Weakest Dolphin playoff team?

[74_75_78_79_]

Plenty to pick from.

There's at least one valid candidate in each decade from the '70s all the way to this very one!

[ChrisBabcock]

The 2008 team to me felt like they would be a one year wonder even as the season was happening. They filled the one year AFC East power vacuum left by the Brady-less Pats. Rebounded from a 2-4 start to an 11-5 finish but didn't really blow anyone away in that strong finish... which included games against creampuffs such as the Raiders, Chiefs, 49ers and Bills (twice)

[Brian wolf]

At least the 2008 team won 11 games. The 1997 team was weak as well, with defense and special teams getting them into the postseason, the worst playoff team of Marino's career.

Going into a playoff game, the Dolphins had Skylar Thompson leading them in 2022, not exactly installing confidence in the fan base, though the Dolphins came back against Buffalo, covering the point spread. Could Tua Tags had led them to victory?

The defense on the 2016 team wasn't good either but Tannehill, Ajayi and Stills had good years as Gase went to his only postseason as a HC.

[74_75_78_79_]

At least the 2008 team won 11 games. The 1997 team was weak as well, with defense and special teams getting them into the postseason, the worst playoff team of Marino's career.

Going into a playoff game, the Dolphins had Skylar Thompson leading them in 2022, not exactly installing confidence in the fan base, though the Dolphins came back against Buffalo, covering the point spread. Could Tua Tags had led them to victory?

The defense on the 2016 team wasn't good either but Tannehill, Ajayi and Stills had good years as Gase went to his only postseason as a HC.

Despite there being a few 9-win teams to pick from, I'm actually going to go with Gase's 10-6 installment. 1995 (Shula's last year), '99 (Jimmy's last), and 2022 all have sliding into the playoffs in common, but statistically, not bad overall. Yes, Wolf, the way the latter played against the Bills, both at Buffalo, especially that 1st-Rounder without Tua gets them off the hook with me.

And, yes, 1997 a great candidate. Their offense was #11 but their D at #26!! But they would have to be '2nd'-worst. The 2016 squad a putrid #24 in O, #29 in D!! Yes, they rallied from a 1-4 start, but their only quality-win was early on against Pittsburgh, the win that would begin the Dolphins' 6-game win-streak. And, yes, it was a convincer, but it would in turn be the first game of the Steelers' early four-game losing-streak. So many cream-puffs on the schedule from there whom Miami fed off of. Oh, and did I mention they beating Cleveland, at home, in...OT?? Yes, the Browns team that would finish 1-15! That 6-game win-streak gets snapped at mediocre/respectable Baltimore where they get completed waffled, 38-6! And in the 1st-Rd they get vengefully destroyed at AFCCG-bound Pittsburgh who went into the post-season on a 7-game win-streak since that early aforementioned four-game skid.

Yes, I opine that being their least-impressive playoff qualifier. Adam never returned them to the playoffs. Fluke written all over it, even then.

[CSKreager]

At least the 2008 team won 11 games. The 1997 team was weak as well, with defense and special teams getting them into the postseason, the worst playoff team of Marino's career.

Going into a playoff game, the Dolphins had Skylar Thompson leading them in 2022, not exactly installing confidence in the fan base, though the Dolphins came back against Buffalo, covering the point spread. Could Tua Tags had led them to victory?

The defense on the 2016 team wasn't good either but Tannehill, Ajayi and Stills had good years as Gase went to his only postseason as a HC.

Despite there being a few 9-win teams to pick from, I'm actually going to go with Gase's 10-6 installment. 1995 (Shula's last year), '99 (Jimmy's last), and 2022 all have sliding into the playoffs in common, but statistically, not bad overall. Yes, Wolf, the way the latter played against the Bills, both at Buffalo, especially that 1st-Rounder without Tua gets them off the hook with me.

And, yes, 1997 a great candidate. Their offense was #11 but their D at #26!! But they would have to be '2nd'-worst. The 2016 squad a putrid #24 in O, #29 in D!! Yes, they rallied from a 1-4 start, but their only quality-win was early on against Pittsburgh, the win that would begin the Dolphins' 6-game win-streak. And, yes, it was a convincer, but it would in turn be the first game of the Steelers' early four-game losing-streak. So many cream-puffs on the schedule from there whom Miami fed off of.

That 1995 team oddly had played better going into the playoffs: 3-1 in December (traditionally Miami’s month of doom in that timeframe) and beat 2 playoff teams in KC/ATL. What made their playoff disaster in Buffalo such a surprise is that in worse weather they had played BUF tooth and nail in week 16

As for 1997, despite a worse record, they had quality wins (KC, DET, NYJ 2x). Heck that Shula final squad beat a whopping 5 playoff teams (PIT, ATL, SD, aforementioned Chiefs and Falcons)

Their problem was the opposite of 2016: these squads could NOT feed on the creampuffs (0-5 Saints and Kotite’s Jets in 95, Bears at home and 41-0 to league worst Indy in 97)

[Bryan]

I'd vote for the 1999 version, even though they won a playoff game, referred to as The Back In Bowl because the Seahawks had lost 5 of their last 6 while the Dolphins also had lost 5 of their last 6. The Dolphins were able to sneak by Jon Kitna and the Seahawks, only to lose to Jacksonville the following week 62-7.

[CSKreager]

I'd vote for the 1999 version, even though they won a playoff game, referred to as The Back In Bowl because the Seahawks had lost 5 of their last 6 while the Dolphins also had lost 5 of their last 6. The Dolphins were able to sneak by Jon Kitna and the Seahawks, only to lose to Jacksonville the following week 62-7.

Both teams actually were 8-2 going into Thanksgiving weekend

Miami did have some decent wins amidst their 8-2: at Indy, at New England, at Oakland, Tennessee

[Brian wolf]

When the Dolphins started 8-2 in 1999, I felt if their defense could just stay strong, Marino might be able to win the division and play well in postseason but like Bryan said before CS, a stumble that never stopped.

The Jags did run it up on Marino-Johnson, yet had no gas against the Titans the following week ...

[SeahawkFever]

Two things:

1. For the topic at hand, there’s a lot of ways you could go with this one. The 2016 team perhaps, and those later in Marino’s career could be down there as well.

And 2. I notice that the Dolphins haven’t made the AFC Championship Game since 1992, that’s three years longer than the Cowboys, and I don’t see anyone throwing shade at Miami for that like people do Dallas.

[sheajets]

I remember being so begrudgingly impressed with that 11-5 2008 club, sneaking away a division from the Jets. The 1 season turnaround they got was remarkable...and yes the NFL is the ultimate quick turnaround league but still, 1-15 to 11-5 and a division.

They used the wildcat effectively. Kept defenses off balance all year. Pennington stayed healthy and had a terrific year (Jets got it stuck up their you know what in that situation...) They were getting contributions from finds like Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo, Fasano. Ginn was their #1 receiver. Joey Porter had a spectacular season at 31

For the pieces they had, what a job by Dan Henning.

Still that team was really an inspiring 7-9 group that somehow pulled off 11. I'll go with them