Gridiron Rivals

In the NFL, there are various different rivalries to keep an eye out for. These rivalries make particular games really exciting to watch, as the stakes feel higher. Also, the latest NFL betting lines can change when two rival teams are scheduled to play against one another.

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins have long been rivals. These teams are part of the east division of the American Football Conference. Both teams have been set up to play against one another twice a year, since 1967.

Read on to learn more about the rivalry between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. 

The rivalry, though not as well-known as other rivalries in the NFL, has a lengthy history that extends back to 1967. The Dolphins were among the NFL's greatest teams, yet the Patriots were among its worst. Thus, the Dolphins predominated the rivalry from its inception. 

This pattern would reverse from the early 2000s, as the Patriots experienced an upward trajectory of success that culminated in the Brady and Belichick dynasty. Whereas the Dolphins would sink into mediocrity. In 1985, the Patriots won the AFC final against Miami to get to the Super Bowl for the first time.

The rivalry became somewhat more evenly matched beginning in 1986, with the Patriots going on a 7 game unbeaten run between 1986 and 1988. The Miami Dolphins then retook control of the rivalry, winning the following 13 out of 15 games between the two teams. 

Both clubs had outstanding quarterbacks during the 1990s; the Dolphins had Dan Marino and the Patriots had Drew Bledsoe. Both quarterbacks played in a minimum of one Super Bowl each. Marino played in Super Bowl XIX, while Bledsoe was a part of Super Bowl XXXI. 

Through the late 1990s, the Dolphins maintained their dominance in the rivalry, easily defeating the Patriots between 1999 and 2000.

Only four teams that are a part of the AFC have an overall winning record versus New England, this includes the Miami Dolphins. 

The game dubbed as “The Night When Courage Wore Orange” in 2004 between the Dolphins and the champions, the Patriots, is remembered as one of the most iconic events in the rivalry. When the Dolphins defeated the Patriots by a score of 29-28. 

When Nick Saban was selected to be the Dolphins' head coach in 2005, there were many NFL rumors on whom he would sign. In fact, he came dangerously close to signing Drew Brees as quarterback. 

The rivalry quickly heated up in 2008, when the Dolphins became the initial team apart from the Patriots to win the division in 2003.

The Dolphins stunned the Patriots in Week 3 of the abovementioned 2008 season, ending their 20 game winning streak which started in December 2006. In this game, the Patriots lost to the Dolphins. 

In what has come to be known as the “Miracle in Miami,” the Dolphins confused the Patriots by using the Wildcat formation. Then the Dolphins beat the Patriots once more in 2018 in Miami, courtesy of a last-minute hook and forward scoring play.

The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots regularly face off against one another. What is astounding about this rivalry is that many players and coaches have played for both teams. In fact, there have been lots of players such as Brandon Bolden, Jonathan Freeny and Kyle Van Noy who switched between playing for each team multiple times. 

The Dolphins signed Brian Flores as their 12th head coach in 2019. He was an experienced Patriots assistant. Wes Welker, a former wide receiver for the Patriots, was hired by the Dolphins in 2022 to serve as their newest wide receiving coach. 

During 2004 to 2006, Welker also played for the Dolphins. His appointment would bring him back together with Josh Boyer, a longtime Patriots assistant. Now, Boyer is the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Boyer served as Welker's defensive back's coach while he was in New England back in 2009.

The Rivalry Today

This is one of the less talked about rivalries in the NFL, yet it is still interesting to follow. Since these two teams face one another twice a season, it is always intriguing to watch these games to see which team will come out on top. 

Mac Jones, was a  former teammate of Dolphins quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa. Jones had backed up Tagovailoa during the initial half of the previous season before suffering a hip injury that would end his season. Yet, Jones was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, thus the rivalry grew once more.

The Miami Dolphins are currently in the lead in the all-time season by 60-55. However, as these two teams' performance is constantly up and down, the Patriots could always make a comeback.

The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots have a long rivalry which dates back to the 1960s. Fans love to watch these two teams compete against each other. There have been many players that have played and worked for both teams, which is why this rivalry is so closely watched. 

Images in the banners are public domain courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Miami Dolphins wordmark of 2016 and the New England Patriots wordmark used between 1960 and 1992.