The 1984 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 19th season, and 15th in the
National Football League (NFL). It was also the 15th season with the team for head coach
Don Shula. The Dolphins sought to build on a spectacular
1983 season where they went 12–4 with rookie quarterback
Dan Marino.
Second year quarterback Dan Marino's passing ability became the focal point of Miami's offense and in 1984 he exploded to set league records with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. Marino's touchdown record was broken by
Peyton Manningtwenty years later and the yardage record was broken by
Drew Breestwenty-seven years later. The Dolphins attempted early on to make a run at a
perfect seasontwelve years after pulling off the feat, as they won their first eleven games but were upended in overtime by the
San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins scored more than 500 points for the first and to date only time in their history,[b] as they scored 513 points and finished 14–2, their best record since the undefeated season.
The year began on a somber note, as running back
David Overstreet was killed in a traffic collision in June. The Dolphins wore helmet decals with the number 20 (his jersey number) in his memory during this season.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Movers, Shakers and Record Breakers; it was narrated by Brad Crandall.
After the season, the last remaining Dolphin from their
Super Bowl VIII team, longtime offensive lineman
Ed Newman, retired, ending a 12-year era for the team. He holds the unique distinction as being the only man to make it to Super Bowl VIII and Super Bowl XIX as a member of the Dolphins, as well as
Super Bowl XVII in between.
Dan Marino had one of the best passing days of his career, completing 21 of 28 passes for 311 yards with 5 TDs and no interceptions for a Passer Rating of 150.4. This game also marked the emergence of
Jim "Crash" Jensen, who lined up as a receiver for the first time and caught 2 of Marino's TD passes. Until
2015, this was the Dolphins' last road win over the Redskins.
Dan Marino increased his two-game total of seven touchdown passes as he tossed a pair of scoring strikes to Mark Clayton within a 1:36 span in the third quarter to lead Miami to its 17th straight victory against the Patriots at The Orange Bowl. Miami intercepted four
Steve Grogan passes. Mike Kozlowski returned one 26 yards, then laterred to William Judson who rambled the remaining 60 yards for a touchdown.
Week 3 (Monday, September 17, 1984): at
Buffalo Bills
A year after being upended in the playoffs by the
Seattle Seahawks the Dolphins routed Seattle 31–10.
Dan Marino threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns despite being intercepted twice by Seahawks defensive back
John Harris. The Dolphins rushed for 143 yards and a
Tony Nathan rushing score as well.
In a shootout, quarterback
Dan Marino led the Dolphins to a victory by throwing for 421 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Steelers quarterback
Mark Malone recorded 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted three times.
The 1984 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 19th season, and 15th in the
National Football League (NFL). It was also the 15th season with the team for head coach
Don Shula. The Dolphins sought to build on a spectacular
1983 season where they went 12–4 with rookie quarterback
Dan Marino.
Second year quarterback Dan Marino's passing ability became the focal point of Miami's offense and in 1984 he exploded to set league records with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. Marino's touchdown record was broken by
Peyton Manningtwenty years later and the yardage record was broken by
Drew Breestwenty-seven years later. The Dolphins attempted early on to make a run at a
perfect seasontwelve years after pulling off the feat, as they won their first eleven games but were upended in overtime by the
San Diego Chargers. The Dolphins scored more than 500 points for the first and to date only time in their history,[b] as they scored 513 points and finished 14–2, their best record since the undefeated season.
The year began on a somber note, as running back
David Overstreet was killed in a traffic collision in June. The Dolphins wore helmet decals with the number 20 (his jersey number) in his memory during this season.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Movers, Shakers and Record Breakers; it was narrated by Brad Crandall.
After the season, the last remaining Dolphin from their
Super Bowl VIII team, longtime offensive lineman
Ed Newman, retired, ending a 12-year era for the team. He holds the unique distinction as being the only man to make it to Super Bowl VIII and Super Bowl XIX as a member of the Dolphins, as well as
Super Bowl XVII in between.
Dan Marino had one of the best passing days of his career, completing 21 of 28 passes for 311 yards with 5 TDs and no interceptions for a Passer Rating of 150.4. This game also marked the emergence of
Jim "Crash" Jensen, who lined up as a receiver for the first time and caught 2 of Marino's TD passes. Until
2015, this was the Dolphins' last road win over the Redskins.
Dan Marino increased his two-game total of seven touchdown passes as he tossed a pair of scoring strikes to Mark Clayton within a 1:36 span in the third quarter to lead Miami to its 17th straight victory against the Patriots at The Orange Bowl. Miami intercepted four
Steve Grogan passes. Mike Kozlowski returned one 26 yards, then laterred to William Judson who rambled the remaining 60 yards for a touchdown.
Week 3 (Monday, September 17, 1984): at
Buffalo Bills
A year after being upended in the playoffs by the
Seattle Seahawks the Dolphins routed Seattle 31–10.
Dan Marino threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns despite being intercepted twice by Seahawks defensive back
John Harris. The Dolphins rushed for 143 yards and a
Tony Nathan rushing score as well.
In a shootout, quarterback
Dan Marino led the Dolphins to a victory by throwing for 421 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Steelers quarterback
Mark Malone recorded 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted three times.