2023 Miami Dolphins Season

The 2023 season was the Miami Dolphins' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their eighth under general manager Chris Grier and their second under head coach Mike McDaniel.

The Dolphins improved upon their 9–8 record from the previous two seasons after a Week 15 win over the New York Jets. With a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, they clinched a playoff spot for a second consecutive season. Despite leading the Buffalo Bills by three games with five to play, the Dolphins faltered late in the season and, combined with the Bills going undefeated since the bye, put AFC East control in their Week 18 matchup. In that game, the Dolphins lost to the Bills, giving the Bills the division. The loss meant 2008 would remain the most recent season the Dolphins won the AFC East. Throughout the year, the Dolphins were noted to struggle to beat teams with winning records.

The Dolphins once again failed to win a playoff game, not having done so since 2000, losing to the eventual repeat Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 26–7 loss in one of the coldest games in NFL history. This game was Tyreek Hill, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, and Emmanuel Ogbah's return to Arrowhead. With the Detroit Lions defeating the Los Angeles Rams and advancing to the NFC Divisional round the following day, the Dolphins officially hold the longest active playoff victory drought in the NFL.

In their Week three 70–20 victory over the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins became the first NFL team to score 70 points in a game since 1966. This was the second most points scored in a regular-season game all time.

The Miami Dolphins drew an average home attendance of 65,922 in 9 home games in the 2023 NFL season.

Offseason

On January 19, 2023, the Dolphins parted ways with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.

After firing Boyer, the Dolphins signed long time defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (well known for his defense being consistently ranked top 5 in major categories) to a contract making him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL.

On March 12, the Dolphins agreed in principle to a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in which they acquired six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 3rd round pick. The Rams used the pick to select Tennessee defensive end Byron Young. The trade was officially announced 3 days later after the start of the NFL league year.

Free agent signings

Draft

Draft trades

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers

In a back-and-forth affair, the Dolphins got the better of the matchup, beating the Chargers 36–34. The Dolphins started off the season 1–0.

Week 2: at New England Patriots

Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos

The 70 points scored by the Dolphins are the highest by any team since 1966, and tied with the third highest points scored in NFL history. Miami had the opportunity to tie the single-game points record with 33 seconds remaining, but opted to kneel the football instead of attempting a 45-yard field goal. In addition to the 70 points scored, the Dolphins had 726 total yards, the second-most in league history, behind only the mark of 735 set by the Los Angeles Rams in a 1951 game against the New York Yanks. They also became the first team in NFL history to gain 350 rushing and 350 passing yards in one game, and also are the first team in NFL history to score 5 passing and 5 rushing touchdowns in the same game.

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

A week after their historic performance, the Dolphins lost their first game of the regular season, falling to 3–1.

Week 5: vs. New York Giants

Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 8: vs. New England Patriots

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs

NFL Germany games

This was Tyreek Hill's first game against the team he had once played for. This was also the second ever NFL game played in Germany, the previous one being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Seattle Seahawks game just a year prior.

Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Week 12: at New York Jets

Week 13: at Washington Commanders

Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans

With 4:34 to go in the game, the Dolphins had a 27–13 lead and a 99.7% chance of winning the game by one measure. The Titans drove the ball 75 yards in the span of less than two minutes to narrow the lead to six after a successful two-point conversion. Miami had the ball back with 2:40 to go but had three middling run plays result in them having to punt the ball to Tennessee with 2:15 to go because the Titans managed to call two of their timeouts. The Titans drove 64 yards in four plays that resulted in a Derrick Henry touchdown to give them the lead with 1:45 to go. The Dolphins started at their own 26-yard line with the ball but moved just 19 yards before turning it over on downs. With the loss, the Dolphins became the first team to blow a lead of at least 14 points in the final three minutes in regulation.Mike McDaniel says Titans' comeback against Dolphins was 'hard, hard lesson' that no lead in NFL is safe
CBS Sports, December 12, 2023

Week 15: vs. New York Jets

Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 18: vs. Buffalo Bills

Standings

Division

Conference

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (3) Kansas City Chiefs

Notes

References

External links

Miami Dolphins official website

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Miami
Miami Dolphins seasons
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2023 in Miami-Dade County, Florida