2018 Miami Dolphins season

Last updated

2018 Miami Dolphins season
Owner Stephen M. Ross
General manager Chris Grier
Head coach Adam Gase
Home stadium Hard Rock Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers CB Xavien Howard
Uniform
Miami Dolphins Uniforms 2018.png

The 2018 season was the Miami Dolphins' 49th in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall and their third and last under head coach Adam Gase. During the offseason, the Dolphins tweaked their uniforms' orange color to better align with their classical past and history. For the second straight season, they also brought back their throwback uniforms from the Shula/Marino eras and wore them for three games.

Contents

With quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing for the first time since 2016, the highlight of the Dolphins' season came during a memorable Week 14 win against division rival and defending back-to-back AFC champion New England Patriots, which prevented the Patriots from clinching the AFC East that week. However, the Dolphins would lose all of their remaining games and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The 7–9 finish was also the team's second consecutive losing season, with all 7 wins decided by one possession scores.

Roster changes

Signings

PositionPlayerAge2017 TeamContract
WR Danny Amendola 32 New England Patriots 2 years, $12 million
RB Brandon Bolden 281 year, $850,000
RB Frank Gore 35 Indianapolis Colts 1 year, $1.015 million
QB Brock Osweiler 27 Denver Broncos 1 year, $880,000
G Josh Sitton 31 Chicago Bears 2 years, $18 million
WR Albert Wilson 25 Kansas City Chiefs 3 years, $24 million

Departures

PositionPlayerAge2018 TeamContract
DT Ndamukong Suh 31 Los Angeles Rams 1 year, $14 million
C Mike Pouncey 29 Los Angeles Chargers 2 years, $15 million

Draft

2018 Miami Dolphins Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 11 Minkah Fitzpatrick FS Alabama
242 Mike Gesicki TE Penn State
373 Jerome Baker OLB Ohio State
4123 Durham Smythe TE Notre Dame From Carolina via Cleveland
131 Kalen Ballage HB Arizona State From New England via Philadelphia
6209 Cornell Armstrong CB Southern Miss From Kansas City
7227 Quentin Poling LB Ohio From San Francisco
229 Jason Sanders K New Mexico

Draft trades

Staff

2018 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office

  • Chairman/managing general partner – Stephen Ross
  • Vice chairman/partner – Bruce Beal
  • Vice chairman – Jorge Perez
  • Vice chairman – Don Shula
  • Vice chairman – Matt Higgins
  • Vice chairman, president and CEO – Tom Garfinkel
  • General manager – Chris Grier
  • Executive vice president of football operations – Mike Tannenbaum
  • Senior director, football administration – Brandon Shore
  • Director, college scouting – Adam Engroff
  • Director, pro personnel – Anthony Hunt
  • Director of football research – Brian Fleury
  • Director, football research & strategy – Matt Sheldon
  • Senior director, football and player development – Joe Vitt
  • Director, football and player development – Clyde Christensen
  • Director, analytics – Dennis Lock

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Dave Puloka
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Jim Arthur

Final roster

2018 Miami Dolphins roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 15 reserve, 9 practice squad

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 24–260–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
2August 17at Carolina Panthers L 20–270–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap
3August 25 Baltimore Ravens L 10–270–3Hard Rock Stadium Recap
4August 30at Atlanta Falcons W 34–71–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap

Regular season

The Dolphins' 2018 schedule was finalized and announced on April 19. [1]

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 9 Tennessee Titans W 27–201–0 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
2 September 16at New York Jets W 20–122–0 MetLife Stadium Recap
3 September 23 Oakland Raiders W 28–203–0Hard Rock Stadium Recap
4 September 30at New England Patriots L 7–383–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
5 October 7at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–273–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
6 October 14 Chicago Bears W 31–28 (OT)4–2Hard Rock Stadium Recap
7 October 21 Detroit Lions L 21–324–3Hard Rock Stadium Recap
8 October 25at Houston Texans L 23–424–4 NRG Stadium Recap
9 November 4 New York Jets W 13–65–4Hard Rock Stadium Recap
10 November 11at Green Bay Packers L 12–315–5 Lambeau Field Recap
11 Bye
12 November 25at Indianapolis Colts L 24–275–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
13 December 2 Buffalo Bills W 21–176–6Hard Rock Stadium Recap
14 December 9 New England Patriots W 34–33 7–6Hard Rock Stadium Recap
15 December 16at Minnesota Vikings L 17–417–7 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
16 December 23 Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–177–8Hard Rock Stadium Recap
17 December 30at Buffalo Bills L 17–427–9 New Era Field Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week One: Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Titans3001720
Dolphins0731727

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Due to two weather delays, the game lasted for 7 hours and 10 minutes, the longest game since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. [2] Coincidentally, wide receiver Danny Amendola met with former teammates Malcolm Butler and Dion Lewis. The three played for the New England Patriots from 2015 to 2017 and helped them win Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons.

