http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1982.htm Ahh...my favorite Dolphins team, the 1982 squad with the Killer B's, Woodstrock, the Mud Bowl, and: [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpRtHXc2J9w"]YouTube - 100 - The Snow Plow Game[/nomedia] Of course the Patriot's cheated as early as 1982, they have a habit of doing so, the snowplow driver was cat on work release from the local gray bar hotel. That team was probably Coach Shula's "best" Head coaching job, they had no starting Qb, the leading rusher was the Fullback as the tailback, David Overstreet tragically died that offseason, and oh yeah, there was a strike that cost the season 5 games. Making the Super Bowl that season was especially sweet as the season before the Chargers had defeated the Dolphins in the Epic in Miami, almost 14 minutes of playoff overtime: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvmFczOcUK0&feature=related"]YouTube - San Diego Chargers vs Miami Dolphins 1981 AFC Division Playoffs clip 2[/ame] (Check out about the 4 minute mark on that video) I know the Marino Era was sexier, however in the early 80's Don Shula just found a way to win games, in a ton of ways Sparano reminds me of Shula, but that is a different discussion.
Padre, thanks for bringing that back. That was the most electrifying moment in the history of the franchise (so far). I was there and I had recorded it on my VCR; went home and watched it over 30 times. I've written about it before, so I won't wax poetic, but as you imply, there's plenty of greatness in the history of this franchise. The undefeated season was just the start. Just one tidbit: That fullback was Andra Franklin. A beast from Nebraska. Was always good for more than 700 yards, 50 or so per game, and 7 or 8 rushing TD's until he got hurt in '84. He went to the Pro Bowl that '82 season.
Uwe von Schaumann killed me in that game....I think he had two chances to win this game and blew it. That's still the best playoff game I have ever seen, and probably in my all-time top five best games I have seen, even though we lost.
Ah, I was quite young at that time, but do recall the game, especially the missed FG's. Franklin running on that rice paddy that was the Orange Bowl was a thing of beauty, so was AJ Duhe taking that int back to the house. The 81 and 82 teams were like the Millenium Falcon, always needing something repaired but ultimately getting the job done, when Marino arrived it was like an Empiral Star Destroyer showed up and everything was first class and rather easy.
I loved Andra Franklin..loved him. Loved that team!..But Andra Franklin cost us that game with a horrendous fumble late in the 4th quarter that would have run the clock out and sealed the game. I also think we might have been on the edge of FG range. SD would never had gotten the ball back and we win that game.
what memories!! ahhh the Killer B's! The name of my fantasy football team! What a season....I will never forget the ups and downs of the SD playoff game....
I was 15yrs old and it was the most amazing time to be a Dolphin fan. Seems like yesterday but it was a long time ago. As devastating a feeling as I ever ever felt in sports at the end of that day and the weeks that followed. Surreal
That snow plow game really pissed me off back then, I think that is where the Patriots became the Cheatriots...
Yeah it was really great, we came off of losing the SB to the Redskins and drafted some guy named "Marino" who had slumped his senior season and had some rumors about slacking off his senior year *cough*. Next thing I knew, Marino is flinging the ball all over the place, he came into the game against the Bills or Raiders and just started balling, it was amazing. For the loss to the Chargers, losing to Ground Chuck Knox's Seachickens that year robbed us of going to three straight AFC Championship games for the second time.
And let's not forget this game. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301160mia.htm I remember Muncie ran for a first down on the first offensive play, and I thought "they're going to beat us again!" Then Betters sacked Fouts on the next play.
Two completions to wideouts. The rest to running backs and tight ends. Ah, Woodlies... Luckily we had the Killer B's.