th in the National Football League. The team attempted to win their third consecutive Super Bowl championship, but ultimately lost to their bitter rivals, the Oakland Raiders, in the AFC Championship Game. Despite failing to reach the Super Bowl, the 1976 Steelers are fondly remembered as one of the franchise's most dominant teams, thanks to a record-setting defense and running game. The Steelers' strong defense finished the season with just 9.9 points allowed per game, the fewest in the NFL, and a franchise record that still stands.

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The 2000 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 31st season in the National Football League, the 35th overall and was their first under new head coach Dave Wannstedt who was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on January 16, 2000, the same day that Jimmy Johnson announced his retirement from coaching. For the first season since 1982, Dan Marino was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement prior to the season. Believed by many as the greatest Miami Dolphin of all time, Marino led the Dolphins to ten playoff appearances, one of which ended in Super Bowl XIX, and is the winningest quarterback to have not won a Super Bowl. Jay Fiedler, who left the Jacksonville Jaguars, succeeded Marino as starting quarterback. Damon Huard remained a backup quarterback and started for Fiedler in one game during the season.

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References

  1. New York Giants v Miami Dolphins
  2. History of the NFL's Structure and Formats
  3. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.