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.
2018 Miami Dolphins season | |
---|---|
Owner | Stephen M. Ross |
General manager | Chris Grier |
Head coach | Adam Gase |
Home field | Hard Rock Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–9 |
Division place | 2nd AFC East |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | CB Xavien Howard |
Uniform | |
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
editSignings
editPosition | Player | Age | 2017 Team | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
WR | Danny Amendola | 32 | New England Patriots | 2 years, $12 million |
RB | Brandon Bolden | 28 | 1 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
editPosition | Player | Age | 2018 Team | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
DT | Ndamukong Suh | 31 | Los Angeles Rams | 1 year, $14 million |
C | Mike Pouncey | 29 | Los Angeles Chargers | 2 years, $15 million |
Draft
editRound | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | FS | Alabama | |
2 | 42 | Mike Gesicki | TE | Penn State | |
3 | 73 | Jerome Baker | OLB | Ohio State | |
4 | 123 | Durham Smythe | TE | Notre Dame | From Carolina via Cleveland |
131 | Kalen Ballage | HB | Arizona State | From New England via Philadelphia | |
6 | 209 | Cornell Armstrong | CB | Southern Miss | From Kansas City |
7 | 227 | Quentin Poling | LB | Ohio | From San Francisco |
229 | Jason Sanders | K | New Mexico |
Draft trades
- The Dolphins traded wide receiver Jarvis Landry to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth-round selection they acquired from Carolina (123rd overall), and a 2019 7th round pick Cleveland originally acquired from Pittsburgh.
- The Dolphins traded running back Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia in exchange for Philadelphia's fourth-round selection they acquired from New England (131st overall).
- The Dolphins traded their fifth-round selection (147th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for linebacker Stephone Anthony.
- The Dolphins traded the seventh-round selection they acquired from Tampa Bay (223rd overall) to San Francisco in exchange for San Francisco's seventh-round selection (227th overall) and center Daniel Kilgore.
Staff
edit
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Final roster
editPreseason
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 24–26 | 0–1 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 17 | at Carolina Panthers | L 20–27 | 0–2 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
3 | August 25 | Baltimore Ravens | L 10–27 | 0–3 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
4 | August 30 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 34–7 | 1–3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
editThe Dolphins' 2018 schedule was finalized and announced on April 19.[1]
Schedule
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 9 | Tennessee Titans | W 27–20 | 1–0 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
2 | September 16 | at New York Jets | W 20–12 | 2–0 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 23 | Oakland Raiders | W 28–20 | 3–0 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
4 | September 30 | at New England Patriots | L 7–38 | 3–1 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 7 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 17–27 | 3–2 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap |
6 | October 14 | Chicago Bears | W 31–28 (OT) | 4–2 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 21 | Detroit Lions | L 21–32 | 4–3 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
8 | October 25 | at Houston Texans | L 23–42 | 4–4 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
9 | November 4 | New York Jets | W 13–6 | 5–4 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
10 | November 11 | at Green Bay Packers | L 12–31 | 5–5 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
11 | Bye | |||||
12 | November 25 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 24–27 | 5–6 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 2 | Buffalo Bills | W 21–17 | 6–6 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 9 | New England Patriots | W 34–33 | 7–6 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
15 | December 16 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 17–41 | 7–7 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 7–17 | 7–8 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 30 | at Buffalo Bills | L 17–42 | 7–9 | New Era Field | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
editWeek 1: vs. Tennessee Titans
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | 27 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), Scattered Showers
- Game attendance: 65,184
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Cris Carter and Sarah Kustok
- Recap, Gamebook
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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Jets | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), Sunny
- Game attendance: 77,982
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Steve Tasker
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C), Partly Cloudy
- Game attendance: 65,667
- Referee: Shawn Hochuli
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 3–0, their first such start since 2013.[3]
Week 4: at New England Patriots
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Patriots | 3 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Bengals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 27 |
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 | ||
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|
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Dolphins | 7 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 31 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 65,791
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Brian Custer, Greg Jennings and Doug Gottlieb
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
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
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 7 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 32 |
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 65,265
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
The Dolphins were seeking their first win over the Lions since 2006.
Week 8: at Houston Texans
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 7 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
Texans | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT/7:20 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 71,726
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- TV announcers (Fox/NFLN): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
Week 9: vs. New York Jets
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jets | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Dolphins | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C), partly sunny
- Game attendance: 65,533
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Gene Steratore
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Packers | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 31 |
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 | ||
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Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
Colts | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
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 | ||
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Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 0 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 |
Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Game information | ||
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|
Week 14: vs. New England Patriots
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 6 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 33 |
Dolphins | 7 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: December 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 66,087
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Vikings | 21 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 41 |
Game information | ||
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|
This was the Dolphins' first loss to the Vikings since 2002.
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
Dolphins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
With the loss, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention.
Week 17: at Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Bills | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at New Era Field, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 67,420
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (CBS): Beth Mowins and Steve Beuerlein
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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|
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
editDivision
editAFC East | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) New England Patriots | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 8–4 | 436 | 325 | W2 |
Miami Dolphins | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 6–6 | 319 | 433 | L3 |
Buffalo Bills | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 269 | 374 | W1 |
New York Jets | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 3–9 | 333 | 441 | L3 |
Conference
edit# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1[a] | Kansas City Chiefs | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .480 | .401 | W1 |
2[b] | New England Patriots | East | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .494 | W2 |
3[b] | Houston Texans | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .471 | .435 | W1 |
4 | Baltimore Ravens | North | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 8–4 | .496 | .450 | W3 |
Wild Cards | |||||||||||
5[a] | Los Angeles Chargers | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .477 | .422 | W1 |
6 | Indianapolis Colts | South | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .465 | .456 | W4 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | North | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–1–1 | 6–5–1 | .504 | .448 | W1 |
8 | Tennessee Titans | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .520 | .465 | L1 |
9 | Cleveland Browns | North | 7 | 8 | 1 | .469 | 3–2–1 | 5–6–1 | .516 | .411 | L1 |
10 | Miami Dolphins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 6–6 | .469 | .446 | L3 |
11[c] | Denver Broncos | West | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .523 | .464 | L4 |
12[c] | Cincinnati Bengals | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .535 | .448 | L2 |
13[c] | Buffalo Bills | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .523 | .411 | W1 |
14 | Jacksonville Jaguars | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .549 | .463 | L1 |
15[d] | New York Jets | East | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .506 | .438 | L3 |
16[d] | Oakland Raiders | West | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .547 | .406 | L1 |
Tiebreakers[e] | |||||||||||
|
References
edit- ^ "Miami Dolphins' 2018 regular-season schedule". Sun-Sentinel. April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Dolphins overcome 2 lightning delays to beat Titans 27-20". ESPN.
- ^ 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.