Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers–Miami Dolphins
Buccaneers wordmark 2014.png
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dolphins textlogo13.png
Miami Dolphins
First meeting October 24, 1976
MIA 23, TB 20
Latest meeting November 11, 2013
TB 22, MIA 19
Next meeting 2017 (regular season)
Statistics
Meetings total 10 meetings
All-time series Tied 5-5-0
Pre-season:
Dolphins lead 17-12-0
Largest victory MIA 33, TB 14 (1991)
Smallest victory MIA 25, TB 22 (2009)
Current win streak Buccaneers 1 win

The Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry is between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. It is an in-state, interconference, matchup between the two oldest NFL teams in the state of Florida. It has been active in most years since the Buccaneers joined the league as an expansion team in 1976. The rivalry is primarily confined to the preseason, as the teams have been in different conferences since 1977 and do not play one another during the regular season every year.

The Dolphins are part of the AFC East. The Buccaneers are currently part of the NFC South. According to the current NFL scheduling format, the two teams play each other every four years during the regular season, rotating the host site each meeting. In addition, the two clubs play each other during the preseason every year, with the site rotating on a mostly regular basis.

The two teams have never met in the playoffs. Currently, the only circumstance in which the two teams could meet during the postseason would be in the Super Bowl.

The ten regular season meetings have been characterized in most cases as relatively low-scoring affairs, and oftentimes close. Eight of the ten have been decided by ten or fewer points, while six have been decided by a field goal.

Though the in-state rivalry has no official nickname, it has sometimes been referred to as the "Sunshine Series."[1]

History

1970s

Tampa Bay joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976, and immediately team officials were anxious to establish an in-state rivalry with the Miami Dolphins.[2] The two-time Super Bowl winning Dolphins were the more popular and established team of the state, however, fans in the Tampa/St. Pete area were enthusiastic about finally having their own team to cheer for.[3] In Tampa Bay's expansion season, they hosted the Dolphins at Tampa Stadium for a preseason game, in front of a record crowd of 67,466.[4] The Dolphins won 28-21. The two teams met again during the regular season two months later, also in Tampa. The Dolphins again prevailed by a score of 23-20, on a 29-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian with 55 seconds left in regulation.

Though they would play only once every three years during the regular season (due to being in different conferences starting in 1977), the two teams agreed to continue an annual preseason matchup. The two teams played each other for four years (1976-1979). Though the game was considered a "meaningless" exhibition game, the young Bucs team were noted for aggressive play, and for "taking the game seriously."[5] With the Buccaneers known at the time for being a poor team ("0-26") of rag-tag rookies, unwanted veterans, and various free agents, the squad often wanted to showcase themselves in the game and show the league they had ability.[6] The intense play hit a climax in 1978, which saw Dolphins starting quarterback Bob Griese go down with a knee injury. He would be sidelined until October, and the incident drew the ire of Dolphins owner Joe Robbie, who decided to put a stop to the preseason series between the two teams.[5][6]

Of the five meetings in the 1970s (four of which were preseason), Miami won all five games.

1980s

With an ongoing squabble between the respective owners Joe Robbie and Hugh Culverhouse,[7] the teams only met twice in the entire decade of the 1980s during the preseason. Their first matchup of the decade was a regular season meeting during the 1982 strike-shortened season, on Monday Night Football. Miami entered the game 3-0, while the Buccaneers were 0-3.[8] The Bucs jumped out to a 16-3 lead, and intercepted Miami five times, en route to a 23-17 victory. It was Tampa Bay's first ever win over Miami. The result reflected upon the perceived "Tampa Bay Curse," as Miami would go to lose Super Bowl XVII.

