Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miami Dolphins
Location	Tampa,Miami
First meeting	October 24, 1976 Dolphins 23,Buccaneers 20[1]
Latest meeting	October 10, 2021 Buccaneers 45, Dolphins 17[1]
Next meeting	December 28, 2025
Stadiums	Buccaneers:Raymond James Stadium Dolphins:Hard Rock Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total	12[1]
All-time series	Buccaneers: 7–5[1]
Largest victory	Buccaneers: 45–17(2021) Dolphins: 33–14(1991)[1]
Most points scored	Buccaneers: 45(2021) Dolphins: 41(1985)[1]
Longest win streak	Buccaneers: 3 (1997–2005, 2013–present) Dolphins: 3 (1985–1991)[1]
Current win streak	Buccaneers: 3 (2013–present)[1]

130km
81miles

Dolphins

Buccaneers

   

Locations of theTampa Bay Buccaneers andMiami Dolphins

TheBuccaneers–Dolphins rivalry is aNational Football League (NFL)rivalry between theTampa Bay Buccaneers andMiami Dolphins.

It is an in-state, interconference matchup between the two oldest NFL teams in the state ofFlorida. It has been active in most years since the Buccaneers joined the league as anexpansion team in1976. The rivalry is mostly a mainstay of thepreseason, as the teams have been in different conferences since1977; the Dolphins are part of theAFC East, while the Buccaneers are part of theNFC South. According to the current NFL scheduling format, the two teams play each other once every four years during the regular season and once every eight seasons at each team's home stadium. However, ever since the implementation of the NFL's new 17-game schedule in 2021, it is now possible for the two teams to meet as often as every other year depending on the division standings of both teams.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][excessive citations]} In addition, the two clubs play each other during thepreseason nearly every year, with the site rotating on a mostly regular basis. The two teams have never met in theplayoffs. Currently, the only circumstance in which the two teams could meet during the postseason would be in theSuper Bowl.

Though the in-state rivalry has no official nickname, it has sometimes been referred to as the "Sunshine Series."^[11]

The Buccaneers lead the overall series, 7–5.

Tampa Bay joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976, and immediately team officials were anxious to establish an in-state rivalry with theMiami Dolphins.^[12] The two-time Super Bowl winning Dolphins were the more popular and established team of the state, however, fans in theTampa/St. Pete area were enthusiastic about finally having their own team to cheer for.^[13] In Tampa Bay's expansion season, they hosted the Dolphins atTampa Stadium for apreseason game, in front of a record crowd of 67,466.^[14] 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 byGaro 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."^[15] 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.^[16] The intense play hit a climax in 1978, which saw Dolphins starting quarterbackBob Griese go down with a knee injury. He would be sidelined until October, and the incident drew the ire of Dolphins ownerJoe Robbie, who decided to put a stop to the preseason series between the two teams.^[15][16]

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

With an ongoing squabble between the respective ownersJoe Robbie andHugh Culverhouse,^[17] 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 the1982 strike-shortened season, onMonday Night Football. Miami entered the game 3–0, while the Buccaneers were 0–3.^[18] 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 loseSuper Bowl XVII.

In the1981 season, the respective coaching staffs of Miami and Tampa Bay faced each other in thePro Bowl atAloha Stadium.^[19] TheAFC, led by Miami's head coachDon Shula defeatedJohn McKay'sNFC squad by the score of 16–13.

The highest scoring regular season game between the two teams came in1985. Miami'sDan Marino passed for 302 yards and three touchdown, whileSteve DeBerg threw four touchdowns toJimmie Giles. Miami won 41–38 on a field goal byFuad Reveiz with six seconds left.^[15] That game also marked the second game as a Dolphin for linebackerHugh Green, who had been traded from the Buccaneers earlier that season.

With the Buccaneers mostly uncompetitive during the 1980s, and the infrequent meetings between the two clubs, the rivalry de-intensified during the decade.^[11][15]

Starting in1991, the two teams revived their preseason rivalry on a permanent basis.^[17][20] WithWayne Huizenga assuming control of the Dolphins, andMalcolm 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 expansionJacksonville Jaguars, who started play in1995, 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. The 1995 game was played at a neutral site, theFlorida Citrus Bowl inOrlando, 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, whileTony Dungy coached his first game for Tampa Bay. The Dolphins won the first meeting atJoe 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 agingHoulihan'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.

Tampa Bay and Miami have played nearly 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 kickerMartin 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 atRaymond James Stadium, in a preseason opener. Dolphins quarterbackMike Quinn threw a 46-yard"Hail Mary" toRobert 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 asJon 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 until2007). Tampa Bay would go on to win 14–10.

In 2005, the two teams met in a regular season matchup, a game that drew some controversy in the secondary market ofOrlando, Florida.^[21] 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 ofRicky Williams after a year of retirement and a four-game suspension. Due to thecomplex rules of the NFL television contracts, theOrlando area, well known for having large Dolphins and Buccaneers fanbases, but designated a Jaguars secondary market, was required to instead air aJacksonville away game during the timeslot.CBSaffiliateWKMG 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.

They met onMonday Night Football in 2013. Going into the game, considerable media attention focused on theRichie Incognito/Jonathan Martinbullying scandal. In addition, Buccaneers head coachGreg 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.

The annual preseason meeting was not held in 2016, the first time that had happened since 1999. Both clubs were in the middle of offseason stadium renovations. Tampa Bay played their first two preseason games on the road, and Miami also played their first two preseason games on the road (and the third at a neutral site), preventing the two clubs from logistically being able to meet for a matchup.^[22]

In 2017, further stadium renovations in Tampa again precluded a preseason meeting between the two clubs. Both teams were scheduled to meet on opening day in Miami anyway, rendering the preseason match less of a priority. However, due to the approachingHurricane Irma, the game was moved to November 19, the date in which both clubs were originally scheduled for their bye week. Tampa Bay kicked a go-ahead field goal with 4 seconds remaining in regulation to take a 23–20 lead. It appeared briefly it would be the seventh meeting decided by a field goal or less. On the ensuing kickoff, Miami players attempted to lateral the ball, but fumbled it back into their own end zone where it was recovered by Tampa Bay for an improbable touchdown as time expired, and a 10-point victory.

In 2018–2019, the annual preseason meeting was reprised. However, they were not scheduled to meet in the preseason in 2020, and the 2020 preseason was subsequently cancelled outright due to COVID-19.

The most recent regular season meeting occurred on October 10, 2021, featuring formerNew England Patriots quarterbackTom Brady meeting his former division rivals, the Dolphins.^[a] The Buccaneers won this game 45–17.

^[1]

*Offseason and/or practice squad member only

• List of NFL rivalries
• Lightning–Panthers rivalry
• Fort Lauderdale–Tampa Bay rivalry

• NFL rivalries
• American football in Florida
• 1976 establishments in Florida
• Sports rivalries in Florida
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers rivalries
• Miami Dolphins rivalries

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