The Raiders were the Dolphins' first opponents during Miami'sinaugural 1966 season. In that game,Joe Auer returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but the Raiders went on to win 23–14.[3] The Raiders dominated the Dolphins in their first 21 meetings, going 16–4–1 in that span. The two teams would meet three times in the playoffs in the early 1970s.
The first of these meetings came in the1970 Divisional Round. In that game, Raiders quarterbackDaryle Lamonica sealed the game in the fourth quarter with an 82-yard touchdown pass toRod Sherman, leading to a 21–14 Raiders victory.[2] The two teams would not face each other for two seasons, during which Miami became the only NFL team to finish an entire season undefeated during the1972 season. Miami's winning streak would stretch to 18 games when they faced the Raiders on the road during the1973 season. This game, which took place atCalifornia Memorial Stadium inBerkeley due to a scheduling conflict with theOakland Athletics at theOakland Coliseum, saw the Raiders defeat the Dolphins 12–7 behind four field goals fromGeorge Blanda.[4] Miami avenged this defeat, however, defeating the Raiders 27–10 in theAFC Championship Game en route to winningSuper Bowl VIII.[2] In that game, Dolphins running backLarry Csonka ran for 266 yards and three touchdowns.[5]
The Dolphins entered the1974 Divisional Round as two-time defendingSuper Bowl champions, while the Raiders were seeking to return to the AFC Championship Game. In what became known asThe Sea of Hands game, Raiders quarterbackKen Stabler threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to a tightly defendedClarence Davis, leading Oakland to a 28–26 victory and ended Miami's quest for a third consecutive title.[2][6]
Though the Dolphins and Raiders would not meet in the postseason for the next 26 years, there were some notable moments that took place in between. In Week 2 of the1975 season, Miami's 27-game home winning streak was snapped by the Raiders in a 31–21 defeat.[5] Then in Week 3 of the1983 season Dolphins quarterbackDan Marino made his NFL debut against the newly relocated Los Angeles Raiders, throwing his first touchdown passes in a 27–14 loss.[5][7] In Week 14 of the1984 season, Marino threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns, but Raiders running backMarcus Allen ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came in the fourth quarter, in the Raiders' 45–34 victory.[2]
After the Raiders returned to Oakland in1995, the two teams resumed their playoff rivalry in the2000 Divisional Round. However, this game ended rather quickly as the Raiders scored 20 first-half points and blanked the Dolphins in a 27–0 shutout.[2] The loss was only one of five Miami would suffer since 1992, as they won 15 games to close the gap in the series. One of those wins took place atWembley Stadium inLondon during the2014 season, with Miami taking a 38–14 decision.[2] The Dolphins also defeated the now-Las Vegas Raiders 26–25 atAllegiant Stadium in Week 16 of the2020 season, ending the Raiders' playoff hopes.[8]
Following the 2021 season, the Dolphins and Raiders each made the biggest blockbuster trades of the 2022 offseason by trading for Pro Bowl wide receivers; the Raiders traded forGreen Bay Packers receiverDavante Adams on March 17, 2022, and just a week later, the Dolphins traded forKansas City Chiefs star receiverTyreek Hill.[9][10] Also notable is the fact both teams have quarterback–wide receiver duos who had previously played together in college, with the Dolphins havingAlabama alumsTua Tagovailoa andJaylen Waddle, and the Raiders withFresno State alumsDerek Carr and Davante Adams.
Season-by-season results
Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders Season-by-Season Results
The game moved from Oakland Coliseum due to a scheduling conflict with theOakland Athletics. Raiders ended the Dolphins’ 18-game winning streak, becoming the first team to defeat them since the1971 Dallas Cowboys inSuper Bowl VI.
AFC Divisional Round. Also known asThe Sea of Hands game, where Raiders quarterbackKen Stabler converted a game-winning eight-yard touchdown pass toClarence Davis amid three Dolphins players.
Raiders’ win ended the Dolphins’ 31-game home winning streak and handed them their first home loss since the1971 season, setting the NFL record for the longest home winning streak.
First meeting in Oakland since 1980. First meeting in series forJimmy Johnson as Dolphins head coach. Only meeting in the series forMike White as Raiders head coach.
Only meeting in series for bothLane Kiffin as Raiders head coach andCam Cameron as Dolphins head coach. Raiders' win snapped their 12-game road losing streak.
First meeting in series forJon Gruden in his second stint as Raiders head coach. Last meeting in the series forAdam Gase as Dolphins head coach and for the Raiders as "Oakland Raiders".