The highest scoring regular season game between the two teams came in 1985. Miami's Dan Marino passed for 302 yards and three touchdown, while Steve DeBerg threw four touchdowns to Jimmie Giles. Miami won 41-38 on a field goal by Fuad Reveiz with six seconds left.[5]

With the Buccaneers mostly uncompetitive during the 1980s, and the infrequent meetings between the two clubs, the rivalry de-intensified during the decade.[1][5]

1990s

Starting in 1991, the two teams revived their preseason rivalry on a permanent basis.[7][9] With Wayne Huizenga assuming control of the Dolphins, and Malcolm Glazer later purchasing the Buccaneers, both teams had new ownership and new direction. The two franchises wholeheartedly agreed upon an annual preseason series. The close proximity between the clubs made the decision one of convenience for both the players and fans. Along with the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, who started play in 1995, the three Florida teams started a fairly regular three-way intrastate preseason rivalry series.

Miami and Tampa Bay did not play during the preseason in 1993 or 1999. Except for those two seasons, the two teams have played every summer since 1991. The 1995 game was played at a neutral site, the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, with the Bucs serving as the home team.

The two teams played twice during the preseason in 1996. On August 3, 1996, Jimmy Johnson made his debut on the sidelines as coach of the Dolphins, while Tony Dungy coached his first game for Tampa Bay. The Dolphins won the first meeting at Joe Robbie Stadium by a score of 13-10. Three weeks later, the Dolphins swept the two-game series with a 19-7 victory.

In 1997, the two teams played each other for the final time in aging Houlihan's Stadium. The home team Buccaneers prevailed with a score of 24-10 in the preseason, and 31-21 a month later in the regular season.

2000-2002

Tampa Bay and Miami have played every preseason in the 21st century, even during years in which they have been scheduled to play during the regular season.

In 2000, the two teams faced each other in a regular season matchup in mid-December. In a driving rain, with sloppy conditions, Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica kicked a 46-yard go-ahead field goal which proved to be the winning margin.

On Monday night, August 13, 2001, the two teams played each other for the first time at Raymond James Stadium, in a preseason opener. Dolphins quarterback Mike Quinn threw a 46-yard "Hail Mary" to Robert Baker as time expired to win by a score of 17-13.

During the preseason opener on Monday night August 12, 2002, the two teams met again at Raymond James Stadium. It served as Jon Gruden's first coached game for the Buccaneers. Frank Murphy took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It was the Buccaneers' fifth kickoff return touchdown in a preseason game, however, at the time, the team had still never returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the regular season (and would do so not until 2007). Tampa Bay would go on to win 14-10.

2005

In 2005, the two teams met in a regular season matchup, a game that drew some controversy in the secondary market of Orlando, Florida.[10] The Buccaneers entered the game in first place with a record of 4-1. The Dolphins were 2-2, and were lauding the anticipated return of Ricky Williams after a year of retirement and a four-game suspension. Due to the complex rules of the NFL television contracts, the Orlando area, well known for having large Dolphins and Buccaneers fanbases, but designated a Jaguars secondary market, was required to instead air a Jacksonville away game during the timeslot. CBS affiliate WKMG lobbied the NFL to reverse the decision and allow the Bucs-Dolphins game to air in Orlando. After several weeks of passionate pleading, the request was denied. Station general manager Henry Maldonado recorded a message for fans that aired just before the broadcast, apologizing for his inability to remedy the situation. In the game, the Buccaneers rolled 27-13, and Williams was not a factor.

2013

The most recent regular season meeting took place on Monday Night Football in 2013. Going into the game, considerable media attention focused on the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin bullying scandal. In addition, Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano was considered on the "hot seat" due to a poor 0-8 record. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 15-0 lead, and held on for a 22-19 victory, their first win of the 2013 season. The Buccaneers defense held Miami to only 2 yards rushing, an all-time record low for the Tampa Bay defense, as well as a franchise record low in terms of productivity for the Dolphins' offense.

