1999 Miami Dolphins season

1999 Miami Dolphins season
OwnerWayne Huizenga
Head coachJimmy Johnson
Home fieldPro Player Stadium
Results
Record9–7
Division place3rd AFC East
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Seahawks) 20–17
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Jaguars) 7–62
Pro Bowlers3
LB Zach Thomas
CB Sam Madison
K Olindo Mare

The 1999 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 34th campaign, and 30th in the National Football League (NFL). It was the 17th and final season for Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. Marino suffered an injury on October 17 against the New England Patriots, with Damon Huard taking over at quarterback. The team would go 4–1 under Huard, including a 17–0 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Marino would return on November 25, against the Dallas Cowboys, throwing five interceptions in the 20–0 loss.

The Dolphins reached the midway point of the 1999 season with a 7–1 record, but in the second half of the year, the team struggled, finishing out the season 2–6, winning only one game after Marino's return. The team finished the season 9–7, beating out the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC's last wild card spot via tiebreakers; Miami held a better record against common opponents, going 6–1 to the Chiefs' 5–3. In the Wild Card round, the Dolphins upset the no. 3 seed Seattle Seahawks 20–17. In the Divisional round, the Dolphins were humiliated by the no. 1 seed Jacksonville Jaguars, losing 62–7, the most lopsided playoff loss in the Super Bowl era.

Offseason

[edit]

1999 NFL draft

[edit]
1999 Miami Dolphins draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
2 39 J. J. Johnson RB Mississippi State from Detroit
2 43 Rob Konrad FB Syracuse from Kansas City
3 72 Grey Ruegamer C Arizona State from Baltimore via Tampa Bay
5 134 Cecil Collins RB McNeese State
5 142 Bryan Jones LB Oregon State from Detroit
6 192 Brent Bartholomew P Ohio State
7 232 Jermaine Haley DT Butte from Green Bay via Detroit
7 244 Joe Wong OT BYU

Roster

[edit]
1999 Miami Dolphins roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 9 reserve, 4 practice squad

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 13 at Denver Broncos W 38–21 1–0 Mile High Stadium Recap
2 September 19 Arizona Cardinals W 19–16 2–0 Pro Player Stadium Recap
3 Bye
4 October 4 Buffalo Bills L 18–23 2–1 Pro Player Stadium Recap
5 October 10 at Indianapolis Colts W 34–31 3–1 RCA Dome Recap
6 October 17 at New England Patriots W 31–30 4–1 Foxboro Stadium Recap
7 October 24 Philadelphia Eagles W 16–13 5–1 Pro Player Stadium Recap
8 October 31 at Oakland Raiders W 16–9 6–1 Network Associates Coliseum Recap
9 November 7 Tennessee Titans W 17–0 7–1 Pro Player Stadium Recap
10 November 14 at Buffalo Bills L 3–23 7–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
11 November 21 New England Patriots W 27–17 8–2 Pro Player Stadium Recap
12 November 25 at Dallas Cowboys L 0–20 8–3 Texas Stadium Recap
13 December 5 Indianapolis Colts L 34–37 8–4 Pro Player Stadium Recap
14 December 12 at New York Jets L 20–28 8–5 Giants Stadium Recap
15 December 19 San Diego Chargers W 12–9 9–5 Pro Player Stadium Recap
16 December 27 New York Jets L 31–38 9–6 Pro Player Stadium Recap
17 January 2 at Washington Redskins L 10–21 9–7 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Source:[1]

Standings

[edit]
AFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Indianapolis Colts 13 3 0 .813 423 333 L1
(5) Buffalo Bills 11 5 0 .688 320 229 W3
(6) Miami Dolphins 9 7 0 .563 326 336 L2
New York Jets 8 8 0 .500 308 309 W4
New England Patriots 8 8 0 .500 299 284 W1

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1 at Denver Broncos

[edit]
Week One: Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 17 71438
Broncos 7 0 7721

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game information

The Dolphins opened the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. The Broncos were without their longtime quarterback John Elway, who announced his retirement during the off-season. Brian Griese, son of former Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, was Denver's starting quarterback, throwing a 61-yard touchdown pass to Ed McCaffrey early in the 1st quarter. Griese would play inconsistently for the rest of the game and was sacked twice, while Dan Marino was sacked zero times. In the 4th quarter, Griese fumbled the ball, with Jason Taylor recovering it and running it into the end zone for a touchdown.

Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals

[edit]
Week Two: Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 13 3016
Dolphins 3 10 6019

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), wind 13 MPH
  • Game attendance: 73,618
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley (play-by-play) & Ron Pitts (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

The Dolphins' defense picked off Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer four times during the game. Arizona only scored one touchdown during the game, a 34-yard interception return by Rob Fredrickson in the 2nd quarter.

Week 4 at Buffalo Bills

[edit]
Week Four: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 3 10 01023
Dolphins 6 3 0918

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), no wind
  • Game attendance: 74,073
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play-by-play) & Boomer Esiason (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Week 5 at Indianapolis Colts

[edit]
Week Five: Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 6 02534
Colts 3 7 71431

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

The Dolphins were trailing 31–22 in the 4th quarter before staging a furious comeback with just under 3:30 left to play, scoring 12 unanswered points in the span of nearly 3 minutes. The run started with a 43-yard field goal from Olindo Mare with 3:20 left. With 1:54 left, Miami's defense forced Peyton Manning to run out the end zone, resulting in a safety. On the ensuing drive, Dan Marino led the offense down the field, capping it off with a 2-yard pass to Oronde Gadsden for the game-winning score. The Dolphins' defense sealed the game, with Terrell Buckley intercepting a Manning pass on the Colts' final drive of the game.

Miami compiled 469 yards of offense and committed no turnovers. Marino threw for 393 yards while two players finished with over 100 yards receiving: Gadsden with 123 yards and Tony Martin with 166.

Week 6 at New England Patriots

[edit]
Week Six: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 16 01231
Patriots 14 10 3330

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), wind 5 MPH
  • Game attendance: 60,006
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Dan Marino's only completion of the game was on a 8-yard pass that put him over 60,000 passing yards for his career. On Marino's second pass attempt, he was hit by Lawyer Milloy, with Andy Katzenmoyer intercepting the ball and returning it 57 yards for a touchdown. On the following drive, Marino would attempt a short pass that fell short of his intended receiver. Coach Jimmy Johnson would pull Marino from the game due to a possible shoulder injury; in the week heading into the game, Marino thought he might have injured his right trapezius.[2] Marino was replaced by Damon Huard, whose first pass was intercepted by Ty Law and returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Despite the rocky start, Huard would lead the Dolphins to a 31–30 comeback victory, throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to fullback Stanley Pritchett with 23 seconds left in the game for the game-winning score.

Week 7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Week Seven: Philadelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 3 7313
Dolphins 10 3 0316

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), wind 12 MPH
  • Game attendance: 73,975
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Josh Lewin (play-by-play) & Ray Bentley (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

With Dan Marino out due to injury, Damon Huard started at quarterback for the Dolphins, his first NFL start.

Week 8 at Oakland Raiders

[edit]
Week Eight: Miami Dolphins at Oakland Raiders
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 7 3316
Raiders 3 0 609

at Network Associates Coliseum

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), wind 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 61,556
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Damon Huard started at quarterback for the second week in a row. After having thrown a pick six in each of the previous two games, Huard committed no turnovers against Oakland.

Week 9 vs. Tennessee Titans

[edit]
Week Nine: Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Titans 0 0 000
Dolphins 0 14 0317

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

Game information

The Dolphins' defense shutout the Titans, picking off Steve McNair three times. This was one of only three games that Tennessee would lose during the regular season.

Week 10 at Buffalo Bills

[edit]
Week Ten: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 3 003
Bills 9 7 7023

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), wind 21 MPH
  • Game attendance: 72,810
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Damon Huard struggled throughout the game, only completing 36% of his passes for 65 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. This was the only game of the season Miami would lose with Huard starting at quarterback.

Week 11 vs. New England Patriots

[edit]
Week Eleven: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 3 7017
Dolphins 3 7 14327

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), wind 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 74,295
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Miami's defense picked off Drew Bledsoe five times. This was the last game of the season Damon Huard would start at quarterback, as Dan Marino would return for the following game four days later. Miami finished 4–1 with Huard as starter.

