The 1970 Miami Dolphins season was the team's fifth, and first in the National Football League (NFL). It was the team's first winning season, first playoff appearance, and first of 26 seasons under head coach Don Shula. The team improved on their 3–10–1 record from 1969, and finished the regular season at 10–4, second in the newly aligned AFC East to only the Baltimore Colts, the eventual Super Bowl champion. During this season, the Dolphins defeated the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders for the first time in franchise history.100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.26
The Dolphins got off to a fresh start at 4–1, lost three straight to even their record at 4–4, then won six straight to end the season to clinch their first-ever winning season and playoff berth, as the wild card team. They met the Oakland Raiders in the opening divisional round, whom they had defeated in Miami in early October, but lost 21–14 on the road in the sun and mud.
Shula had moved over to the Dolphins on February 18,100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.24 after seven seasons as head coach of the Baltimore Colts, now in the same division.
Offseason NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1970 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBob HamiltonWide receiverPrairie View A&MJesse KayeQuarterbackTampaJim LangerCenterSouth Dakota StateDoug SwiftLinebackerAmherstDoug WoolseyLinebackerBoise StateBill YoungSafetyTennesseeAlan ZerfossTackleWyoming
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance 1 September 20 at Boston Patriots L 14–27 0–1 32,607 2 September 27 at Houston Oilers W 20–10 1–1 39,840 3 Oakland Raiders W 20–13 2–1 57,140 4 at New York Jets W 20–6 3–1 62,712 5 October 18 at Buffalo Bills W 33–14 4–1 41,312 6 October 25 Cleveland Browns L 0–28 4–2 75,313 7 November 1 at Baltimore Colts L 0–35 4–3 60,240 8 November 8 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–24 4–4 58,171 9 November 15 New Orleans Saints W 21–10 5–4 52,866 10 November 22 Baltimore Colts W 34–17 6–4 67,699 11 at Atlanta Falcons W 20–7 7–4 54,036 12 December 6 Boston Patriots W 37–20 8–4 51,032 13 December 13 New York Jets W 16–10 9–4 75,099 14 December 20 Buffalo Bills W 45–7 10–4 70,990 Saturday (October 3, 10), Monday (November 30) Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional December 27 at Oakland Raiders L 14–21 0–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,401
References
External links 1970 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com