# 1988 Miami Dolphins season

The 1988 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 23rd as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 8–7, winning only six games and failing to reach the playoffs for the third straight season.
Even without future Pro Football Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson, who was forced to retire prior to this season due to injuries, the Dolphins offensive line set the record for fewest sacks in a single season with 7 during 1988, protecting quarterback Dan Marino. Marino was only sacked on 0.98% of his dropbacks in 1988, also a single-season NFL record.
This would be the last time Don Shula recorded a losing record during his tenure as Dolphins coach, and in his coaching career overall. It would be the final losing season for the Dolphins for 15 years.

## Offseason
### NFL draft

1988 Miami Dolphins draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 16 | Eric Kumerow | Linebacker | Ohio State |
| 2 | 42 | Jarvis Williams | Safety | Florida |
| 3 | 73 | Ferrell Edmunds * | Tight end | Maryland |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 4 | at Chicago Bears | L 7–34 | 0–1 | Soldier Field | 63,330 |
| 2 | September 11 | at Buffalo Bills | L 6–9 | 0–2 | Rich Stadium | 79,520 |
| 3 | September 18 | Green Bay Packers | W 24–17 | 1–2 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 54,409 |
| 4 | September 25 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 13–15 | 1–3 | Hoosier Dome | 59,638 |
| 5 | October 2 | Minnesota Vikings | W 24–7 | 2–3 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 59,867 |
| 6 | October 9 | at Los Angeles Raiders | W 24–14 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 50,751 |
| 7 | October 16 | San Diego Chargers | W 31–28 | 4–3 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 58,972 |
| 8 | October 23 | New York Jets | L 30–44 | 4–4 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 68,292 |
| 9 | October 30 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–14 | 5–4 | Tampa Stadium | 67,352 |
| 10 | November 6 | at New England Patriots | L 10–21 | 5–5 | Sullivan Stadium | 60,840 |
| 11 | November 14 | Buffalo Bills | L 6–31 | 5–6 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 67,091 |
| 12 | November 20 | New England Patriots | L 3–6 | 5–7 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 53,526 |
| 13 | November 27 | at New York Jets | L 34–38 | 5–8 | Giants Stadium | 52,752 |
| 14 | December 4 | Indianapolis Colts | L 28–31 | 5–9 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 45,236 |
| 15 | December 12 | Cleveland Browns | W 38–31 | 6–9 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 61,884 |
| 16 | December 18 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 24–40 | 6–10 | Three Rivers Stadium | 36,051 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 5

First time Dan Marino faced the Minnesota Vikings in the regular season.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Dolphins | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 24 |

#### Week 6

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Dolphins | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |

### Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Buffalo Bills$^{(2)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 7–1 | 10–2 | 329 | 237 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 354 | 315 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 250 | 284 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–5 | 6–7–1 | 372 | 354 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 0–8 | 3–9 | 319 | 380 | L1 |

## Awards and records

* October 23, 1988: Dan Marino set a franchise record for most passing yards in one game (521)
* November 6, 1988: Jim Jensen set a franchise record for most receptions in one game (12)
* Brian Sochia, Pro Bowl selection