The Top 10 Miami Dolphins Season Openers and Overall Results

6 — 1992: Miami 27, Cleveland 23

This actually was a Week 2 game, but it became the Dolphins opener after the original opener against New England was postponed because of Hurricane Andrew. The Dolphins won on a late Mark Higgs touchdown after future Miami backup Bernie Kosar had brought the Browns back from a 20-3 fourth-quarter deficit to take a 23-20 lead.

5 — 1999: Miami 38, Denver 21

The Dolphins opened the 1999 season with a Monday night road game against the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, though it was Denver’s first game without John Elway. Future Dolphins backup Brian Griese actually had a good game for Denver, but the Dolphins played a clean game and got a Jason Taylor fumble return for a touchdown as an exclamation point.

4 — 2001: Miami 31, Tennessee 23

The Dolphins had a tough opening assignment on the road for a Sunday night game, but pulled off an impressive victory thanks to Lamar Smith’s 65-yard touchdown reception and Hall of Famer Zach Thomas’ famous pick-six punctuated by his forward flip into the end zone.

3 — 2018: Miami 27, Tennessee 20

This game forever will be remembered for the two lengthy lightning delays that made it the longest game in NFL history, clocking at a ridiculous 7 hours, 8 minutes. But it also was a game filled with big plays — in the fourth quarter alone, the Dolphins got a 102-yard kickoff return by Jakeem Grant and a 75-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Kenny Stills, and the Titans got a 94-yard kickoff return by Darius Jennings.

2 — 2023: Miami 36, LA. Chargers 34

The Dolphins passing game was absolutely unstoppable in this back-and-forth affair at SoFi Stadium. Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill capped off a huge day for both with a 4-yard game-winning touchdown pass for the eighth and final lead change of the game before the defense, after struggling most of the day, made a late stand.

1 — 1994: Miami 39, New England 35

Maybe the most memorable Dan Marino moment in a career filled with them. In his first regular season game since he had torn his Achilles tendon the previous October, Marino outdueled Drew Bledsoe in a dazzling display of passing. Three of Marino’s five touchdown passes on the day went to Irving Fryar, including the game-winning 35-yard hook-up on a fourth-and-5.

MIAMI DOLPHINS SEASON OPENER RESULTS

1966 — Oakland 23, at Miami 14
1967 — at Miami 35, Denver 21
1968 — at Houston 24, Miami 10
1969 — at Cincinnati 27, Miami 21
1970 — at Boston 27, Miami 14
1971 — Miami 10, at Denver 10
1972 — Miami 20, at Kansas City 10
1973 — at Miami 21, San Francisco 13
1974 — at New England 34, Miami 24
1975 — Oakland 31, at Miami 21
1976 — Miami 30, at Buffalo 21
1977 — Miami 13, at Buffalo 0
1978 — at N.Y. Jets 33, Miami 20
1979 — Miami 9, at Buffalo 7
1980 — at Buffalo 17, Miami 7
1981 — Miami 20, at St. Louis 7
1982 — Miami 45, at N.Y. Jets 28
1983 — Miami 12, at Buffalo 0
1984 — Miami 35, at Washington 17
1985 — at Houston 26, Miami 23
1986 — at San Diego 50, Miami 28
1987 — at New England 28, Miami 21
1988 — at Chicago 34, Miami 7
1989 — Buffalo 27, at Miami 24
1990 — Miami 27, at New England 24
1991 — at Buffalo 35, Miami 31
1992 — Miami 27, at Cleveland 23*
1993 — Miami 24, at Indianapolis 20
1994 — at Miami 39, New England 35
1995 — at Miami 52, N.Y. Jets 14
1996 — at Miami 24, New England 10
1997 — at Miami 16, Indianapolis 10
1998 — Miami 24, at Indianapolis 15
1999 — Miami 38, at Denver 21
2000 — at Miami 23, Seattle 0
2001 — Miami 31, at Tennessee 23
2002 — at Miami 49, Detroit 21
2003 — Houston 21, at Miami 20
2004 — Tennessee 17, at Miami 7
2005 — at Miami 34, Denver 10
2006 — at Pittsburgh 28, Miami 17
2007 — at Washington 16, Miami 13 (OT)
2008 — N.Y. Jets 20, at Miami 14
2009 — at Atlanta 19, Miami 7
2010 — Miami 15, at Buffalo 10
2011 — New England 38, at Miami 24
2012 — at Houston 30, Miami 10
2013 — Miami 23, at Cleveland 10
2014 — Miami 33, at New England 20
2015 — Miami 17, at Washington 10
2016 — at Seattle 12, Miami 10
2017 — Miami 19, at L.A. Chargers 17*
2018 — at Miami 27, Tennessee 20
2019 — Baltimore 59, at Miami 10
2020 — at New England 21, Miami 11
2021 — Miami 17, at New England 16
2022 — at Miami 20, New England 7
2023 — Miami 36, at L.A. Chargers 34
2024 — at Miami 20, Jacksonville 17
*-indicates a Week 2 game after the opener was postponed

MIAMI DOLPHINS OPENER RECORDS

Overall record: 33-25-1
Home record: 13-9
Away record: 20-16-1
Games decided by seven points or less: 13-9-1
Victories by 20 points or more: 4
Longest winning streak: 11 (1992-2002)
Longest losing streak: 5 (1985-89)
Against AFC teams: 27-21-1
Against NFC teams: 6-4

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