1966 Miami Dolphins season

1966 Miami Dolphins season
Owner	Joe Robbie
General manager	Chuck Burr
Head coach	George Wilson
Home field	Orange Bowl
Results
Record	3–11
Division place	5th AFL Eastern
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	4 SS Willie West DB Jimmy Warren DE Ed Cooke LB Tom Erlandson
Dolphins seasons 1967 →

The 1966 Miami Dolphins season was the team's inaugural year as an expansion franchise in the American Football League (AFL). The Dolphins were the first of two expansion teams in the AFL, founded by Minneapolis attorney-politician Joe Robbie and actor-comedian Danny Thomas.^[1][2][3] Future Harlem Globetrotters and Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett, Jr. was a minority partner,^[4] and the team was led by head coach George Wilson.^[3] The franchise was granted in August 1965 for $7.5 million.^[1][2][5]

Their regular season debut on September 2 began with Joe Auer returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown,^[6] but the Dolphins lost to the Oakland Raiders, 23–14.^[7] Auer was the leading scorer for the season and was named team MVP. With an odd number of teams, each of the nine AFL teams had two bye weeks and played fourteen games. Miami lost its first five games before beating the Denver Broncos in the Orange Bowl. The Dolphins defeated the Houston Oilers the following week for their first road win in franchise history, but then lost the next six consecutive games. In week 16, Miami won against the Oilers again to finish the season with a 3–11 record. Having defeated the Oilers twice, the Dolphins became the first ever expansion team in the Super Bowl era to sweep a division rival, and the last until the Jacksonville Jaguars did it in 1995 against the Cleveland Browns.

With the first pick overall, the Dolphins selected running back Jim Grabowski out of the University of Illinois.^[8] Grabowski was also drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League's draft. The result was a bidding war between the two franchises to obtain Grabowski's services. The Packers signed Grabowski and he played for them for five seasons.

1966 Miami Dolphins draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	1	Jim Grabowski	Running back	Illinois
1	2	Rick Norton	Quarterback	Kentucky
2	9	Frank Emanuel	Linebacker	Tennessee
3	18	Larry Gagner	Guard	Florida
4	26	Dick Leftridge	Fullback	West Virginia
5	34	Grady Bolton	Tackle	Mississippi State
6	42	Ed Weisacosky	Linebacker	Miami (FL)
7	51	Don Hansen	Linebacker	Illinois
8	64	Bob Petrella	Defensive back	Tennessee
9	74	Bill Matan	Defensive end	Kansas State
10	83	Pat Killorin	Cornerback	Syracuse
11	92	Sammy Price	Running back	Illinois
12	101	Howard Twilley	Wide receiver	Tulsa
13	110	Kent Kramer	Tight end	Minnesota
14	119	Phil Scoggin	Placekicker	Texas A&M
15	128	Jerry Oliver	Tackle	Texas State
16	137	Don Lorenz	Defensive end	Stephen F. Austin
17	146	Mike Bender	Guard	Arkansas
18	155	Rich Kestner	End	Kentucky
19	164	Doug Moreau	Tight end	Louisiana State
20	173	John Tooker	Defensive back	Adams State
Made roster

Source:^[9]

1966 Miami Dolphins staff

Front office President – Joe Robbie Director of player personnel – Joe Thomas Head coaches Head coach – George Wilson Offensive coaches Offensive backs – John Idzik Receivers – Bobby Walston Offensive line – Ernie Hefferle

Defensive coaches Defensive line – Les Bingaman Linebackers – Bob Pellegrini Defensive backs – Tom Keane Special teams coaches Kicking – Bobby Walston

1966 Miami Dolphins roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 10 George Wilson P 11 Rick Norton 15 John Stofa 18 Dick Wood Running backs (RB) 32 Joe Auer HB 35 Rick Casares FB 28 George Chesser P 2 Cookie Gilchrist FB 33 Billy Joe FB 35 Stan Mitchell 30 Sammy Price Wide receivers (WR) 24 Billy Hunter 26 Frank Jackson SE 23 Wes Matthews 89 Karl Noonan SE 40 Bo Roberson FL 87 John Roderick 81 Howard Twilley Tight ends (TE) 90 Bill Cronin 83 Dave Kocourek 82 Doug Moreau

