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1980 Miami Dolphins season

15th season in franchise history

15th season in franchise history

FieldValue
teamMiami Dolphins
year1980
record8–8
division_place3rd AFC East
coachDon Shula
stadiumOrange Bowl
playoffsDid not qualify
pro bowlersNone
shortnavlinkDolphins seasons

The 1980 Miami Dolphins season was the 15th year of existence for the Miami Dolphins franchise. Quarterback Bob Griese retired after the season, following a 14-year career with the Dolphins. However, in Griese's final season the Dolphins would only play mediocre football finishing in third place with an 8–8 record. This was also the first season since 1969 that the Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills. For the season, the Dolphins switched the color of the facemasks on their helmets from gray to teal.

No Dolphins made it to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. Griese was the highest-paid quarterback in the league at just over $400,000.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1980 NFL draft

:Source:

Personnel

Coaches / Staff

  • Team Owner / President – Joe Robbie

  • Executive Vice President/general manager – Mike Robbie

  • Vice president – Don Shula

  • Director of player personnel – Chuck Connor

  • Head coach – Don Shula

  • Quarterbacks/receivers – Dan Henning

  • Offensive backs – Carl Taseff

  • Offensive line/running game – John Sandusky

  • Assistant head coach/defense – Bill Arnsparger

  • Defensive line/run defense – Mike Scarry

  • Defensive backs – Tom Keane

  • Special teams – Steve Crosby, Carl Taseff

  • Punting – Tom Keane

Roster

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Regular season

The 1980 NFL season would see the Dolphins drop to an 8–8 record, from their AFC East division winning 10–6 showing the previous year.

Quarterback Bob Griese, who struggled with leg problems during 1979, lost the starting job to longtime backup Don Strock, but he did poorly in two games, leading the Dolphins to return to Griese for week 3. In week 5, however, Griese suffered a career-ending shoulder injury against the Baltimore Colts and was succeeded by David Woodley, a rookie fresh from LSU.

Their week-1 loss to the Buffalo Bills was the Dolphins' first loss to that team since 1969, snapping a 20 game winning streak for Miami in the Bills-Dolphins rivalry. After the win, Bills fans rushed the field and tore down the goalposts. This was also Don Shula's first loss to Buffalo in 21 career games against them.

The final game of the season was played against the New York Jets on December 20. NBC tried a novel experiment by broadcasting the game with no commentators, and with none of the players or staff wearing microphones. The effect was to give television viewers the feel of actually being in the stadium. To date, this was the only NFL game ever aired on TV without commentaries. The Jets won by a score of 24–17, though both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention.

It was during the ABC broadcast of the Monday Night Football game on December 8, 1980, against the Patriots that Howard Cosell announced that John Lennon had been shot and killed.

Schedule

Miami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"WeekMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"DateMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"OpponentMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"ResultMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"RecordMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"VenueMiami Dolphinsyear=1980border=2}}"Attendance12345678910111213141516
September 7at Buffalo BillsL 7–170–1Rich Stadium79,598
September 14Cincinnati BengalsW 17–161–1Miami Orange Bowl38,322
September 21at Atlanta FalconsW 20–172–1Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium55,470
September 28New Orleans SaintsW 21–163–1Miami Orange Bowl40,946
October 5Baltimore ColtsL 17–303–2Miami Orange Bowl50,631
October 12at New England PatriotsL 0–343–3Schaefer Stadium60,377
October 19Buffalo BillsW 17–144–3Miami Orange Bowl41,636
at New York JetsL 14–174–4Shea Stadium53,046
November 2at Oakland RaidersL 10–164–5Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum46,378
November 9at Los Angeles RamsW 35–145–5Anaheim Stadium62,198
November 16San Francisco 49ersW 17–136–5Miami Orange Bowl45,135
San Diego ChargersL 24–27 (OT)6–6Miami Orange Bowl63,013
November 30at Pittsburgh SteelersL 10–236–7Three Rivers Stadium51,384
New England PatriotsW 16–13 (OT)7–7Miami Orange Bowl63,292
December 14at Baltimore ColtsW 24–148–7Memorial Stadium30,564
New York JetsL 17–248–8Miami Orange Bowl41,854

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 at Bills

;First quarter

  • No scoring ;Second quarter
  • BUF – Nick Mike-Mayer 40-yard field goal. Bills 3–0. ;Third quarter
  • MIA – Tony Nathan 4-yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 7–3. ;Fourth quarter
  • BUF – Roosevelt Leaks 4-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 10–7.
  • BUF – Joe Cribbs 2-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 17–7. ;Top passers
  • MIA – Bob Griese – 11/18, 101 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • BUF – Joe Ferguson – 20/32, 198 yards, TD, 5 INT ;Top rushers
  • MIA – Steve Howell – 6 rushes, 43 yards
  • BUF – Joe Cribbs – 18 rushes, 60 yards, TD ;Top receivers
  • MIA – Duriel Harris – 3 receptions, 42 yards
  • BUF – Joe Cribbs – 9 receptions, 71 yards

Week 7 vs Bills

First quarter

  • MIA – Don Bessillieu 44-yard fumble return (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 7–0. Second quarter
  • MIA – Nat Moore 3-yard pass from David Woodley (Uwe von Schamann kick). Dolphins 14–0. Third quarter
  • BUF – Joe Cribbs 2-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Dolphins 14–7.
  • MIA – Uwe von Schamann 23-yard field goal. Dolphins 17–7. Fourth quarter
  • BUF – Jerry Butler 7-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Dolphins 17–14. ;Top passers
  • BUF – Joe Ferguson – 24/42, 221 yards, TD
  • MIA – David Woodley – 11/17, 93 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
  • BUF – Joe Cribbs – 14 rushes, 38 yards, TD
  • MIA – Terry Robiskie – 18 rushes, 84 yards ;Top receivers
  • BUF – Frank Lewis – 4 receptions, 71 yards
  • MIA – Nat Moore – 4 receptions, 39 yards, TD

Week 14: vs. New England Patriots

The Dolphins got revenge from their 34-0 shellacking in Foxborough back in October. The Patriots clawed to a 13–6 lead in the fourth quarter, then the Dolphins forced overtime with a David Woodley throw to Nat Moore in the fourth. John Smith attempted to kick the game-winning field goal, but had the kick blocked, then Uwe von Schamann of the Dolphins won it with a 23-yard field goal in the extra quarter. The game, though, became overshadowed by Howard Cosell's announcement that John Lennon had been shot and killed.

Standings

References

References

  1. (February 13, 1981). "Payton tops salary list of NFL players". Schenectady Gazette.
  2. "1980 Miami Dolphins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. Ausiello, Jeff. (December 5, 2010). "Ex-Pats kicker forever linked to Lennon". [[ESPN.com]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

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