1981 Miami Dolphins season

1981 Miami Dolphins season
Head coach	Don Shula
Home field	Orange Bowl
Results
Record	11–4–1
Division place	1st AFC East
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Divisional Playoff

The 1981 Miami Dolphins season was the 16th year of existence for the Miami Dolphins franchise. With the retirement of Bob Griese not much was expected out of the Dolphins. The Dolphins Defense, which became known as the Killer Bees because of the number of players whose last name began with the letter B. The Bees were Bill Barnett, Bob Baumhauer, Lyle Blackwood, Kim Bokamper, and Bob Brudzinski anchored a strong team. They finished 11-4-1, as Don Shula reached a milestone by winning his 200th game of his coaching career. In the Divisional Playoffs against the San Diego Chargers the Dolphins fell behind 24-0 early in front of a sold out crowd at the Orange Bowl. With time running out in the first Half the Dolphins desperately needed a score to get back in the game. Out of nowhere the Dolphins ran the old schoolyard hook and lateral play to success. On the play Quarterback Don Strock threw a pass over the middle to WR Duriel Harris who lateraled to WR Tony Nathan who ran the ball in for Touchdown. The play sparked the Dolphins who came back, and took a lead in the 4th Quarter. However, the Killer Bees could not contain Chargers QB Dan Fouts who tied the game, and forced overtime where the Chargers won the game on a Rolf Bernershka Field Goal in the 14th minute of overtime.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft

1981 Miami Dolphins draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	13	David Overstreet	Running back	Oklahoma
2	56	Andra Franklin *	Running back	Nebraska
4	84	Sam Greene	Wide receiver	UNLV
4	96	Brad Wright	Quarterback	New Mexico
5	126	Ken Poole	Defensive end	Louisiana–Monroe
5	138	Tommy Vigorito	Running back	Virginia
6	152	Mack Moore	Defensive end	Texas A&M
6	154	Fulton Walker	Defensive back	West Virginia
7	179	Mike Daum	Offensive tackle	Cal Poly
8	208	William Judson	Defensive back	South Carolina State
9	235	John Noonan	Wide receiver	Nebraska
10	261	Steve Folsom	Tight end	Utah
11	291	Jim Jensen	Wide receiver	Boston University
12	318	John Alford	Defensive tackle	South Carolina State
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1981 Miami Dolphins staff
	Front office President – Joe Robbie Executive Vice President/General Manager – Mike Robbie Vice President – Don Shula Director of Player Personnel – Chuck Connor Director of Pro Scouting – Charley Winner Head coaches Head Coach – Don Shula Offensive coaches Quarterbacks/Receivers – Wally English Offensive Backs – Carl Taseff Offensive Line/Running Game – John Sandusky			Defensive coaches Assistant Head Coach/Defense – Bill Arnsparger Defensive Line/Run Defense – Mike Scarry Defensive Backs – Tom Keane Special teams coaches Special Teams – Steve Crosby, Carl Taseff Punting – Tom Keane

Regular season

The Dolphins won the AFC East title behind second-year quarterback David Woodley and a running attack that managed 2,173 yards and 18 touchdowns. In their eight divisional games they swept the Colts and Patriots but split with Buffalo and went winless against a resurgent Jets squad; they tied the Jets 28–28 at Miami then lost at Shea Stadium 16–15. They won their last four games of the season to finish 11–4–1.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 6, 1981	at St. Louis Cardinals	W 20–7	50,351
2	September 10, 1981	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 30–10	75,059
3	September 20, 1981	at Houston Oilers	W 16–10	47,379
4	September 27, 1981	at Baltimore Colts	W 31–28	41,630
5	October 4, 1981	New York Jets	T 28–28	68,723
6	October 12, 1981	at Buffalo Bills	L 31–21	78,576
7	October 18, 1981	Washington Redskins	W 13–10	47,367
8	October 25, 1981	at Dallas Cowboys	L 28–27	64,221
9	November 1, 1981	Baltimore Colts	W 27–10	46,061
10	November 8, 1981	at New England Patriots	W 30–27	60,436
11	November 15, 1981	Oakland Raiders	L 33–17	61,777
12	November 22, 1981	at New York Jets	L 16–15	59,962
13	November 30, 1981	Philadelphia Eagles	W 13–10	67,797
14	December 6, 1981	New England Patriots	W 24–14	50,421
15	December 13, 1981	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 17–7	57,407
16	December 19, 1981	Buffalo Bills	W 16–6	72,956

Standings

AFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins(2)	11	4	1	.719	5–2–1	8–3–1	345	275	W4
New York Jets(4)	10	5	1	.656	6–1–1	8–5–1	355	287	W2
Buffalo Bills(5)	10	6	0	.625	6–2	9–3	311	276	L1
Baltimore Colts	2	14	0	.125	2–6	2–10	259	533	W1
New England Patriots	2	14	0	.125	0–8	2–10	322	370	L9

Playoffs

The Dolphins returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence, hosting the "Air Coryell" Chargers in one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history.

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	January 2, 1982	San Diego Chargers	L 41–38	73,735

External links

• 1981 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com