Offensive linemen (OL) 73 Norm Evans RT 58 Tom Goode C 65 Jim Higgins T 52 Mike Hudock C 63 Billy Neighbors RG 61 Ernie Park LG 75 Ken Rice T 78 Maxie Williams LT Defensive linemen (DL) 32 Mel Branch DE 72 Whit Canale DE 79 Alphonse Dotson DT 84 Earl Faison 85 Johnny Holmes DE 76 Tom Nomina 88 Laverne Torczon 77 Rich Zecher

Linebackers (LB) 56 Bob Bruggers 50 Frank Emanuel MLB 53 Tom Erlandson 54 Wahoo McDaniel 55 Jack Rudolph Defensive backs (DB) 44 Pete Jaquess 47 John McGeever 43 Bob Neff 48 Bob Petrella S 49 Jimmy Warren CB 22 Willie West S 25 Dick Westmoreland CB 46 Hal Wantland 49 Jimmy Warren Special teams 21 Gene Mingo K

Rookies in italics

Source:^[10]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	August 6	at San Diego Chargers	L 10–38	0–1
2	August 12	Kansas City Chiefs	L 0–33	0–2	34,277
3	August 20	New York Jets (at Jacksonville)	L 14–31	0–3
4	August 24	Denver Broncos (at Memphis)	L 16–28	0–4

Two bye weeks were necessary in 1966, as the league expanded to an odd-number (9) of teams; one team was idle each week (three teams were idle in week one). The Dolphins played three teams from each division twice, and one in each once (Boston, San Diego)

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Game Recap
1	September 2	Oakland Raiders	L 14–23	0–1	Miami Orange Bowl	25,188	Recap
2	September 9	New York Jets	L 14–19	0–2	Miami Orange Bowl	33,650	Recap
3	September 18	at Buffalo Bills	L 24–58	0–3	War Memorial Stadium	37,176	Recap
4	Bye
5	October 2	at San Diego Chargers	L 10–44	0–4	Balboa Stadium	26,444	Recap
6	October 9	at Oakland Raiders	L 10–21	0–5	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	28,863	Recap
7	October 16	Denver Broncos	W 24–7	1–5	Miami Orange Bowl	22,191	Recap
8	October 23	at Houston Oilers	W 20–13	2–5	Rice Stadium	21,999	Recap
9	Bye
10	November 6	Buffalo Bills	L 0–29	2–6	Miami Orange Bowl	36,685	Recap
11	November 13	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 16–34	2–7	Municipal Stadium	33,733	Recap
12	November 20	at New York Jets	L 13–30	2–8	Shea Stadium	57,092	Recap
13	November 27	Boston Patriots	L 14–20	2–9	Miami Orange Bowl	22,480	Recap
14	December 4	at Denver Broncos	L 7–17	2–10	Bears Stadium	32,116	Recap
15	December 11	Kansas City Chiefs	L 18–19	2–11	Miami Orange Bowl	17,881	Recap
16	December 18	Houston Oilers	W 29–28	3–11	Miami Orange Bowl	19,274	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 0 10 7 6 23 Dolphins 7 0 0 7 14 Date: September 2 Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game start: 8:00 p.m. Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), wind 6 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Joe Auer 95 yard kickoff return (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 7–0 2 OAK Mike Mercer 16 yard field goal Miami 7–3 2 OAK Hewritt Dixon 2 yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) Oakland 10–7 3 OAK Art Powell 16 yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Mercer kick) Oakland 17–7 4 MIA Rick Casares 2 yard pass from Rick Norton (Mike Mercer kick) Oakland 17–14 4 OAK Tom Mitchell 16 yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Mercer missed extra point kick) Oakland 23–14

