# 1982 Miami Dolphins season

The 1982 Miami Dolphins season was the team's seventeenth in the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins were coming off an unexpected 11–4–1 1981 season and a devastating loss to the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round the previous season in a game dubbed the Epic in Miami. The team had clinched the 2 seed and were picked by many to reach the Super Bowl during the 1981 season. Because of the high number of picks to reach the Super Bowl the previous season, many more fans picked them to win it during the 1982 season. The Dolphins looked to improve on their 11 wins from 1981. However, a players strike cancelled 7 of the team's 16 games. Because of this, the NFL schedule was shrunk to 9 games.

## Season summary

The Dolphins started out fresh, winning their first 2 games prior to the strike. When season play resumed 2 months later, the Dolphins defeated the Buffalo Bills 9–7 in Buffalo to clinch a 3–0 start. After a loss to Tampa Bay, they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 22–14. The next week, they lost a brisk game against the Patriots 3–0 in a game called the Snowplow Game. The Dolphins would then win 3 straight games to end the season 7–2, tied for second in the AFC with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Dolphins won 2nd place over them by virtue of a series of tiebreakers. In the playoffs, they defeated the Patriots in a rematch by the score of 28–13. They then defeated the Chargers in a rematch of the 1981 Divisional Playoffs by a score of 34–13. In the AFC Championship game, they shutout the Jets, 14–0 to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1973. In Super Bowl XVII, they lost to the Redskins 27–17 in a rematch of Super Bowl VII which concluded Miami's perfect 1972 season.

## Off-season
### NFL draft

1982 Miami Dolphins draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 24 | Roy Foster * | G | USC | |
| 2 | 52 | Mark Duper * | WR | NW State | |
| 3 | 80 | Paul Lankford | CB | Penn State | |
| 4 | 108 | Charles Bowser | LB | Duke | |
| 5 | 120 | Bob Nelson | NT | Miami (FL) | |
| 5 | 136 | Rich Diana | FB | Yale | |
| 6 | 161 | Tom Tutson | DB | South Carolina St | |
| 6 | 164 | Ron Hester | LB | Florida St | |
| 7 | 170 | Dan Johnson | TE | Iowa St | |
| 7 | 192 | Larry Cowan | RB | Jackson St | |
| 8 | 220 | Tate Randle | DB | Texas Tech | Played for Houston |
| 9 | 239 | Steve Clark | G | Utah | |
| 9 | 248 | Mack Boatner | RB | SE Louisiana | |
| 10 | 271 | Robin Fisher | LB | Florida | |
| 10 | 276 | Wayne Jones | G | Utah | |
| 11 | 303 | Gary Crum | OT | Wyoming | |
| 12 | 331 | Mike Rodrigue | WR | Miami (FL) | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Regular season

The Dolphins' main strength was their defense, nicknamed the "Killer Bees" because 6 of their 11 starters had last names that began with the letter "B". The "Killer Bees", anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Baumhower, led the league in fewest total yards allowed (2,312) and fewest passing yards allowed (1,027). Linebacker A. J. Duhe was extremely effective at blitzing and in pass coverage. And the Dolphins secondary, consisting of defensive backs Don McNeal, Gerald Small and brothers Lyle and Glenn Blackwood, combined for 11 interceptions.
However, the Dolphins' passing attack, led by quarterback David Woodley, ranked last in the league with 1,401 total yards, 8 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. One of the few bright spots in the Dolphins passing attack was wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo, who gained 356 yards off just 17 receptions, an average of 20.9 yards per catch. Wide receiver Duriel Harris also provided a deep threat with 22 receptions for 331 yards.
But Miami's strength on offense was their running game, ranking 3rd in the league with 1,344 yards. Pro Bowl running back Andra Franklin was the team's top rusher with 701 yards and 7 touchdowns. Running back Tony Nathan rushed for 233 yards, and caught 16 passes for another 114 yards. Woodley himself also recorded 207 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. One reason for the Dolphins' rushing success was the blocking of their offensive line, led by future hall of fame center Dwight Stephenson, along with Pro Bowlers Bob Kuechenberg and Ed Newman.

