Dolphins v Jets 1986 - The day it all went wrong?

[archer101]

Thought it might be time for one non-training camp related post! So a bit of nostalgia.

It is just a personal perspective, but I have always traced the long term decline of the Dolphins back to one play in the amazing Jets-Dolphins game in 1986. Just wanted to see if anyone thinks the same....

For those not around at the time, Miami had been in the Superbowl in 1984 and the AFC Championship in 1985. Although the defence was suspect, with Marino and co most people would have thought the Dolphins odds-on for another division title in 1986. They were 1-1 heading into the week 3 game at the Jets. Obviously, it was one of the most amazing games in NFL history with Marino throwing for 6 TD's and the Jets tying the game as time expired.

However, the moment I will always remember came just afterwards. The Jets, with huge momentum and the remaining crowd in uproar, won the overtime toss and elected to receive. The Jets return man (can't remember his name) came out to about the 20 and was hit hard and fumbled, with Miami recovering. Marino ran onto the field with the ball in immediate field goal range. However, the officials waived him away, claiming the runner had been down before the fumble.

This was the first year of instant replay and the system had been a disaster in the first two weeks of the season. Reviews were meant to be instigated in the replay officials office and the referee buzzed to stop the play, but the whole process was all over the place. The TV replay came up and immediately showed the ball was fumbled before the runner was down. The Jets however ran straight to the line and ran a quick play before the officials could act. Four plays later, Wesley Walker caught the 50 yard TD to end the game.

To me, the loss destroyed the Dolphins in 1986 and they were never the same team after that game. Shula had never looked so shocked and angry on the sideline. The manner of the loss (conceding a TD on the last play and a bomb to lose in OT) was what made it so bad. The next week they were embarrased at home by the 49ers and struggled for the rest of the year (and most of the rest of the decade).

I always wondered what would have happened if that fumble has been reversed. There is no doubt if the replay guys had checked it they would have ruled it a fumble and Miami would almost certainly have won the game. Many will argue that the Dolphins defence was awful and it would have caught up with them anyway (they were obviously shown up in the AFC Championship game the year before), but I am not so sure. They weren't great but Shula had managed to hold things together in the past and Marino and the offence were at the height of their powers. However, I think that that game was such a disaster it really was the final straw for the team. The Dolphins could not even field a competitive defence for many years after this game.

I was only 16 at the time and lived in the UK. I heard about the loss immediately, but only saw the highlights a week later (still have the tape!). I will never forget that fumble - up until that game, the Dolphins had an aura about them - it was the start of the Marino era and success looked inevitable - but it was blown away that day. If they had gotten the call and won the game, everyone would have remembered Marino's 6 TDs and forgotten how bad the defence was. I think the whole 1986 season (and what followed) would have turned out differently if they had called for instant replay. But it didn't happen.

Anyone out there remember this game?

[CASSINO]

All man I was 12. I was pissed, I was throwing my hat cussing and fussing. Miami got robbed I feel that the NFL has something the Dolphins. I am so sick of the league's love affair with the Pats and Farve. Well I have have to say is Damit It's a new day Snitches there will be hell to pay.

[bdmagnum]

I don't remember the game, but it is an interesting perspective. The same could be said for the fumble or "tuck rule" in the Patriots-Raiders game, which in my opinion, started the so-called "dynasty" of the Patriots. I'm sure if the call went the other way, things might be different today.

[Goin` Deep]

I remember that game very well. We got screwed on that fumble but the reason we lost that game was because we had Lankford, Judson and Don McNeal as our corners. None of them could stay with Walker that day. Those three were terrible, I don`t know how they stayed in the league as long as they did.
That loss didn`t start our decline, it just showed how poor our defense was becoming. Remember Montana riddled our D in the SB and a year later the Pats ran all over us in the AFC Championship game.

[WaywardZest]

What a first post!

I think there are far too many problems that led to the decline of the Dolphins. Some were from bad leadership, some were freak occurrences.

[dolfan305]

um..no. that is not why we suck 22 years later. its because that's what happens. u can't always be on top. no one on the 86 team still plays. come on man. lets get back to training camp.

[SpaceMountain16]

That loss was crushing, but it's not the loss to blame the decline of the Dolphins on. Not when the team had still found success after 1986, making the playoffs many times, never having a losing season until 2004, even going to the AFC title game against Buffalo the one year in 1992 (losing that was much worse than losing to the Jets in 86). The decline of the Dolphins traces back to Jimmy Johnson leaving this team, even though his expectations here were higher than the results. Because the moment he walked out that door, this team fell apart. They couldn't draft anyone, they couldn't replenish any talent that left at all, they had Dave Wannstedt coaching who was just awful. We leaned on Johnson's players to keep us alive for a few years and then when that stopped working, we hit rock bottom.

[vcip]

I remember a season going down the tubes after a loss to the Colts after the Fins had been up 21-3 I think. The Fins were rolling that year until stinking Jim Harbaugh brought the Colts back. I remember bad losses after that I think one against the Steelers when Terry Kirby had the ball taken from him by Rod Woodson. I think they struggled to make the playoffs.