The Dolphins' regular season debut was a home game against the Oakland Raiders on Friday night, September 2; Miami running back Joe Auer returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.^[7][11] An extra point kick by Gene Mingo allowed the Dolphins to lead 7–0 barely into the start of the game. Miami was unable to retain the lead, however, with the Raiders scoring a field goal in the second quarter and two touchdowns (one each in the second and third quarters) – a total of 17 points. In the fourth quarter, the Dolphins narrowed the score with a touchdown reception from Rick Norton to Rick Casares. However, Oakland responded with another touchdown – a 16 yard pass to Tom Mitchell from Tom Flores. The game ended with a 23–14 loss for Miami.^[11]

1 2 3 4 Total • Jets 9 0 10 0 19 Dolphins 0 0 0 14 14 Date: September 9 Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), wind 10 mph

Scoring summary 1 NYJ Safety Rick Norton tackled in the end zone New York 2–0 1 NYJ George Sauer, Jr. 20 yard pass from Mike Taliaferro (Jim Turner kick) New York 9–0 3 NYJ Bill Mathis 4 yard rush (Jim Turner Kick) New York 16–0 3 NYJ Jim Turner 45 yard field goal New York 19–0 4 MIA Dave Kocourek 43 yard pass from Rick Norton (Gene Mingo kick) New York 19–7 4 MIA Pete Jaquess 27 yard interception return (Gene Mingo kick) New York 19–14

In their first ever intradivisional game, the Dolphins played against the AFL Eastern Division rival New York Jets at the Orange Bowl on Friday night, September 9.^[12] Miami trailed the entire game, with the Jets scoring a safety (by tackling Rick Norton in the end zone) and a touchdown in the first quarter. New York added a field goal and a touchdown in the third quarter, while holding Miami scoreless until the fourth quarter. By then, the Dolphins scored a touchdown – a 43-yard reception from Norton to Dave Kocourek.^[13] Later in the quarter, Jets quarterback Joe Namath was intercepted by defensive back Pete Jaquess, who returned the ball 27 yards for another touchdown. However, Miami was unable to complete a comeback and lost 19–14.^[12][14]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 3 7 0 14 24 • Bills 21 27 3 7 58 Date: September 18 Location: War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), wind 3 mph

Scoring summary 1 BUF Jack Kemp 1 yard rush (Booth Lusteg) Buffalo 7–0 1 BUF Butch Byrd 60 yard interception return (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 14–0 1 BUF Butch Byrd 72 yard punt return (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 21–0 1 MIA Gene Mingo 24 yard field goal Buffalo 21–3 2 BUF Bobby Crockett 26 yard pass from Jack Kemp (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 28–3 2 BUF Bobby Burnett 1 yard rush (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 35–3 2 BUF Bobby Burnett 3 yard rush (Booth Lustef missed extra point kick) Buffalo 41–3 2 MIA John Roderick 4 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Buffalo 41–10 2 BUF Jack Spikes 11 yard rush (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 48–10 3 BUF Booth Lusteg 13 yard field goal Buffalo 51–10 4 MIA Bo Roberson 66 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Buffalo 51–17 4 BUF Jack Spikes 18 yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 58–17 4 MIA Dave Kocourek 13 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Buffalo 58–24

For their first division rivalry game against the Buffalo Bills on September 18, Miami traveled to the War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo. The Bills dominated the Dolphins throughout the game. In the first quarter, the Buffalo scored three touchdown before Miami kicked a field goal. The Bills then added four touchdowns in the second quarter, versus one by the Dolphins. After the first half, the score was 48–10 in favor of the Bills. The only score in the third quarter was a field goal by Booth Lusteg of Buffalo. Three touchdowns were scored in the fourth quarter, two for Miami and one for Buffalo. The Bills defeated the Dolphins by a score of 58–24,^[15] which remains one of the worst losses by Miami in the history of the Bills–Dolphins rivalry.^[16]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 3 7 0 0 10 • Chargers 0 6 10 28 44 Date: October 2 Location: Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California Game attendance: 26,444 Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), wind 9 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Gene Mingo 27 yard field goal Miami 3–0 2 MIA Karl Noonan 20 yard pass from Dick Wood (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 10–0 2 SAN Rick Redman 58 yard fumble return (Dick Van Raaphorst missed extra point kick) Miami 10–6 3 SAN Dick Van Raaphorst 9 yard field goal Miami 10–9 3 SAN Gene Foster 25 yard pass from Steve Tensi (Dick Van Raaphorst kick) San Diego 16–10 4 SAN Lance Alworth 44 yard pass from Steve Tensi (Dick Van Raaphorst kick) San Diego 23–10 4 SAN Gene Foster 63 yard pass from Steve Tensi (Dick Van Raaphorst kick) San Diego 30–10 4 SAN Lance Alworth 36 yard pass from Steve Tensi (Dick Van Raaphorst kick) San Diego 37–10 4 SAN Willie Frazier 30 yard pass from Steve Tensi (Dick Van Raaphorst kick) San Diego 44–10

