The 1971 Miami Dolphins season was the team's sixth, and second in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their 10–4 record from 1970 and finished at 10–3–1 to win the first of four consecutive AFC East titles. They opened the season with a tie at Denver, split the next two, then won eight consecutive to improve to 9–1–1.
The Dolphins won their first division title, finishing first in the AFC East, and then defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round in a second overtime (the game is considered the longest in NFL history by time). They advanced to their first AFC championship game and shut out the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts 21–0. However, in Super Bowl VI, Miami was walloped 24–3 by the Dallas Cowboys. After losing that Super Bowl, the Dolphins did not lose another game until week 2 of the 1973 season, going overall in the next two seasons (1972, 1973), both ending with Super Bowl victories.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 19 at Denver Broncos T 10–10 0–0–1 Mile High Stadium 51,228 2 September 26 at Buffalo Bills W 29–14 1–0–1 War Memorial Stadium 45,139 3 October 3 New York Jets L 10–14 1–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 70,670 4 October 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 23–13 2–1–1 Riverfront Stadium 60,099 5 October 17 New England Patriots W 41–3 3–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 58,822 6 October 24 at New York Jets W 30–14 4–1–1 Shea Stadium 62,130 7 October 31 at Los Angeles Rams W 20–14 5–1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 72,903 8 November 7 Buffalo Bills W 34–0 6–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 61,016 9 November 14 Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–21 7–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl66,435 10 November 21 Baltimore Colts W 17–14 8–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 75,312 11 November 29 Chicago Bears W 34–3 9–1–1 Miami Orange Bowl 75,312 12 December 5 at New England Patriots L 13–34 9–2–1 Schaefer Stadium 61,457 13 December 11 at Baltimore Colts L 3–14 9–3–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 14 December 19 Green Bay Packers W 27–6 10–3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 76,812 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Monday (November 29), Saturday (December 11)
Game summaries
Week 2
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Standings
NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 297
Postseason Schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional December 25 at Kansas City Chiefs W 27–24 (2OT) 1–0 Municipal Stadium 45,822 AFC Championship January 2, 1972 Baltimore Colts W 21–0 2–0 Orange Bowl 76,622 Super Bowl VI January 16, 1972 Dallas Cowboys L 3–24 2–1 Tulane Stadium 80,591
AFC Divisional Playoff Miami Dolphins 27 K.C. Chiefs 24 (20T)
AFC Championship Game Miami Dolphins 21 Baltimore Colts 0
Super Bowl VI Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3
Scoring summary Dallas Mike Clark, FG 14 yds (3–0) Dallas L.Alworth, 9 yd pass from Staubach (Mike Clark kick, 10–0) Miami Yepremian, FG 23 yds (10–3) Dallas Duane Thomas, 5 yd run (Mike Clark kick, 17–3) Dallas Mike Ditka, 4 yd pass from Staubach (Mike Clark kick, 3–24)
References
External links 1971 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com