The 2017 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 48th season in the
National Football League (NFL), the 52nd overall and the second under
head coachAdam Gase. The team came off from a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance for the first time since 2008. They were seen as potential playoff contenders and looked to make consecutive playoff seasons for the first time since the
2000 and
2001 seasons. However, the team was affected by the loss of starting quarterback
Ryan Tannehill, who tore his ACL during practice and was ruled out for the season. The team turned to former Bears quarterback
Jay Cutler, who came out of retirement to become Tannehill's replacement and team's starter. After Tannehill got injured, coach Adam Gase called former
Denver Broncos quarterback
Peyton Manning about possibly coming out of retirement and taking Tannehill's place. However Manning later declined the idea of coming out of retirement. Gase was the QB coach and offensive coordinator of Peyton's Broncos between the
2012 and
2014 seasons.[1] Additionally, the Dolphins were also one of the teams Peyton considered signing with following his release by the Colts in
2012. Later during the season, the team traded starting running back
Jay Ajayi to the eventual champion
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2018 fourth round draft pick on October 31.
The team's Week 1 game against the Buccaneers was rescheduled to November 19 due to
Hurricane Irma. Week 11 was originally the two teams' bye week. Week 1 would become the bye week for both teams and they would not play until Week 2. This was first time since the
Arizona Cardinals in 2001 in which a team had a bye week in Week 1.
The Dolphins struggled during the season and failed to improve on the previous season's record after losing to the Patriots on Week 12 and were eliminated from the postseason after losing to the Chiefs in Week 16. They finished with a reverse record from the previous year, going 6–10. This was the Dolphins's fourteenth season missing the playoffs since the league's realignment in 2002.
The team traded their third- and fourth-round selections as well as their sixth-round selection in 2016 (
186th) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's third-round selection in 2016 (
86th). If Miami receives a fourth-round compensatory selection, that pick will go to Minnesota. If they do not receive a compensatory selection, Minnesota will receive Miami's original fourth-round selection.[4]
The Dolphins were awarded three compensatory picks by the NFL, one in the third round (
97th) and two in the fifth (
178th and
184th).[5]
On December 13, 2016, the
NFL announced that the Dolphins would play host to the
New Orleans Saints as one of the
NFL London Games at
Wembley Stadium.[6] The game occurred during Week 4 (Sunday, October 1), and was televised in the United States.
The remainder of the Dolphins'
2017 schedule was finalized and announced on April 20.
After their week 1 game was postponed due to
Hurricane Irma, the Dolphins traveled out to LA to face the new
Los Angeles Chargers, where they won 19–17 to start the season at 1–0. It was also the Dolphins' first road win over the Chargers since
2005.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week Three: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets – Game summary
In a game that was originally going to be played in week 1, but got moved due to Hurricane Irma, the Buccaneers won 30–20 thanks to three
Jay Cutler interceptions
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – Game summary
This game marked the end of Jay Cutler's, Jarvis Landry's, Ndamukong Suh's, and Mike Pouncey's tenure in Miami. Landry was ejected from the game after instigating a fight following a fourth-quarter touchdown reception.[8]
^
abNew England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
^
abcdTennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed. Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record. Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^
abDenver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
^
abIndianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
Notes
^
abcThe Dolphins were originally scheduled to host the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 1 (September 10) at
Hard Rock Stadium. However, due to the impact from
Hurricane Irma, the game was rescheduled to Week 11, in which both the Buccaneers and Dolphins would originally have had their byes.[7]
The 2017 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 48th season in the
National Football League (NFL), the 52nd overall and the second under
head coachAdam Gase. The team came off from a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance for the first time since 2008. They were seen as potential playoff contenders and looked to make consecutive playoff seasons for the first time since the
2000 and
2001 seasons. However, the team was affected by the loss of starting quarterback
Ryan Tannehill, who tore his ACL during practice and was ruled out for the season. The team turned to former Bears quarterback
Jay Cutler, who came out of retirement to become Tannehill's replacement and team's starter. After Tannehill got injured, coach Adam Gase called former
Denver Broncos quarterback
Peyton Manning about possibly coming out of retirement and taking Tannehill's place. However Manning later declined the idea of coming out of retirement. Gase was the QB coach and offensive coordinator of Peyton's Broncos between the
2012 and
2014 seasons.[1] Additionally, the Dolphins were also one of the teams Peyton considered signing with following his release by the Colts in
2012. Later during the season, the team traded starting running back
Jay Ajayi to the eventual champion
Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2018 fourth round draft pick on October 31.
The team's Week 1 game against the Buccaneers was rescheduled to November 19 due to
Hurricane Irma. Week 11 was originally the two teams' bye week. Week 1 would become the bye week for both teams and they would not play until Week 2. This was first time since the
Arizona Cardinals in 2001 in which a team had a bye week in Week 1.
The Dolphins struggled during the season and failed to improve on the previous season's record after losing to the Patriots on Week 12 and were eliminated from the postseason after losing to the Chiefs in Week 16. They finished with a reverse record from the previous year, going 6–10. This was the Dolphins's fourteenth season missing the playoffs since the league's realignment in 2002.
The team traded their third- and fourth-round selections as well as their sixth-round selection in 2016 (
186th) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's third-round selection in 2016 (
86th). If Miami receives a fourth-round compensatory selection, that pick will go to Minnesota. If they do not receive a compensatory selection, Minnesota will receive Miami's original fourth-round selection.[4]
The Dolphins were awarded three compensatory picks by the NFL, one in the third round (
97th) and two in the fifth (
178th and
184th).[5]
On December 13, 2016, the
NFL announced that the Dolphins would play host to the
New Orleans Saints as one of the
NFL London Games at
Wembley Stadium.[6] The game occurred during Week 4 (Sunday, October 1), and was televised in the United States.
The remainder of the Dolphins'
2017 schedule was finalized and announced on April 20.
After their week 1 game was postponed due to
Hurricane Irma, the Dolphins traveled out to LA to face the new
Los Angeles Chargers, where they won 19–17 to start the season at 1–0. It was also the Dolphins' first road win over the Chargers since
2005.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week Three: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets – Game summary
In a game that was originally going to be played in week 1, but got moved due to Hurricane Irma, the Buccaneers won 30–20 thanks to three
Jay Cutler interceptions
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots – Game summary
This game marked the end of Jay Cutler's, Jarvis Landry's, Ndamukong Suh's, and Mike Pouncey's tenure in Miami. Landry was ejected from the game after instigating a fight following a fourth-quarter touchdown reception.[8]
^
abNew England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
^
abcdTennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed. Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record. Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^
abDenver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
^
abIndianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
Notes
^
abcThe Dolphins were originally scheduled to host the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 1 (September 10) at
Hard Rock Stadium. However, due to the impact from
Hurricane Irma, the game was rescheduled to Week 11, in which both the Buccaneers and Dolphins would originally have had their byes.[7]