Coming off their first bye week, the Miami Dolphins traveled to Balboa Stadium in San Diego in week 5 in search for their first win. The Dolphins began the game with a 10 point lead – a field goal by Gene Mingo and a Karl Noonan touchdown via a 20 yard pass from Dick Wood. However, the Chargers took the lead in the third quarter following two touchdowns and a field goal, with a score of 16–10 as the quarter ended. In the fourth quarter, San Diego put the game away and delivered another blowout for Miami, scoring four touchdowns (28 points), while preventing the Dolphins from receiving additional points. The game ended with a score of 44–10 in favor of the Chargers. The Dolphins win–loss record fell to 0–4.^[17]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 3 7 0 0 10 • Raiders 0 14 0 7 21 Date: October 9 Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game attendance: 28,863 Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), wind 7 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Gene Mingo 47 yard field goal Miami 3–0 2 OAK Art Powell 25 yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Eischeid kick) Oakland 7–3 2 MIA Joe Auer 3 yard rush (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 10–7 2 OAK Roger Hagberg 24 yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Eischeid kick) Oakland 14–10 4 OAK Fred Biletnikoff 4 yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Eischeid kick) Oakland 21–10

In a second game against the Oakland Raiders on October 9, the Miami Dolphins traveled to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. Miami took the lead in the first quarter, with a 47 yard field goal by Gene Mingo. In the second quarter, Oakland took the lead after a touchdown, while Miami re-took the lead with a touchdown of their own. However, before the end of the second quarter, Oakland again re-took the lead with another touchdown. The first half of the game ended with a score of 14–10 in favor of the Raiders. Neither team received additional points in the third quarter. Oakland put the game away in the fourth quarter by scoring another touchdown. The match ended with a 21–10 loss for Miami.^[18]

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 7 0 0 0 7 • Dolphins 10 0 7 7 24 Date: October 16 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 22,191 Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), wind 9 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Billy Joe 67 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 7–0 1 MIA Gene Mingo 35 yard field goal Miami 10–0 1 DEN Abner Haynes 5 yard rush (Gary Kroner kick) Miami 10–7 3 MIA Joe Auer 1 yard rush (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 17–10 4 MIA Joe Auer 3 yard rush (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 24–7

After being on the road since week 3, the Miami Dolphins returned home in week 7 for a contest against the Denver Broncos on October 16. Miami scored a touchdown and field goal in the first quarter, with a 67 yard pass from George Wilson to Billy Joe and a Gene Mingo field goal. The Broncos scored a touchdown later in the first quarter. Subsequently, the Dolphins scored one touchdown each in the third and fourth quarters – 1 yard and 3 yard rushes by Joe Auer, respectively. However, Denver was unable to earn additional points following the first quarter. As a result, the Miami Dolphins won the game by a score of 24–7. This was the first win by the franchise and raised their win–loss record to 1–5.^[19]

1 2 3 4 Total • Dolphins 7 7 3 3 20 Oilers 0 3 10 0 13 Date: October 23 Location: Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas Game attendance: 21,999 Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), wind 5 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Bo Roberson 80 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 7–0 2 HOU George Blanda 16 yard field goal Miami 7–3 2 MIA Cookie Gilchrist 13 yard pass from George Wilson (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 14–3 3 HOU George Blanda 43 yard field goal Miami 14–6 3 MIA Gene Mingo 43 yard field goal Miami 17–6 3 HOU Ode Burrell 13 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick) Miami 17–13 4 MIA Gene Mingo 42 yard field goal Miami 20–13

