| 1985 Miami Dolphins season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Joe Robbie |
| General manager | Mike Robbie |
| Head coach | Don Shula |
| Home field | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Browns) 24–21 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Patriots) 14–31 |
| Pro Bowlers | 4 QB Dan Marino WR Mark Clayton G Roy Foster C Dwight Stephenson |
The 1985 Miami Dolphins season was the 20th season in franchise history. The club won their fourth consecutive AFC East championship[1] and appeared in the AFC Championship Game. It was the first season since their undefeated 1972 season without offensive lineman Ed Newman.
Due to Dan Marino's offseason holdout, and an injury to receiver Mark Duper, the Dolphins were only 5–4 through Week 9, and in third place in the AFC East, behind the 7–2 Jets and 6–3 Patriots. Their 220 points scored through Week 9 were fifth in the league,[2] and 85 points fewer, than in 1984 at the same point in the season.[3]
The Dolphins righted the ship, however, and won their final seven games, including an upset of the then-undefeated Chicago Bears in a Week 13 Monday Night contest. This was the last time until 2021 that the Dolphins had won 7 games in a row. Miami won the division and defeated the AFC Central champion Cleveland Browns 24–21 in their first playoff game. Their season would end with a 31–14 home loss to division rival New England in the AFC Championship Game.