How Elite Were They? #49- Dan Marino’s 12-win 1985 Season

Originally published on Jan. 16, 2025

By Zane Miller

When we last left off in discussing the career of Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, he had completed a 14-win campaign in 1984, just barely missing out on winning the Super Bowl. Marino would not need to wait long for another excellent showing in his third year in the NFL, as both he and the Dolphins remained atop the league in 1985.

After a solid but not phenomenal start to the season, leading Miami to a 2-1 record, Marino contributed one of his best games of the season on September 29^th. At Mile High Stadium against the Denver Broncos, Marino refused to let the lack of oxygen impact his play with three touchdown passes and 390 yards. Running back Tony Nathan and veteran wide receiver Nat Moore each had over 100 receiving yards, as the Dolphins held on to win 30-26. Marino had yet another notable game on November 10^th against the New York Jets, as he threw for three touchdowns and 362 yards, but this came along with three interceptions. Regardless, wide receiver Mark Duper would be the beneficiary of Marino’s hefty passing totals, balling out for two touchdowns and a career-high 217 yards, including the game-winning 50-yard touchdown grab with less than a minute remaining. The Dolphins won it 21-17 to improve to 6-4, and they would not lose again for the rest of the season.

Following another 300-yard performance the next week against the Indianapolis Colts and a pair of multi-touchdown games versus both the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears, Marino exploded against the Green Bay Packers on December 8^th. In the Frozen Tundra, he collected five touchdown passes and 345 yards in the 34-24 triumph for the second of what would be six career games with at least five touchdown passes. Marino then closed out the regular season with a 30-27 nailbiter over the New England Patriots before blowing out the Bills 28-0. Starting every game of the Dolphins’ 12-4 season, Marino led the league in both touchdown passes and passing yards for the second year in a row, taking 30 touchdowns ahead of a four-way tie for second place while his 4,137 yards put him almost 250 ahead of next closest in Broncos’ QB John Elway. Obviously, Marino was named as a first-team All-Pro, but lost the MVP award to Los Angeles (now Las Vegas) Raiders running back Marcus Allen.

Thanks to winning the AFC East, the Dolphins were able to bypass the wild card round and would be at home for their second-round matchup against the Cleveland Browns on January 6^th, 1986. However, Miami would get off to a rough start despite having the week off, falling behind 14-3 at halftime. This would be made even worse by a 66-yard touchdown run by Browns halfback Earnest Byner to open the scoring in the third quarter to increase the deficit to 18. With their backs against the wall, the Dolphins wasted no time in mounting a comeback as Marino found Nat Moore for a six-yard touchdown on their ensuing possession to cap off a 74-yard drive. After a Cleveland punt, the already tired Browns defense could not slow down a 31-yard touchdown run from rookie running back Ron Davenport. Although the Browns still held a slim lead through much of the fourth quarter, another 74-yard drive orchestrated by Marino set up Davenport for the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play. The following Cleveland drive sputtered, enabling the Dolphins to claim the 24-21 win and advance to the AFC Championship Game for the third time in four years. A major factor in the Browns’ collapse was the poor play by rookie quarterback Bernie Kosar, who managed just 66 yards and one touchdown through the air while also throwing an interception. Meanwhile, Marino captured one touchdown pass and 238 passing yards with an interception as well. In the conference title contest, however, the Dolphins would face an all-too familiar foe.

On January 12^th, the Patriots would travel down to the Orange Bowl after beating the Raiders in the second round. The New England team proved that they were capable of defeating the Dolphins as well earlier in the season, as they won 17-13 in their first meeting before the previously mentioned 30-27 Miami victory.

The Dolphins found themselves in familiar territory, as they were once again down by two possessions at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Patriots quarterback Tony Eason. Unlike the previous week, however, Miami was unable to dig its way out of the hole. The Patriots continued to pile up points while the defense held firm, culminating in a 31-14 playoff exit for the Dolphins. Despite Marino throwing for two touchdowns and 248 yards, this came along with two costly interceptions. The Dolphin secondary largely did its job, holding Eason to just 71 passing yards on the day, but he would still manage to accumulate three touchdown passes.

Despite the 1985 season ending on another bitter note, Marino was not done with his role of leading Miami to 12+-win seasons. However, he would have to wait a few years to do so.