Packers-Dolphins Series History: Miami Leads 10-3 All-Time

It's mid-week again, and that means it's time for our weekly history lesson. Today, I am covering our history against the Green Bay Packers' next opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins, like the Jets, entered the NFL in 1970 as part of the AFL-NFL Merger. In the final week of the 1971 season, the Dolphins polished off a playoff spot by defeating the Packers 27-6, in Miami. This was the Packers' first loss to any of the former AFL teams, although it was not their first loss to an AFC team.

Over the next two decades, the Packers and Dolphins played each other periodically, but the Dolphins won every single time, even as the games between the teams got closer and closer in the late 1980s. This trend continued into the 1994 season, when the Packers lost in Milwaukee to Dan Marino and the Dolphins, 24-14, giving Miami an 8-0 lead in the head-to-head series. By this point, the only team in the NFL whom the Packers had not yet beaten was the Dolphins.

That changed in the 1997 season, when the Packers finally beat the Dolphins 23-18 at Lambeau Field on their way to Super Bowl XXXII. Three years later, the teams met in Miami. The Packers raced out to an early 17-0 lead, appearing to carry the momentum from a win over the San Francisco 49ers the previous week. The Dolphins, however, fought back, and went on to win 28-20.

The 2002 game, held on Monday Night Football, was highlighted by Darren Sharper's 89-yard interception return for a touchdown and several sacks by Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila which helped thwart a late Dolphins rally. The Packers won, 24-10.

In 2006, the teams met in South Florida yet again. Charles Woodson ran an interception back for a touchdown, Brett Favre added two touchdown passes, and Ahman Green ran for 118 yards and an additional score as the Packers registered their first victory in Miami since Super Bowl II and their first-ever regular season win in Miami, by the score of 34-24.

The Packers and Dolphins headed back to Lambeau Field to play each other again in the 2010 season, the teams' most recent meeting. The Packers, having just been stung by the Washington Redskins in overtime the previous week, appeared ready early to bounce back from the tough loss and took an early lead. The Dolphins fought back, however, taking a 20-13 lead midway through the final quarter amid a bizarre special teams penalty on the Packers. Late in the game, Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on a long drive, capping it with a touchdown on a quarterback sneak to tie the game and send it to overtime again. In overtime, however, the Dolphins would hit a field goal to defeat the Packers, 23-20. It was the Packers' lone home loss in 2010.

What are your memories of the Packers playing the Dolphins?

To buy tickets, visit the NFL Ticket Exchange.