Week 12 at Dallas Cowboys

[edit]

NFL on Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 000
Cowboys 0 0 71320

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 4:15 p.m.
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), wind 6 MPH
  • Game attendance: 64,328
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Dan Marino's first game after returning from injury was a disaster. Marino threw five interceptions, one of which was returned 46 yards by Dexter Coakley in the 3rd quarter for the first score of the game. The Dolphins' defense tried to help keep the team in the game, shutting out the Cowboys' offense for three quarters. The game's only offensive score came in the 4th, with Troy Aikman throwing a 65-yard touchdown pass to Rocket Ismail.

Week 13 vs. Indianapolis Colts

[edit]
Week Thirteen: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 17 7 7637
Dolphins 3 7 141034

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Dolphins

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), wind 10 MPH
  • Game attendance: 74,096
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) & Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

The Dolphins trailed 24–10 at halftime, but tied the game twice in the 4th quarter, including a 32-yard field goal from Olindo Mare with 0:36 left in regulation. However, Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt made a 53-yard field goal as time expired to give the Colts a 37–34 victory.

Week 14 at New York Jets

[edit]
Week Fourteen: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 6 0 7720
Jets 0 6 02228

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m.
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), wind 12 MPH
  • Game attendance: 78,246
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) & Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

The Dolphins had a 13–6 lead at the start of the 4th quarter, but the team collapsed in the final quarter of play. The Jets scored 22 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, including a 67-yard interception return by Omar Stoutmire.

Week 15 vs. San Diego Chargers

[edit]
Week Fifteen: San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 069
Dolphins 3 3 0612

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C), wind 9 MPH
  • Game attendance: 73,765
  • Referee: Phil Luckett
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) & Sam Wyche (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Neither team managed to a score a touchdown during the game. The Dolphins' defense held the Chargers to 186 yards of total offense and forced one turnover. This was the last regular season game Dan Marino would win in his career.

Week 16 vs. New York Jets

[edit]
Week Sixteen: New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 10 7 71438
Dolphins 7 7 71031

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), wind 8 MPH
  • Game attendance: 74,230
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play-by-play) & Boomer Esiason (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Week 17 at Washington Redskins

[edit]
Week Seventeen: Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 3 0710
Redskins 0 7 7721

at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: January 2, 2000
  • Game time: 4:15 p.m.
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), wind 15 MPH
  • Game attendance: 78,106
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) & Phil Simms (color commentator)
  • Recap
Game information

Dan Marino started at quarterback, but was pulled from the game and replaced by Damon Huard; Marino finished 11-of-24 for 118 yards with one interception. Despite the loss, the Dolphins still qualified for the playoffs as the Chiefs lost earlier in the day to the Raiders.

Playoffs

[edit]
Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card January 9, 2000 at Seattle Seahawks (3) W 20–17 1–0 The Kingdome Recap
Divisional January 15, 2000 at Jacksonville Jaguars (1) L 7–62 1–1 Alltel Stadium Recap

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (3) Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
AFC Wild Card Game: (6) Miami Dolphins at (3) Seattle Seahawks
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 0 10720
Seahawks 7 3 7017

at The Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

The Seattle Seahawks played host to their first playoff game since the 1984 season. The Seahawks were dominated by the Dolphins defense, who held them to only 171 yards, with just 32 in the second half, and sacked Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna six times, three by Trace Armstrong. Although Seattle jumped out to a 17–10 lead in the 3rd quarter, the Dolphins would rally back behind quarterback Dan Marino, who threw for 196 yards and a touchdown, leading his team to their first road playoff win since 1972 in what ultimately proved to be the final game played at The Kingdome (the Seahawks moved into Husky Stadium for the 2000 season) and the final win of Marino's career.

The Dolphins were the only away team to win in the wild-card round.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]
AFC Divisional Game: (6) Miami Dolphins at (1) Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 7 007
Jaguars 24 17 14762

at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Game information

The Jacksonville Jaguars shredded their in-state rivals the Dolphins with 520 total offensive yards in what became Miami quarterback Dan Marino's last game in the NFL and the most lopsided postseason contest since the Chicago Bears defeated the Redskins 73–0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. Their defense forced seven turnovers and held the Dolphins to 131 total yards. Marino was held to just 11 of 25 completions for 95 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in his final game. Marino retired shortly after the season ended.

This was also Jimmy Johnson's final game as an NFL head coach; Johnson resigned the day after the game.

Notes and references

[edit]
  1. ^ "Miami Dolphins 1999 Regular Season Schedule - NFL.com". www.nfl.com. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "Shoulder injury sidelines Marino". ESPN. October 17, 1999. Retrieved July 30, 2021.