The 2011 Miami Dolphins season was the franchise's 42nd season in the
National Football League (NFL), the 46th overall and the fourth and final under head coach
Tony Sparano.[1] The Dolphins made their first round selection with the 15th pick of the
2011 NFL Draft on
Floridaoffensive linemanMike Pouncey. The team got off to an 0–7 start but won six of their final nine games, however, this result failed to improve on their record from
2010 and Sparano was fired on December 12.
DraftKing.com, NFLMocks.com, and The Palm Beach Post predicted that the Dolphins would use their first round pick to choose
Gabe Carimi, a left tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers who won the 2010
Outland Trophy as the nation's top collegiate interior lineman, and was a Consensus All-American.[2][3] Charles Davis of NFL.com predicted they would draft
Mark Ingram II from the University of Alabama.[4]
^The Dolphins traded its second-round selection (#46 overall) and a
2010 second-round selection to the
Denver Broncos in exchange for
WRBrandon Marshall.
^The Dolphins traded its third-round selection (#79 overall), fifth-round selection (#146 overall) and a seventh-round selection (#217 overall) to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for a second-round selection (#62 overall).
^The Dolphins traded its sixth-round selection (#179 overall) and seventh-round selection (#218 overall) to the
Green Bay Packers for their sixth-round selection (#174 overall) and seventh-round selection (#231 overall).
^The Dolphins acquired this seventh-round selection (#218 overall) in a May 2010 trade that sent
GJustin Smiley to the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brian Daboll joins the team as
offensive coordinator.
Karl Dorrell moves to quarter backs coach from wide receivers coach.
Jeff Nixon added as the running backs coach.
Steve Bush moves to wide receivers coach from offensive quality control.
Ike Hilliard added as an assistant wide receivers coach.
Dan Campbell moves to tight ends coach from intern.
Bryan Cox is added as a defensive pass rush coach.
The Dolphins began their 2011 campaign at home, for a Week 1 AFC East duel with the
New England Patriots in the first game of
Monday Night Football's doubleheader. Miami delivered the game's opening splash with a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback
Chad Henne. The Patriots answered with running back
BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting a 4-yard touchdown run. New England took the lead in the second quarter as quarterback
Tom Brady completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Rob Gronkowski.
The Dolphins struck back in the third quarter as Henne found wide receiver
Brian Hartline on a 10-yard touchdown pass, but New England came right back with Brady completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Wes Welker. Miami replied with a 20-yard field goal from kicker
Dan Carpenter, but the Patriots came right back with Brady completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Aaron Hernandez. New England added onto their in the fourth quarter as kicker
Stephen Gostkowski got a 20-yard field goal, followed by Brady completing a 99-yard touchdown pass to Welker. The Dolphins would close out the game with Henne finding running back
Reggie Bush on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
With the loss, Miami began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Week Two: Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Coming off their win over the Redskins, the Dolphins stayed at home for a Week 11 AFC East showdown with the
Buffalo Bills. Miami trailed early in the first quarter as Bills kicker
Dave Rayner made a 30-yard field goal, yet the Dolphins immediately answered with quarterback
Matt Moore finding tight end
Anthony Fasano on a 1-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 5-yard touchdown run from running back
Reggie Bush. Miami would add onto their lead in the second quarter with Moore connecting with fullback
Charles Clay on a 12-yard touchdown pass, followed by wide receiver
Davone Bess on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Buffalo would close out the half with Rayner booting a 56-yard field goal.
The Dolphins continued their dominating day in the third quarter with running back
Lex Hilliard recovering a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown (the team's first TD off of a blocked punt since 1990). The Bills tried to rally as linebacker
Kelvin Sheppard tackled rookie running back
Daniel Thomas in the endzone for a safety, but Miami's lead proved to be too much to overcome.
With the win, the Dolphins improved to 3–7.
This game also marked the first time since
1990 that Miami allowed 10 points or fewer in three straight games. They became the third team in NFL history to win 3 straight after starting the season at least 0–7 (
1978 Cardinals and
1986 Colts).[35]
Coming off their win over the Bills, the Dolphins flew to
Cowboys Stadium for a Week 12 interconference duel with the
Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Miami delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker
Shayne Graham, but the Cowboys answered in the second quarter with kicker
Dan Bailey getting a 32-yard field goal, followed by quarterback
Tony Romo completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Laurent Robinson. The Dolphins would close out the half with a 28-yard field goal from Graham.
Miami would regain the lead in the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Graham, followed by quarterback
Matt Moore finding wide receiver
Brandon Marshall on a 35-yard field goal. Dallas struck back in the fourth quarter with Romo completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Robinson. The Dolphins would reply with a 23-yard field goal from Graham, but the Cowboys got the last laugh with Bailey nailing the game-winning 28-yard field goal.
With the loss, Miami fell to 3–8.
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week Thirteen: Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
PHI –
MIA –
Top rushers
PHI –
MIA –
Top receivers
PHI –
MIA –
Top tacklers
PHI –
MIA –
With the loss, the Dolphins dropped to 4–9, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. One day later (December 12), head coach
Tony Sparano was fired and replaced by assistant coach
Todd Bowles on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
Week 15: at Buffalo Bills
Week Fifteen: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
The Dolphins closed out their season with a 19–17 win over the Jets that knocked the Jets out of playoff contention. The Dolphins intercepted
Mark Sanchez three times and limited him to 235 passing yards. The win was the 400th in Miami Dolphins franchise history and the final game for
Jason Taylor, held to one tackle in the game; he recovered what was initially ruled a fumble by the Jets and raced to a touchdown, but the score was nullified when the ball was ruled down by contact.