Game results

Regular season results

Series is tied 5-5-0

Season Day Date Visiting team Home team Site
1976 Sunday October 24 Dolphins 23 Buccaneers 20 Tampa Stadium
1982 Monday November 29 Dolphins 17 Buccaneers 23 Tampa Stadium
1985 Sunday October 20 Buccaneers 38 Dolphins 41 Orange Bowl
1988 Sunday October 30 Dolphins 17 Buccaneers 14 Tampa Stadium
1991 Sunday December 1 Buccaneers 14 Dolphins 33 Joe Robbie Stadium
1997 Sunday September 21 Dolphins 21 Buccaneers 31 Houlihan's Stadium
2000 Sunday December 10 Buccaneers 16 Dolphins 13 Pro Player Stadium
2005 Sunday October 16 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 27 Raymond James Stadium
2009 Sunday November 15 Buccaneers 23 Dolphins 25 Land Shark Stadium
2013 Monday November 11 Dolphins 19 Buccaneers 22 Raymond James Stadium
  • Per the NFL scheduling rotation, the teams will play at Miami in 2017.

Preseason results

Miami leads the series 17-13

Season Day Date Visiting team Home team Site
1976 Saturday August 21 Dolphins 28 Buccaneers 21 Tampa Stadium
1977 Saturday August 6 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 7 Tampa Stadium
1978 Friday August 25 Dolphins 24 Buccaneers 20 Tampa Stadium
1979 Saturday August 11 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 7 Tampa Stadium
1980 Not played
1981
1982
1983
1984 Friday August 24 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 14 Tampa Stadium
1985 Not played
1986 Friday August 29 Buccaneers 3 Dolphins 21 Orange Bowl
1987 Not played
1988
1989
1990
1991 Saturday August 10 Dolphins 29 Buccaneers 13 Tampa Stadium
1992 Saturday August 22 Buccaneers 7 Dolphins 22 Joe Robbie Stadium
1993 Not played
1994 Saturday August 20 Buccaneers 29 Dolphins 14 Joe Robbie Stadium
1995 Friday August 25 Dolphins 17 Buccaneers 24 Florida Citrus Bowl (Orlando)
1996 Saturday August 3 Buccaneers 10 Dolphins 13 Joe Robbie Stadium
Friday August 23 Dolphins 19 Buccaneers 7 Houlihan's Stadium
1997 Saturday August 16 Dolphins 10 Buccaneers 24 Houlihan's Stadium
1998 Thursday August 13 Buccaneers 13 Dolphins 14 Pro Player Stadium
1999 Not played
2000 Thursday August 10 Buccaneers 13 Dolphins 15 Pro Player Stadium
2001 Monday August 13 Dolphins 17 Buccaneers 13 Raymond James Stadium
2002 Monday August 12 Dolphins 10 Buccaneers 14 Raymond James Stadium
2003 Friday August 8 Buccaneers 20 Dolphins 19 Pro Player Stadium
2004 Saturday August 28 Dolphins 10 Buccaneers 17 Raymond James Stadium
2005 Saturday August 27 Buccaneers 14 Dolphins 17 Dolphin Stadium
2006 Saturday August 19 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 10 Raymond James Stadium
2007 Saturday August 25 Buccaneers 31 Dolphins 28 Dolphin Stadium
2008 Saturday August 9 Buccaneers 17 Dolphins 6 Dolphin Stadium
2009 Thursday August 27 Dolphins 10 Buccaneers 6 Raymond James Stadium
2010 Saturday August 14 Buccaneers 7 Dolphins 10 Sun Life Stadium
2011 Saturday August 27 Dolphins 13 Buccaneers 17 Raymond James Stadium
2012 Friday August 10 Buccaneers 20 Dolphins 7 Sun Life Stadium
2013 Saturday August 24 Buccaneers 17 Dolphins 16 Sun Life Stadium
2014 Saturday August 16 Dolphins 20 Buccaneers 14 Raymond James Stadium
2015 Thursday September 3 Buccaneers 22 Dolphins 17 Sun Life Stadium

References

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Sources

See also