2008 Miami Dolphins season

2008 Miami Dolphins season
General managerJeff Ireland
Head coachTony Sparano
Home fieldDolphin Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st AFC East
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Ravens) 9–27
Pro BowlersRB Ronnie Brown
T Jake Long
LB Joey Porter
The Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium during their game against the Kansas City Chiefs, on December 21, 2008

The 2008 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 43rd overall and the first under new head coach Tony Sparano. [1] During the regular season the Dolphins completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history,[2][3] going from a 1–15 regular season record in 2007 to an 11–5 record in 2008. The previous record for most improved team one year after a 1–15 season belonged to the 1997 New York Jets, who went 9–7. The 1999 Indianapolis Colts were the only other team to accomplish a 10-game turnaround, winning 13 games after winning 3 in 1998, which was also the first year of the Peyton Manning era. Additionally, Miami won the AFC East, becoming the first team in NFL history to win their division after only having one win the previous season. The division title also snapped the Patriots' 5-year streak of winning the AFC East. The Dolphins' season came to an end in the Wild Card round when they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens which, coincidentally, was also the only team that the Dolphins had beaten the prior season, saving the Dolphins from suffering a winless season. With their rebound 11–5 record and division title, the Dolphins had hopes of achieving their first playoff victory since 2000, or to possibly become the first team ever to make the Super Bowl after winning only one game the previous season, similar to how the Carolina Panthers went 1–15 in 2001 and made Super Bowl XXXVIII just two seasons later.[4]

The 2008 season was the first with Bill Parcells as executive vice president of football operations, Jeff Ireland as general manager,[5][6] and Tony Sparano as head coach.[7][8]

With a league-worst 1–15 record in 2007,[9] the Dolphins held the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft and selected Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long. The offseason also saw the departure of two Pro Bowlers and long-time Dolphins with the release of linebacker Zach Thomas and trade of defensive end Jason Taylor.

The 2008 season was the last season in which the Miami Dolphins had a winning record and qualified for the playoffs before the 2016 team accomplished the feat.[10]

This season was also notable for the Dolphins wide-spread use of the Wildcat offense. Though previously used by other teams in several other seasons, this package was fully installed by the Dolphins by week 3, and led to an upset win over the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots.[11][12][13] Until 2019, this was the Dolphins' last road win over the Patriots. Additionally, this was the last season that the AFC East was won by a team other than the Patriots until the 2020 Buffalo Bills snapped the Patriots' streak of 11 straight AFC East championships.

  1. ^ "Sparano hired as head coach of Miami Dolphins". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
  2. ^ http://beatthesportsbook.com/home/?p=10901 [dead link‍]
  3. ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/columnists/greg_cote/story/822086.html [dead link‍]
  4. ^ Weintraub, Robert (December 31, 2008). "The Falcons and Dolphins prove that the Detroit Lions can turn things around". Slate Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "Parcells Era Begins In Miami; Injury Update". MiamiDolphins.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  6. ^ "Dolphins Name Jeff Ireland general manager". MiamiDolphins.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  7. ^ "Dolphins Make Coaching Change". MiamiDolphins.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  8. ^ "Tony Sparano Becomes Eighth Head Coach In Dolphins History". MiamiDolphins.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
  9. ^ "2007 NFL Regular Season Standings". NFL. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  10. ^ Clark, Kevin (August 6, 2018). "Into the Wildcat". The Ringer. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "Wildcat strikes: Inside story of how '08 Dolphins perplexed Patriots". ESPN.com. December 8, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  12. ^ LV. "The Wildcat Is Still Running Strong In Miami". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Banks, Don. "'They had no answers': 10 years later, shock of Dolphins' Wildcat win over Patriots still lingers". The Athletic. Retrieved June 30, 2022.