The 1988 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 23rd as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 8–7, winning only six games[1] and failing to reach the playoffs for the third straight season.
| 1988 Miami Dolphins season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Don Shula |
| Home field | Joe Robbie Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 6–10 |
| Division place | 5th AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | 2
|
Even without future Pro Football Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson, who was forced to retire prior to this season due to injuries, the Dolphins offensive line set the record for fewest sacks in a single season with 7 during 1988, protecting quarterback Dan Marino. Marino was only sacked on 0.98% of his dropbacks in 1988, also a single-season NFL record.[2]
This would be the last time Don Shula recorded a losing record during his tenure as Dolphins coach, and in his coaching career overall. It would be the final losing season for the Dolphins for 15 years.
Offseason
editNFL draft
edit| 1988 Miami Dolphins draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Eric Kumerow | Linebacker | Ohio State | |
| 2 | 42 | Jarvis Williams | Safety | Florida | |
| 3 | 73 | Ferrell Edmunds * | Tight end | Maryland | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Personnel
editStaff
edit|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
edit
Regular season
editSchedule
edit| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | at Chicago Bears | L 7–34 | 0–1 | Soldier Field | 63,330 |
| 2 | September 11 | at Buffalo Bills | L 6–9 | 0–2 | Rich Stadium | 79,520 |
| 3 | September 18 | Green Bay Packers | W 24–17 | 1–2 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 54,409 |
| 4 | September 25 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 13–15 | 1–3 | Hoosier Dome | 59,638 |
| 5 | October 2 | Minnesota Vikings | W 24–7 | 2–3 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 59,867 |
| 6 | October 9 | at Los Angeles Raiders | W 24–14 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 50,751 |
| 7 | October 16 | San Diego Chargers | W 31–28 | 4–3 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 58,972 |
| 8 | October 23 | New York Jets | L 30–44 | 4–4 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 68,292 |
| 9 | October 30 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–14 | 5–4 | Tampa Stadium | 67,352 |
| 10 | November 6 | at New England Patriots | L 10–21 | 5–5 | Sullivan Stadium | 60,840 |
| 11 | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | L 6–31 | 5–6 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 67,091 |
| 12 | November 20 | New England Patriots | L 3–6 | 5–7 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 53,526 |
| 13 | November 27 | at New York Jets | L 34–38 | 5–8 | Giants Stadium | 52,752 |
| 14 | December 4 | Indianapolis Colts | L 28–31 | 5–9 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 45,236 |
| 15 | December 12 | Cleveland Browns | W 38–31 | 6–9 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 61,884 |
| 16 | December 18 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 24–40 | 6–10 | Three Rivers Stadium | 36,051 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
editWeek 5
editFirst time Dan Marino faced the Minnesota Vikings in the regular season.
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Week 6
edit
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Standings
edit| AFC East | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Buffalo Bills(2) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 329 | 237 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 354 | 315 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 250 | 284 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–5 | 6–7–1 | 372 | 354 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 0–8 | 3–9 | 319 | 380 | L1 |
Awards and records
edit- October 23, 1988: Dan Marino set a franchise record for most passing yards in one game (521)[6]
- November 6, 1988: Jim Jensen set a franchise record for most receptions in one game (12) [6]
- Brian Sochia, Pro Bowl selection
References
edit- ^ 1988 Miami Dolphins
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com – NFL Single-Season Sacked % Leaders
- ^ "1988 Miami Dolphins starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins - October 2nd, 1988". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ a b NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.60