[PeterNorth]

Originally Posted by vcip

I remember a season going down the tubes after a loss to the Colts after the Fins had been up 21-3 I think. The Fins were rolling that year until stinking Jim Harbaugh brought the Colts back. I remember bad losses after that I think one against the Steelers when Terry Kirby had the ball taken from him by Rod Woodson. I think they struggled to make the playoffs.

That Colts game was in 1995, Shula's last year as coach, when he loaded up for a big Super Bowl run. I was actually at that game, and it was my first time ever going to a game in Miami, too (I live in California). I can't recall ever being as pissed off as I was leaving the stadium at the end of that game. Marino broke a record that day, so that part was really cool to witness in person, but the game was just heartbreaking, and it definitely started a downhill slide. Don't forget, Marino also got dinged up in that game, which led to Bernie Kosar playing the next couple games, both losses, to the Saints and Jets, I believe.

The Steelers game you speak of was in '93, I think. They beat the Steelers on a Monday Night early in the season in '95, and Kirby was out for the season when they played them in '94.

[Awsi Dooger]

I watched that game at the MGM sportsbook in Las Vegas, now Bally's. My memory is total hopelessness, a certainty we couldn't stop a meaningful possession.

How was that frailty going to change if we had pulled out the game? We were wounded and staggering.

I hated the Marino years. I realize that places me in significant minority but we were such pantyhose wimps I barely paid attention, other than looking for opportunity to wager against us vs. a fortified team. I couldn't believe we had won huge with the Csonka mentality during the early '70s and now the same coach was content to field a bunch of cupcakes. Luckily the Canes asserted themselves as a dynasty during the same period.

IMO, there was only one brief moment of hope in the Marino era, a so-called turning point. When we drafted Webb and Sims I was stunned and thought maybe Shula had snapped out of it. Then the next year our first two picks were a frail receiver and a running back so I said forget it, it was a fluke mistake in '90, probably the wrongs cards turned in.

[endorPHINS72]

Originally Posted by archer101

Thought it might be time for one non-training camp related post! So a bit of nostalgia.

It is just a personal perspective, but I have always traced the long term decline of the Dolphins back to one play in the amazing Jets-Dolphins game in 1986. Just wanted to see if anyone thinks the same....

For those not around at the time, Miami had been in the Superbowl in 1984 and the AFC Championship in 1985. Although the defence was suspect, with Marino and co most people would have thought the Dolphins odds-on for another division title in 1986. They were 1-1 heading into the week 3 game at the Jets. Obviously, it was one of the most amazing games in NFL history with Marino throwing for 6 TD's and the Jets tying the game as time expired.

However, the moment I will always remember came just afterwards. The Jets, with huge momentum and the remaining crowd in uproar, won the overtime toss and elected to receive. The Jets return man (can't remember his name) came out to about the 20 and was hit hard and fumbled, with Miami recovering. Marino ran onto the field with the ball in immediate field goal range. However, the officials waived him away, claiming the runner had been down before the fumble.

This was the first year of instant replay and the system had been a disaster in the first two weeks of the season. Reviews were meant to be instigated in the replay officials office and the referee buzzed to stop the play, but the whole process was all over the place. The TV replay came up and immediately showed the ball was fumbled before the runner was down. The Jets however ran straight to the line and ran a quick play before the officials could act. Four plays later, Wesley Walker caught the 50 yard TD to end the game.

To me, the loss destroyed the Dolphins in 1986 and they were never the same team after that game. Shula had never looked so shocked and angry on the sideline. The manner of the loss (conceding a TD on the last play and a bomb to lose in OT) was what made it so bad. The next week they were embarrased at home by the 49ers and struggled for the rest of the year (and most of the rest of the decade).

I always wondered what would have happened if that fumble has been reversed. There is no doubt if the replay guys had checked it they would have ruled it a fumble and Miami would almost certainly have won the game. Many will argue that the Dolphins defence was awful and it would have caught up with them anyway (they were obviously shown up in the AFC Championship game the year before), but I am not so sure. They weren't great but Shula had managed to hold things together in the past and Marino and the offence were at the height of their powers. However, I think that that game was such a disaster it really was the final straw for the team. The Dolphins could not even field a competitive defence for many years after this game.

I was only 16 at the time and lived in the UK. I heard about the loss immediately, but only saw the highlights a week later (still have the tape!). I will never forget that fumble - up until that game, the Dolphins had an aura about them - it was the start of the Marino era and success looked inevitable - but it was blown away that day. If they had gotten the call and won the game, everyone would have remembered Marino's 6 TDs and forgotten how bad the defence was. I think the whole 1986 season (and what followed) would have turned out differently if they had called for instant replay. But it didn't happen.

Anyone out there remember this game?