Week 2: at New York Jets

Week Two: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins7130020
Jets006612

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week Three: Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Raiders737320
Dolphins0771428

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

With the win, the Dolphins improved to 3–0, their first such start since 2013. [3]

Week 4: at New England Patriots

Week Four: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins00077
Patriots3217738

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: September 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), Sunny and Warm
  • Game attendance: 65,878
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Steve Tasker
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With their first loss of the season, the Dolphins failed to earn their first 4–0 start since 1995, during the Dan Marino era and Don Shula's final year as the Dolphins' head coach.

Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week Five: Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins0143017
Bengals0032427

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: October 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Mostly Sunny
  • Game attendance: 52,708
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Steve Tasker
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Six: Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Bears00217028
Dolphins70615331

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

A last-second field goal kick by Jason Saunders barely averted a tie and gave the Dolphins the win in overtime.

Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Seven: Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Lions7109632
Dolphins077721

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

The Dolphins were seeking their first win over the Lions since 2006.

Week 8: at Houston Texans

Week Eight: Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins7310323
Texans77141442

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 9: vs. New York Jets

Week Nine: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Jets03036
Dolphins060713

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers

Week Ten: Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins363012
Packers7714331

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 78,076
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Steve Tasker
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts

Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins773724
Colts7701327

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 57,069
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week Thirteen: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bills063817
Dolphins770721

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 65,155
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the win the Dolphins improved to 6-6. However this would turn out to be their last win over Buffalo until 2022.

Week 14: vs. New England Patriots

Week Fourteen: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Patriots6210633
Dolphins7147634

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings

Week Fifteen: Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins0107017
Vikings21031741

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,841
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

This was the Dolphins' first loss to the Vikings since 2002.

Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week Sixteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Jaguars7001017
Dolphins70007

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

  • Date: December 23
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 65,798
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the loss, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills

Week Seventeen: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins0143017
Bills140141442

at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

This season finale marked the final games of players such as quarterback Ryan Tannehill, linebacker Cameron Wake, and head coach Adam Gase all in Dolphins uniforms.

Standings

Division

AFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(2) New England Patriots 1150.6885–18–4436325W2
Miami Dolphins 790.4384–26–6319433L3
Buffalo Bills 6100.3752–44–8269374W1
New York Jets 4120.2501–53–9333441L3

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 [a] Kansas City Chiefs West1240.7505–110–2.480.401W1
2 [b] New England Patriots East1150.6885–18–4.482.494W2
3 [b] Houston Texans South1150.6884–29–3.471.435W1
4 Baltimore Ravens North1060.6253–38–4.496.450W3
Wild Cards
5 [a] Los Angeles Chargers West1240.7504–29–3.477.422W1
6 Indianapolis Colts South1060.6254–27–5.465.456W4
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Pittsburgh Steelers North961.5944–1–16–5–1.504.448W1
8 Tennessee Titans South970.5633–35–7.520.465L1
9 Cleveland Browns North781.4693–2–15–6–1.516.411L1
10 Miami Dolphins East790.4384–26–6.469.446L3
11 [c] Denver Broncos West6100.3752–44–8.523.464L4
12 [c] Cincinnati Bengals North6100.3751–54–8.535.448L2
13 [c] Buffalo Bills East6100.3752–44–8.523.411W1
14 Jacksonville Jaguars South5110.3131–54–8.549.463L1
15 [d] New York Jets East4120.2501–53–9.506.438L3
16 [d] Oakland Raiders West4120.2501–53–9.547.406L1
Tiebreakers [e]
  1. 1 2 Kansas City finished ahead of LA Chargers in the AFC West based on division record, claiming the No. 1 seed.
  2. 1 2 New England claimed the No. 2 seed over Houston based on head-to-head victory.
  3. 1 2 3 Denver finished ahead of Cincinnati and Buffalo based on strength of victory. Cincinnati finished ahead of Buffalo based on record vs. common opponents. Cincinnati's cumulative record against Baltimore, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami was 3–2, compared to Buffalo's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
  4. 1 2 NY Jets finished ahead of Oakland based on strength of victory.
  5. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

References

  1. "Miami Dolphins' 2018 regular-season schedule". Sun-Sentinel. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  2. "Dolphins overcome 2 lightning delays to beat Titans 27-20". ESPN . Associated Press. September 9, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  3. Deen, Safid (September 23, 2018). "Dolphins' speed shines bright in win over Raiders, Miami's first 3-0 start since 2013". Sun-Sentinel . Retrieved September 25, 2018.