1996 Miami Dolphins season

1996 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach Jimmy Johnson
Home field
Results
Record 8–8
Division Place 4th AFC East
Playoff finish did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season Next season
1995 1997

The 1996 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 31st as a member of the National Football League. The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7, winning only eight games.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Contents

Offseason

Following the 1995 season head coach Don Shula announced his retirement from coaching, having spent 26 straight seasons with the Dolphins. Jimmy Johnson, quit Dallas after winning Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, was hired as only the third head coach in Dolphins history.

Season summary

Johnson and the Dolphins endured a rough season, winning their first three games before losing two straight. On October 27 the Dolphins hosted the Cowboys with both teams 4–3 in one of the most anticipated games of the regular season; the Cowboys rallied and won handily 29–10, and Cowboys coach Barry Switzer declared that no Dolphins player (even quarterback Dan Marino) could start on his Cowboys squad. The Dolphins won twice in the next two weeks but then lost three straight, ending any playoff hopes despite winning their final two games and finishing 8–8.

NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position School
1
5 154 Zach Thomas Linebacker Texas Tech

[2]

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 1, 1996 New England Patriots W 24–10
71,542
2 September 8, 1996 at Arizona Cardinals W 38–10
55,444
3 September 15, 1996 New York Jets W 36–27
68,137
4 September 23, 1996 at Indianapolis Colts L 10–6
60,891
5 Bye
6 October 6, 1996 Seattle Seahawks L 22–15
59,539
7 October 13, 1996 at Buffalo Bills W 21–7
79,642
8 October 20, 1996 at Philadelphia Eagles L 35–28
66,240
9 October 27, 1996 Dallas Cowboys L 29–10
75,283
10 November 3, 1996 at New England Patriots L 42–23
58,942
11 November 10, 1996 Indianapolis Colts W 37–13
66,623
12 November 17, 1996 at Houston Oilers W 23–20
47,358
13 November 25, 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–17
73,489
14 December 1, 1996 at Oakland Raiders L 17–7
60,591
15 December 8, 1996 New York Giants L 17–7
63,889
16 December 16, 1996 Buffalo Bills W 16–14
67,016
17 December 22, 1996 at New York Jets W 31–28
49,933

[3]

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT PF PA
New England Patriots 11 5 0 .688 418 313
Buffalo Bills 10 6 0 .625 319 266
Indianapolis Colts 9 7 0 .563 317 334
Miami Dolphins 8 8 0 .500 339 325
New York Jets 1 15 0 .063 279 454

References

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Baltimore Denver Arizona Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cincinnati Kansas City Dallas Detroit Carolina
Miami Houston Oakland NY Giants Green Bay New Orleans
New England Jacksonville San Diego Philadelphia Minnesota St. Louis
NY Jets Pittsburgh Seattle Washington Tampa Bay San Francisco
1996 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXXI