1983 Miami Dolphins season

1983 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	Don Shula
Home field	Orange Bowl
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st AFC East
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Divisional Playoff

The 1983 season was the 17th season in football for the Miami Dolphins and they sought to return to the Super Bowl after losing to the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII. It was also a turning point in the team's history, as in the 1983 NFL Draft a young quarterback slipped to deep in the opening round, being passed over by such teams as division rivals New York who drafted Ken O'Brien and New England who drafted Tony Eason. With the 27th pick, the Dolphins decided to take a chance on Dan Marino. In the draft's eighth round the Dolphins also selected receiver Mark Clayton.

David Woodley started the team's first five games but despite wins over Buffalo, New England, and Kansas City the offense didn't move to Don Shula's liking so in Week Six hosting the Bills the rookie Marino started. Marino had completed two touchdown throws in relief of Woodley in a 27–14 loss to the Raiders and then replaced Woodley during a 17–7 loss to the Saints with a touchdown and an interception, so the game against Buffalo was the third of his career but his first start. The game proved to be a wild affair as Robb Riddick of the Bills fumbled the opening kickoff at their 17 but Marino was intercepted by Steve Freeman on the next play. The Bills clawed to a 14–7 halftime lead but the Dolphins behind Marino stayed toe to toe as Marino threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns while handing off to Mark Clayton on an option pass for a touchdown to Mark Duper. The Bills tied the game in the final seconds and two Uwe von Schamann field goal attempts missed before Joe Danelo ended the game in a 38–35 Bills win.

Despite the loss Marino's performance cemented his role as the team's starter, and the Dolphins raced to win nine of their last ten games. Marino finished with 2,210 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. With the division wrapped up following a 26–17 win over the Oilers at the Astrodome Marino sat for the final two games of the season as Don Strock quarterbacked the Dolphins to wins over the Falcons and Jets.

Offseason

NFL draft

Pick #	NFL Team	Player	Position	College
27	Miami Dolphins	Dan Marino	Quarterback	Pittsburgh
55	Miami Dolphins	Mike Charles	Defensive Tackle	Syracuse
76	Miami Dolphins	Charles Benson	Defensive End	Baylor
167	Miami Dolphins	Reggie Roby	Punter	Iowa
195	Miami Dolphins	Keith Woetzel	Linebacker	Rutgers
223	Miami Dolphins	Mark Clayton	Wide receiver	Louisville
250	Miami Dolphins	Mark Brown	Linebacker	Purdue
278	Miami Dolphins	Anthony Reed	Running Back	South Carolina State
306	Miami Dolphins	Joe Lukens	Guard	Ohio State University

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance	Notes
1	September 4, 1983	at Buffalo Bills	W 12–0	78,715
2	September 11, 1983	New England Patriots	W 34–24	59,343
3	September 19, 1983	at Los Angeles Raiders	L 27–14	57,796	Dan Marino saw his first NFL action, throwing for 90 yards and two touchdowns
4	September 25, 1983	Kansas City Chiefs	W 14–6	50,785
5	October 2, 1983	at New Orleans Saints	L 17–7	66,489
6	October 9, 1983	Buffalo Bills	L 38–35	59,948	Marino made his first career start
7	October 16, 1983	at New York Jets	W 32–14	58,615	Marino's first career win
8	October 23, 1983	at Baltimore Colts	W 21–7	32,343	Marino's first trip to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
9	October 30, 1983	Los Angeles Rams	W 30–14	72,175
10	November 6, 1983	at San Francisco 49ers	W 20–17	57,832
11	November 13, 1983	at New England Patriots	L 17–6	60,771
12	November 20, 1983	Baltimore Colts	W 37–0	54,482
13	November 28, 1983	Cincinnati Bengals	W 38–14	74,506
14	December 4, 1983	at Houston Oilers	W 24–17	39,434
15	December 10, 1983	Atlanta Falcons	W 31–24	56,725
16	December 16, 1983	New York Jets	W 34–14	59,975

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins(2)	12	4	0	.750	6–2	9–3	389	250	W5
New England Patriots	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	274	289	L1
Buffalo Bills	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–5	283	351	L2
Baltimore Colts	7	9	0	.438	3–5	5–9	264	354	W1
New York Jets	7	9	0	.438	3–5	4–8	313	331	L2

Player stats

Passing

Player	Att	Comp	Yds	TD	INT	Rating
Dan Marino	296	173	2210	20	6	96.0

Postseason

AFC Divisional Playoff

Seattle Seahawks 27, Miami Dolphins 20

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	7	7	13	27
Dolphins	0	13	0	7	20

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C), light rain
• Game attendance: 71,032
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Trumpy

The Seahawks converted three turnovers in the second half into 13 points, while running back Curt Warner rushed for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter: A 19-yard pass to Johnson and a 32-yard pass to wide receiver Mark Duper. Seattle's only score in the first half was quarterback Dave Krieg's 6-yard touchdown pass to running back Cullen Bryant. In the third quarter, a fumble led to Warner's 1-yard touchdown. A fourth quarter interception from Marino then led to Norm Johnson's 27-yard field goal to give Seattle a 17–13 lead. After the Dolphins regained the lead off running back Woody Bennett's 3-yard touchdown, Seattle responded with Warner's 2-yard touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Miami returner Fulton Walker fumbled, setting up Norm Johnson's 37-yard field goal. Barely enough time remained for the Dolphins to tie the game, but Fulton Walker fumbled the next kickoff as well, which sealed the game for the Seahawks.

External links

• 1983 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com