2006 Miami Dolphins season

"at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida"

The Dolphins, still looking for their first win of the year, stayed at home for a Week 3 match-up with the Tennessee Titans. Miami drew first blood in the first quarter with kicker Olindo Mare kicking a 40-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Dolphins got a bit of a scare as Titans QB Kerry Collins completed a 27-yard pass to TE Bo Scaife for a touchdown and the lead. In the third quarter, Miami reclaimed the lead with QB Daunte Culpepper getting a touchdown on a 5-yard scramble. However, the Titans didn't go down quietly, as kicker Rob Bironas kicked a 22-yard field goal for Tennessee, putting the game in a 10-10 tie. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, Mare finally helped Miami get win #1 with a 39-yard field goal.

Week 4: at Houston Texans

"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"

Still searching for win #2, the Dolphins kept QB Joey Harrington in the starting line-up as they flew to The Meadowlands for an AFC East fight with the New York Jets. From the get-go, the Dolphins struggled as Jets kicker Mike Nugent kicked a 33-yard field goal for the only score of the first quarter and of the half. In the third quarter, Nugent increased New York's lead again with another 33-yard field goal. The Dolphins finally got on the board, as kicker Olindo Mare got a 21-yard field goal. However, the Jets wouldn't let Miami regain itself, as QB Chad Pennington completed a 58-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles. In the fourth quarter, they hooked up with each other again on a 22-yard TD pass. The Dolphins attempted a fourth-quarter comeback, with Harrington completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR Chris Chambers and RB Ronnie Brown ran 1 yard for a TD, but when Mare missed what would have been a field goal in the final minute, the Dolphins sank to 1-5.

Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers

"at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida"

Coming off their amazing upset road win against the Bears, the Dolphins returned home for a Week 10 match-up with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Dolphins dominated the first half with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 22-yarder in the second quarter. Also in the second period, RB Ronnie Brown got a 1-yard TD run. After a scoreless third quarter, the Chiefs offense finally got going in the final period. Kicker Lawrence Tynes nailed a 27-yard field goal, while RB Larry Johnson got a 2-yard TD. Fortunately, Miami held on to its small lead and advanced to 3-6 on the year.

Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings

"at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida"

After a fine performance on Thanksgiving Day against the Lions, the Dolphins returned home for a Week 13 match-up with their state rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the first quarter, the Dolphins started off good as QB Joey Harrington completed a 17-yard TD pass to WR Marty Booker. The Jaguars would respond with kicker Josh Scobee's 48-yard field goal. In the second quarter, things started looking grim for Miami as QB David Garrard completed two TD passes to WR Matt Jones (for 15 yards) and TE George Wrighster (for 16 yards). After a scoreless third quarter, Jacksonville continued its dominace with RB Maurice Jones-Drew getting a 32-yard TD run. The Dolphins' only response was kicker Olindo Mare getting a 42-yard field goal. With the loss, the Dolphins fell to 5-7.

Week 14: vs. New England Patriots

"at Dolphin Stadium, Miami, Florida"

Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Bills, the Dolphins played their final home game of the year on a rainy Monday Night in an AFC East fight with the New York Jets. After a scoreless first half with QB Joey Harrington playing a mediocre 7/15 for 42 yards, back-up Cleo Lemon came in to begin the second half. In the third quarter, New York broke first with kicker Mike Nugent getting a 22-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Miami finally went on the attack with Lemon completing a 7-yard TD pass to TE Randy McMichael. However, the Jets responded with QB Chad Pennington completing a 32-yard TD pass to WR Jerricho Cotchery. Even though the Dolphins managed to tie the game with kicker Olindo Mare's 25-yard field goal. New York made sure that head coach Nick Saban got his first losing season with the Dolphins after Nugent nailed the game-winning 30-yard field goal with ten seconds left. With the loss, Miami fell to 6-9.

Week 17: at Indianapolis Colts

"at the RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana"

Trying to end their season on a high note, the Dolphins flew to the RCA Dome to take on the playoff-bound Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, Miami struck first with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 28-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Colts respond with QB Peyton Manning completing a 2-yard TD pass to DT Dan Klecko. The Dolphins would answer with Mare kicking a 38-yard field goal. However, Indianapolis struck back with Manning getting an 11-yard TD run, while kicker Adam Vinatieri getting a 46-yard field goal to end the half. In the third quarter, Miami tried to fight back with Mare's 42-yard field goal, yet the Colts matched them with Vinatieri's 34-yard field goal. The Dolphins would get another field goal from Mare as he kicked one from 27 yards out. In the fourth quarter, Mare and Miami drew closer with a 34-yard field goal, yet Indianapolis ran away with the win as Manning completing a 27-yard TD pass to WR Marvin Harrison. The Dolphins would get a touchdown as QB Cleo Lemon completed a 6-yard TD pass to TE Randy McMichael. However, the Colts' performance showed why they continue to be an elite NFL team.

With the loss, Miami ended its season at 6-10 and unable to make the playoffs, thus they would be denied a chance to play Super Bowl XLI in their own home stadium.

Random facts

* In 2006, the Dolphins shut out the New England Patriots 21-0 the previous week and were shut out by the Buffalo Bills by the same deficit the next week.
* Starting quarterback Joey Harrington won the CBS All-Iron Award for his performance on Thanksgiving and got to sample Phil Simms' mother's blackberry cobbler.
* When Daunte Culpepper was signed by the Dolphins, Las Vegas odds-makers elevated the Dolphins' Super Bowl chances from 25-to-1 to 10-to-1.
* Since the Dolphins last played in the AFC Championship Game in 1992, all but one team have made it that far. The exception is the Houston Texans, who came into the league in 2002.

sequence
prev = 2005 Miami Dolphins season
list = 2006 Miami Dolphins season
next = 2007 Miami Dolphins season