What a great post! I just remember the end of the game with Walker catching the TD to end the game (Was it Don McNeal or Paul Lankford that was supposed to be covering him???). It's really unbelievable that Dan threw 6 TDs and we still lost. I think you may have something here...the Killer B's were getting old and not a lot of talent was being brought in to replace them. This could have been the game that destroyed any confidence and swagger they had left, although we did blow out the Jets in the rematch that year (45-3, I believe).

[archer101]

Originally Posted by SpaceMountain16

That loss was crushing, but it's not the loss to blame the decline of the Dolphins on. Not when the team had still found success after 1986, making the playoffs many times, never having a losing season until 2004, even going to the AFC title game against Buffalo the one year in 1992 (losing that was much worse than losing to the Jets in 86). The decline of the Dolphins traces back to Jimmy Johnson leaving this team, even though his expectations here were higher than the results. Because the moment he walked out that door, this team fell apart. They couldn't draft anyone, they couldn't replenish any talent that left at all, they had Dave Wannstedt coaching who was just awful. We leaned on Johnson's players to keep us alive for a few years and then when that stopped working, we hit rock bottom.

Yeah, would agree to a degree - Johnson wasn't exactly faultless in the draft department, but once Wannstedt took over it was only going to go downhill.

I think the Dolphins 'problem' was that for many years Shula's coaching (plus Marino) kept making really poor teams look OK, so they were never forced to a major rebuild. I think after 1986 most teams would have entered a major decline, rebuilt and came back up. The Dolphins never did - they went 8-8, 8-7, 6-10, 8-8. Even the 'good' years of 1990 and 1992 were followed by 8-8 and 9-7. Despite the AFC Championship game in 1992, I have never felt the Dolphins have been a serious threat to win the Superbowl since 1986.

That is why I welcome what has happened in recent years. The team has never has a culture of rebuilding - it was always a question of a few more guys and we would be there when in reality we were not that good. I have never believed that the only reason that teams with poor records tend to rebound is just because the get better draft picks - the success of draft picks is so erratic it is not that simple. I think it is a cultural thing - once you have been really crap, you are forced to rebuild the culture from scratch which is what is happening now.

But single plays do make a difference - as somebody mentioned, without the tuck rule play what would have happened to the Patriots?

[shula_guy]

Lets face facts here people. The Dolphins were one of the teams to beat in the 70's
In the 80's we were generally in the hunt but more then not came up short. We ussaully did just well enough to ensure us late round draft picks. The mid 80's into the early 90's were exciting times but typically ended in heart breaker post season games.

Things changed when ownership changed. Wayne's heart might be in the right place but he made really bad choices for our team. He allowed himself to be conned by JJ. They pushed out Shula and really tried to force Dan out as well. He focused all his drafts on defense and really gave Dan or this team any offense to work with. He brought in Wanny as an assistant then bails and dumps the pile of crap in his lap. Worst of all he convinces Wayne that Wanny can handle it.

Finally he cuts ties with Wanny only to put his trust in another charlatan, aka tricky nicky. Then he moves onto Cam after an extensive search.

Is it any coincidence that now we have a new owner set up to buy out Wayne that now we have someone that looks like they are going to put this team back to being respectable.

I have no personal axe to grind here with Wayne but final analysis is he was not a good owner. He has been the Dolphins biggest problem!

[Marino613]

Originally Posted by shula_guy

Lets face facts here people. The Dolphins were one of the teams to beat in the 70's
In the 80's we were generally in the hunt but more then not came up short. We ussaully did just well enough to ensure us late round draft picks. The mid 80's into the early 90's were exciting times but typically ended in heart breaker post season games.

Things changed when ownership changed. Wayne's heart might be in the right place but he made really bad choices for our team. He allowed himself to be conned by JJ. They pushed out Shula and really tried to force Dan out as well. He focused all his drafts on defense and really gave Dan or this team any offense to work with. He brought in Wanny as an assistant then bails and dumps the pile of crap in his lap. Worst of all he convinces Wayne that Wanny can handle it.

Finally he cuts ties with Wanny only to put his trust in another charlatan, aka tricky nicky. Then he moves onto Cam after an extensive search.

Is it any coincidence that now we have a new owner set up to buy out Wayne that now we have someone that looks like they are going to put this team back to being respectable.

I have no personal axe to grind here with Wayne but final analysis is he was not a good owner. He has been the Dolphins biggest problem!

While the overall message rings sadly true, wasn't wayne the guy who got BP here? That being said, I am not about to anoint BP savior yet. I Am optimistic so far, but not a true believer yet.

[shula_guy]

Originally Posted by Marino613

While the overall message rings sadly true, wasn't wayne the guy who got BP here? That being said, I am not about to anoint BP savior yet. I Am optimistic so far, but not a true believer yet.

Yes Wayne brought in BP but that was after he agreed to let someone do a buyout on the team. I truly wonder how much influence this new future owner had on bringing in BP behind the scenes. But yes you are right this may of been all Wayne and maybe he finally got this one right, time will tell. I do feel good about BP being here. I feel good about ownership changing hands too. Nothing against Wayne, football just isnt his fortee.