1982 Miami Dolphins season

1982 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach Don Shula
Owner Joe Robbie
Home field Miami Orange Bowl
Results
Record 7–2
Division place 2nd AFC
Playoff finish Won AFC First round (Patriots) 28–13
Won AFC Second Round (Chargers) 34–13
Won American Conference Championship (Jets) 14–0
Lost Super Bowl XVII (Redskins) 17–27
The Dolphins playing against the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII.

The 1982 Miami Dolphins season was the team's seventeenth in the National Football League. finished the strike-shortened regular season with a 7–2 record, ranking them second in the AFC.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1982 NFL Draft
Pick # NFL Team Player Position College
24Miami DolphinsRoy FosterGuardUniversity of Southern California

Regular season

The Dolphins' main strength was their defense, nicknamed the "Killer Bees" because 6 of their 11 starters had last names that began with the letter "B". The "Killer Bees", anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower, led the league in fewest total yards allowed (2,312) and fewest passing yards allowed (1,027). Linebacker A.J. Duhe was extremely effective at blitzing and in pass coverage. And the Dolphins secondary, consisting of defensive backs Don McNeal, Gerald Small and brothers Lyle and Glenn Blackwood, combined for 11 interceptions.

However, the Dolphins' passing attack, led by quarterback David Woodley, ranked last in the league with 1,401 total yards, 8 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. One of the few bright spots in the Dolphins passing attack was wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo, who gained 356 yards off just 17 receptions, an average of 20.9 yards per catch. Wide receiver Duriel Harris also provided a deep threat with 22 receptions for 331 yards.

But Miami's strength on offense was their running game, ranking 3rd in the league with 1,344 yards. Pro Bowl running back Andra Franklin was the team's top rusher with 701 yards and 7 touchdowns. Running back Tony Nathan rushed for 233 yards, and caught 16 passes for another 114 yards. Woodley himself also recorded 207 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. One reason for the Dolphins' rushing success was the blocking of their offensive line, led by future hall of fame center Dwight Stephenson, along with Pro Bowlers Bob Kuechenberg and Ed Newman.[1]

Snowplow Game

In National Football League lore, the Snowplow Game refers to a regular-season game played between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots on December 12, 1982.

Playing in a heavy snowstorm at New England's Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the two teams remained scoreless late into the fourth quarter. With 4:45 left to go in the game and on-field conditions worsening, Patriots coach Ron Meyer summoned Mark Henderson, who was a convict on a work release program, and was the stadium's snowplow operator that afternoon – and in the face of furious protests from Miami coach Don Shula – was directed to veer off course and clear a spot on the field for placekicker John Smith, with Matt Cavanaugh putting down the hold. The kick was good and the Patriots took a 3–0 lead into the final minutes of the game.

The Rest of the Story What is often left untold is what happened after John Smith kicked the go-ahead field goal. Despite the snowy conditions, the Dolphins methodically marched down the field on the strength of their running backs Andra Franklin and Tony Nathan and Quarterback David Woodley. With about a minute left in the game, and well within field goal range, the Dolphins faced a 4th down. Mark Henderson had driven his John Deere tractor down to that side of the field and was ready at motion from the referee, to go out on the field and clear a path for Dolphins Kicker Uwe von Schamann. Shula decided to go for the first down instead of a tying field goal. The Patriots stopped the Dolphins and took over on downs.

Henderson was released from prison a few years after the game, and currently works in the construction business. Henderson's plow was actually a John Deere Model 314 tractor with a sweeper attached. When he was being interviewed by a TV reporter about the controversy, Henderson jokingly replied, "What are they gonna do, throw me in jail?" Smith's subsequent field goal gave the Patriots a 3–0 lead that held until the final gun. The game ball was awarded to all-pro linebacker Steve Nelson, who subsequently donated it to his alma mater, North Dakota State University. Henderson also received a game ball from a gracious Meyer after the game. The following year, the NFL banned the use of snowplows on the field during a game. The moment became an interactive feature of the new Hall at Patriot Place when it opened in 2008 next to Gillette Stadium.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 12, 1982 at New York Jets W 45–28
53,360
2 September 19, 1982 Baltimore Colts W 24–20
51,999
3 November 21, 1982 at Buffalo Bills W 9–7
52,945
4 November 29, 1982 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–23
65,854
5 December 5, 1982 Minnesota Vikings W 22–14
45,721
6 December 12, 1982 at New England Patriots L 0–3
25,716
7 December 18, 1982 New York Jets W 20–19
67,702
8 December 27, 1982 Buffalo Bills W 27–10
73,924
9 January 2, 1983 at Baltimore Colts W 34–7
19,073

Season summary

Week 1

1 234Total
• Dolphins 14 10210 45
Jets 7 7014 28

[2]

Week 2

1 234Total
Colts 0 1703 20
• Dolphins 14 0100 24

[3]

Playoffs

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 January 8, 1983 New England Patriots W 28–13
68,842
2 January 16, 1983 San Diego Chargers W 34–13
71,383
3 January 23, 1983 New York Jets W 14–0
67,396
4 January 30, 1983 Washington Redskins L 17–27
103,667

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins(2) 7 2 0 .778 6–1 6–1 198 131 W3
New York Jets(6) 6 3 0 .667 2–2 2–3 245 166 L1
New England Patriots(7) 5 4 0 .556 3–1 5–3 143 157 W1
Buffalo Bills 4 5 0 .444 1–3 3–3 150 154 L3
Baltimore Colts 0 8 1 .056 0–5–0 0–7–0 113 236 L2
American Football Conference
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Los Angeles Raiders(1) 8 1 0 .889 260 200 W5
Miami Dolphins(2) 7 2 0 .778 198 131 W3
Cincinnati Bengals(3) 7 2 0 .778 232 177 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 6 3 0 .667 204 146 W2
San Diego Chargers(5) 6 3 0 .667 288 221 L1
New York Jets(6) 6 3 0 .667 245 166 L1
New England Patriots(7) 5 4 0 .556 143 157 W1
Cleveland Browns(8) 4 5 0 .444 140 182 L1
Buffalo Bills 4 5 0 .444 150 154 L3
Seattle Seahawks 4 5 0 .444 127 147 W1
Kansas City Chiefs 3 6 0 .333 176 184 W1
Denver Broncos 2 7 0 .222 148 226 L3
Houston Oilers 1 8 0 .111 136 245 L7
Baltimore Colts 0 8 1 .056 113 236 L2

Postseason

AFC First Round

AFC Divisional Playoff

1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 13 0013
Dolphins 7 20 0734

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

AFC Championship Game

Super Bowl XVII

at Rose Bowl (stadium), Pasadena, California

Scoring summary

Awards and honors

Pro Bowl players FB Andra Franklin, NT Bob Baumhower

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "1982 Miami Dolphins". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  2. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  3. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Aug-04.
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