### Snowplow Game

In National Football League lore, the Snowplow Game refers to a regular-season game played between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots on December 12, 1982.
Playing in a heavy snowstorm at New England's Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the two teams remained scoreless late into the fourth quarter. With 4:45 left to go in the game and on-field conditions worsening, Patriots coach Ron Meyer summoned Mark Henderson, who was a convict on a work release program, and was the stadium's snowplow operator that afternoon – and in the face of furious protests from Miami coach Don Shula – was directed to veer off course and clear a spot on the field for placekicker John Smith, with Matt Cavanaugh putting down the hold. The kick was good and the Patriots took a 3–0 lead into the final minutes of the game.
What is often left untold is what happened after John Smith kicked the go-ahead field goal. Despite the snowy conditions, the Dolphins methodically marched down the field on the strength of their running backs Andra Franklin and Tony Nathan and quarterback David Woodley. The Dolphins advanced the ball to just inside the Patriots' 20-yard line, but on a third-down-and-nine play, a pass from Woodley was intercepted by linebacker Don Blackmon. With less than a minute left to play, Miami used their timeouts to stop the clock and forced New England to punt after three rushing attempts, but a Dolphins Hail Mary pass on the game's final play was intercepted by the Patriots' Roland James.
Henderson was released from prison a few years after the game, and later worked in the construction business. Henderson's plow was actually a John Deere Model 314 tractor with a snow sweeper attached. When he was being interviewed by a TV reporter about the controversy, Henderson jokingly replied, "What are they gonna do, throw me in jail?" Weeks after the game, the NFL banned the use of snowplows on the field during a game. The moment became a feature of The Hall at Patriot Place when it opened in 2008 next to Gillette Stadium, with the actual tractor on display there.

### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 12 | at New York Jets | W 45–28 | 1–0 | Shea Stadium | 53,360 |
| 2 | September 19 | Baltimore Colts | W 24–20 | 2–0 | Orange Bowl | 51,999 |
| Players' strike |||||||
| 3 | November 21 | at Buffalo Bills | W 9–7 | 3–0 | Rich Stadium | 52,945 |
| 4 | November 29 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 17–23 | 3–1 | Tampa Stadium | 65,854 |
| 5 | December 5 | Minnesota Vikings | W 22–14 | 4–1 | Orange Bowl | 45,721 |
| 6 | December 12 | at New England Patriots | L 0–3 | 4–2 | Schaefer Stadium | 25,716 |
| 7 | December 18 | New York Jets | W 20–19 | 5–2 | Orange Bowl | 67,702 |
| 8 | December 27 | Buffalo Bills | W 27–10 | 6–2 | Orange Bowl | 73,924 |
| 9 | January 2, 1983 | at Baltimore Colts | W 34–7 | 7–2 | Memorial Stadium | 19,073 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Season summary
#### Week 1 at Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins | 14 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 45 |
| Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Shea Stadium • Flushing, New York
* Date: September 12
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
* Game attendance: 53,360
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Dolphins
David Woodley 14/22, 98 Yds, INT
Andra Franklin 29 Rush, 103 Yds, 2 TD
Jimmy Cefalo 2 Rec, 25 Yds
Jets
Richard Todd 18/30, 233 Yds, 3 TD, 3 INT
Freeman McNeil 13 Rush, 116 Yds
Jerome Barkum 4 Rec, 71 Yds, TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | MIA | NYJ |
| 1 | | | | | Dolphins | Andra Franklin 1-yard touchdown run, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Jets | Wesley Walker 29-yard touchdown reception from Richard Todd, Pat Leahy kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | | | | | Dolphins | Punt returned 59 yards for touchdown by Tommy Vigorito, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Dolphins | Andra Franklin 1-yard touchdown run, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Dolphins | 25-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann | 24 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Jets | Mike Augustyniak 2-yard touchdown run, Pat Leahy kick good | 24 | 14 |
| 3 | | | | | Dolphins | David Woodley 15-yard touchdown reception from Tony Nathan, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 31 | 14 |
| 3 | | | | | Dolphins | Interception returned 35 yards for touchdown by Glenn Blackwood, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 38 | 14 |
| 3 | | | | | Dolphins | Interception returned 19 yards for touchdown by Don McNeal, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 45 | 14 |
| 4 | | | | | Jets | Jerome Barkum 7-yard touchdown reception from Richard Todd, Pat Leahy kick good | 45 | 21 |
| 4 | | | | | Jets | Wesley Walker 5-yard touchdown reception from Richard Todd, Pat Leahy kick good | 45 | 28 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 45 | 28 |

#### Week 2

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| • Dolphins | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 |

#### Week 15 vs Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 6 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| Dolphins | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
* Date: December 18, 1982
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 56 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 67,702
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui, John Brodie, and Bob Griese
* Box Score
The 1972 Miami Dolphins team was honored during the game.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jets | Passing | Richard Todd | 16/29, 174 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Jets | Rushing | Freeman McNeil | 21 Rush, 89 Yds |
| Jets | Receiving | Wesley Walker | 7 Rec, 96 Yds, TD |
| Dolphins | Passing | David Woodley | 12/25, 148 Yds, TD, 2 INT |
| Dolphins | Rushing | Andra Franklin | 17 Rush, 75 Yds, TD |
| Dolphins | Receiving | Duriel Harris | 4 Rec, 74 Yds, TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NYJ | MIA |
| 1 | | | | | Jets | Wesley Walker 22-yard touchdown reception from Richard Todd, Pat Leahy kick no good (wide left) | 6 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Dolphins | 47-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann | 6 | 3 |
| 1 | | | | | Dolphins | Andra Franklin 25-yard touchdown run, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 6 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Jets | Derrick Gaffney 45-yard touchdown reception from Richard Todd, Pat Leahy kick good | 13 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Dolphins | Duriel Harris 36-yard touchdown reception from David Woodley, Uwe von Schamann kick good | 13 | 17 |
| 2 | | | | | Jets | 40-yard field goal by Pat Leahy | 16 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Jets | 49-yard field goal by Pat Leahy | 19 | 17 |
| 4 | 0:03 | | | | Dolphins | 47-yard field goal by Uwe von Schamann | 19 | 20 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 19 | 20 |

### Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| First round | January 8, 1983 | New England Patriots (7) | W 28–13 | 1–0 | Orange Bowl | 68,842 |
| Divisional | January 16, 1983 | San Diego Chargers (5) | W 34–13 | 2–0 | Orange Bowl | 71,383 |
| AFC Championship | January 23, 1983 | New York Jets (6) | W 14–0 | 3–0 | Orange Bowl | 67,396 |
| Super Bowl XVII | January 30, 1983 | Washington Redskins (N1) | L 17–27 | 3–1 | Rose Bowl | 103,667 |

### Standings

AFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Miami Dolphins$^{(2)}$ | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 198 | 131 | W3 |
| New York Jets$^{(6)}$ | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 245 | 166 | L1 |
| New England Patriots$^{(7)}$ | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 143 | 157 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 150 | 154 | L3 |
| Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 0–5–0 | 0–7–0 | 113 | 236 | L2 |
AFCvte :
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| Seeded postseason qualifiers |||||||||
| 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 260 | 200 | W5 |
| 2 | Miami Dolphins | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 198 | 131 | W3 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 232 | 177 | W2 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 204 | 146 | W2 |
| 5 | San Diego Chargers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 288 | 221 | L1 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 245 | 166 | L1 |
| 7 | New England Patriots | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 143 | 157 | W1 |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 140 | 182 | L1 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason |||||||||
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 150 | 154 | L3 |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 127 | 147 | W1 |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 176 | 184 | W1 |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 148 | 226 | L3 |
| 13 | Houston Oilers | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 136 | 245 | L7 |
| 14 | Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 113 | 236 | L2 |
| Tiebreakers |||||||||
| 1 2 Miami finished ahead of Cincinnati based on better conference record (6–1 to Cincinnati’s 6–2). 1 2 Pittsburgh finished ahead of San Diego based on better record against common opponents (3–1 to Chargers' 2–1). Conference tiebreak was initially used to eliminate New York Jets. 1 2 3 Pittsburgh and San Diego finished ahead of New York Jets based on conference record (Pittsburgh and San Diego 5–3 against Jets’ 2–3) 1 2 3 Cleveland finished ahead of Buffalo and Buffalo ahead of Seattle based on conference record (4–3 to Buffalo’s 3–3 to Seattle’s 3–5). |||||||||

## Postseason
### AFC first round

* Miami Dolphins 28, New England Patriots 13

### AFC Divisional Playoff

* Miami Dolphins 34, San Diego Chargers 13
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
* Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), mostly cloudy
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui, John Brodie, and Bob Griese

### AFC Championship Game

* Miami Dolphins 14, New York Jets 0. The Jets were angered by the condition of the Orange Bowl's grass field, which had not been covered and was inundated with a huge amount of rainfall from a series of storms that swept through South Florida the week before the game (it was still overcast on the Sunday of the game but only had a minor drizzle). Don Shula responded by stating that he hadn't checked the weather reports because he was focused on getting the Dolphins ready for the game, and that both teams would face the same conditions in any case. AJ Duhe intercepted Richard Todd 3 times, returning the last pick for a game-clinching touchdown.

### Super Bowl XVII

* Miami Dolphins 17, Washington Redskins 27
at Rose Bowl (stadium), Pasadena, California

#### Scoring summary

* MIA – TD: Jimmy Cefalo 76-yard pass from David Woodley (Uwe von Schamann kick) 7–0 MIA
* WAS – FG: Mark Moseley 31 yards 7–3 MIA
* MIA – FG: Uwe von Schamann 20 yards 10–3 MIA
* WAS – TD: Alvin Garrett 4-yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) 10–10 tie
* MIA – TD: Fulton Walker 98-yard kickoff return (Uwe von Schamann kick) 17–10 MIA
* WAS – FG: Mark Moseley 20 yards 17–13 MIA
* WAS – TD: John Riggins 43-yard run (Mark Moseley kick) 20–17 WAS
* WAS – TD: Charlie Brown 6-yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) 27–17 WAS

## Awards and honors

Pro Bowl players FB Andra Franklin, NT Bob Baumhower