Dolphins and Jets: A Look Back at a Rivalry

Sept 23, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Karlos Dansby (58) during a game against the New York Jets defense at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

We talk a lot about the rivalry of the Jets vs the Patriots, and for good reason. It has certainly heated up and become one of the fiercest rivalries in sports in recent years. Whenever you have two teams, one representing the Boston area, and one representing New York, they are genetically pre-determined not to like each other. It just comes with the territory.

But what gets lost in the shuffle sometimes, is the rivalry between the Dolphins and the Jets. These are two teams that have gone to war many times, and have never liked each other either. Since the 1980s. these two football teams have played in some memorable football games on both sides. Some of the results have been in our favor, others, as we know, have not.

This morning, let’s take a trip down memory lane to some of these matchups:

October 4, 1981-Both teams were competitive at the same time, for the first time in their history. This led to the first and only tie in the history of the series, 28-28 in Miami. The lead in the went back and forth all game, before Richard Todd hit Bobby Jones with a late TD pass to tie the game at 28, which is where the game ended.

January 23, 1983-The AFC Championship Game, better known as the “Mud Bowl”. It rained all week before the game, and the two teams battled on a waterlogged field at the Orange Bowl. AJ Duhe intercepted Jets’ QB Richard Todd 5 times, as the Jets fell to the Dolphins 14-0. To this day, Jets coach at the time Walt Michaels believes that the Dolphins left the field uncovered for the sole purpose of slowing the Jets down.

November 10, 1985-Mark Duper set a Dolphins team record with 217 yards receiving as he caught his second TD pass from Dan Marino with less than a minute left in the game, to give the Dolphins a 21-17 win.

September 21, 1986-This is a legendary offensive performance, and one of the most memorable in the history of this series. Ken O’Brien and Dan Marino combined for 884 net passing yards, and 10 TDs. O’Brien hooked up with Wesley Walker for 4 TDs, one that tied the game at 45, and one that gave the Jets the 51-45 win. Here are some highlights of that memorable contest, courtesy of the NFL Network:

We will move ahead on the next page.

December 21, 1991-The Jets and the Dolphins faced off, with the winner taking the final playoff spot in the AFC. The game went back and forth, with the Dolphins taking a 3 point lead with 44 seconds to go. However, the Jets got the ball back, and Raul Allegre(pictured right) kicked the Jets to overtime, and won the game in OT, 23-20, to send the Jets to the playoffs.

November 27, 1994-It was the fake spike game. Is there really anything else to say other than that? I think not.

December 13, 1998-Led by Bill Parcells, the Jets and Dolphins headed into the game tied with a 9-4 record. Ahead 14-10, Chad Cascadden recovered a Dan Marino fumble and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Jets ahead to stay. They won 21-16, and went on to their first division title since the merger.

October 23, 2000-The Monday Night Miracle. The Jets were down 30-7 at the end of the third quarter. Left for dead, the Jets made a furious comeback, which included a touchdown by tackle Jumbo Elliot, and the Jets won the game 40-37 in OT. Here are the highlights, in two parts. First part one:

And now, part two:

December 28, 2008– The Brett Favre led Jets took on the Chad Pennington led Dolphins met on the final day of the season to determine the division. Chad outdueled his replacement, leading the Dolphins to a 24-17 win, exacting a degree of revenge for his unceremonious release during the preseason.

Clearly, this is a rivalry with some history. A history that is renewed on Sunday afternoon at MetLife.