The 1978 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League, the 13th overall, and the 9th under head coach Don Shula. The team returned to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 1974, with an 11–5 record. Quarterback Bob Griese missed the first seven games due to a knee injury. The Dolphins got off to a 5–2 start behind back-up Don Strock. Upon Griese's return, the Dolphins earned a berth to the playoffs as a Wild Card. Helping to lead the Dolphins back to the postseason was running back Delvin Williams, who set a team record with 1,258 yards rushing on the season. In the first playoff game involving two Wild Cards, the Dolphins were stunned 17–9 by the Houston Oilers at the Orange Bowl. In the process the Dolphins set two notable records: scoring first in all but one of their sixteen regular season games,In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, in the regular season, team scored first and never trailing at any point in eleven games.In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, in the regular season, team never trailed during game The former record was equalled by the 2004 Patriots, and the latter was beaten by the 2005 Colts.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1978 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeSteve ArndtsCenterEastern MichiganJohn BristorCornerbackWaynesburgRod BroadwayDefensive endNorth CarolinaZac HendersonSafetyOklahomaGregg LazzaroTight endFlorida StateRobert MossDefensive endJackson StateVic RivasGuardFlorida StateMike ShumannWide receiverFlorida State
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Standings
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 3 at New York Jets L 20–33 0–1 Shea Stadium Recap 2 September 10 at Baltimore Colts W 42–0 1–1 Memorial Stadium Recap 3 September 17 Buffalo Bills W 31–24 2–1 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 4 September 24 at Philadelphia Eagles L 3–17 2–2 Veterans Stadium Recap 5 October 1 St. Louis Cardinals W 24–10 3–2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 6 Cincinnati Bengals W 21–0 4–2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 7 October 15 at San Diego Chargers W 28–21 5–2 San Diego Stadium Recap 8 October 22 at New England Patriots L 24–33 5–3 Schaefer Stadium Recap 9 October 29 Baltimore Colts W 26–8 6–3 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 10 November 5 Dallas Cowboys W 23–16 7–3 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 11 November 12 at Buffalo Bills W 25–24 8–3 Rich Stadium Recap 12 at Houston Oilers L 30–35 8–4 Astrodome Recap 13 November 26 New York Jets L 13–24 8–5 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 14 December 3 at Washington Redskins W 16–0 9–5 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap 15 December 10 Oakland Raiders W 23–6 10–5 Miami Orange Bowl Recap 16 New England Patriots W 23–3 11–5 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
Results
Week 3
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Playoffs Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card December 24 Houston Oilers (5) L 9–17 0–1 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
AFC Wildcard Playoff (Sunday December 24, 1978): vs. Houston Oilers
Awards and honors
Milestones
Notes and references
Miami Dolphins on Pro Football Reference Miami Dolphins on jt-sw.com