The Dolphins returned to the road again in week 8, traveling to Rice Stadium to take on the Houston Oilers on October 23. Miami scored first with a touchdown in the first quarter – an 80 yard reception from George Wilson to Bo Roberson. George Blanda of the Oilers kicked a field goal in the second quarter, but the Dolphins responded with another touchdown. In the third quarter, Blanda kicked another field goal, but Gene Mingo of the Dolphins also scored a field goal. Houston finally reached the endzone later in the third quarter to narrow the match to a 4-point game. However, Mingo kicked another field goal in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a 20–13 win for Miami. The Dolphins improved to 2–5.^[20]

1 2 3 4 Total • Bills 0 10 10 9 29 Dolphins 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 6 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 36,685 Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), wind 16 mph

Scoring summary 2 BUF Bobby Burnett 16 yard pass from Jack Kemp (Booth Lusteg) Buffalo 7–0 2 BUF Booth Lusteg 44 yard field goal Buffalo 10–0 3 BUF Booth Lusteg 44 yard field goal Buffalo 13–0 3 BUF Bobby Burnett 3 yard rush (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 20–0 4 BUF Paul Costa 4 yard pass from Jack Kemp (Booth Lusteg kick) Buffalo 27–0 4 BUF Safety, Marty Schottenheimer blocked punt Buffalo 29–0

After the second bye week, Miami returned home for another game against the Buffalo Bills on November 6. As during week 3, the Bills again dominated the match. After neither club scored in the first quarter, Buffalo scored a touchdown and a field goal in both the second and third quarters. In the fourth quarter, the Bills scored a third touchdown. Later, Buffalo received two points from a safety after Marty Schottenheimer blocked a punt. Miami was unable to score points throughout the game and lost 29–0, their first regular season shutout loss. The Dolphins fell to 2–6.^[21]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 0 10 0 6 16 • Chiefs 17 14 3 0 34 Date: November 13 Location: Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri Game attendance: 33,733 Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C), wind 6 mph

Scoring summary 1 KC Bert Coan 1 yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) Kansas City 7–0 1 KC Mike Mercer 22 yard field goal Kansas City 10–0 1 KC Fred Arbanas 26 yard pass from Len Dawson (Mike Mercer kick) Kansas City 17–0 2 KC Otis Taylor 89 yard pass from Len Dawson (Mike Mercer missed extra point kick) Kansas City 23–0 2 MIA Gene Mingo 28 yard field foal Kansas City 23–3 2 MIA Jimmy Warren 70 yard interception return (Gene Mingo kick) Kansas City 23–10 2 KC Chris Burford 35 yard pass from Len Lawson (two point conversion) Kansas City 31–10 3 KC Mike Mercer 19 yard field goal Kansas City 34–10 4 MIA Joe Auer 1 yard rush (two point conversion failed) Kansas City 34–16

In the following week, the Dolphins traveled to Municipal Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Miami was quickly overtaken. Kansas City reached a 23 point lead – three touchdowns (one missed extra point) and one field goal – before the Dolphins finally scored a field goal in the second quarter. Miami followed up with a touchdown, but Kansas City scored another touchdown before the end of the quarter. In the third quarter, the Chiefs added another field goal to their score. The Dolphins scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the team fell well short of making a comeback. The game ended with a 34–16 loss for Miami, with their record falling to 2–7.^[22]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 6 0 0 7 13 • Jets 0 10 13 7 30 Date: November 20 Location: Shea Stadium, New York City, New York Game attendance: 57,092 Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C) (27 °F (−3 °C) wind chill), wind 16 mph

Scoring summary 1 MIA Gene Mingo 31 yard field goal Miami 3–0 1 MIA Gene Mingo 20 field goal Miami 6–0 2 NYJ Emerson Boozer 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) New York 7–6 2 NYJ Jim Turner 10 yard field goal New York 10–6 3 NYJ Emerson Boozer 96 yard kickoff return New York 17–6 3 NYJ Jim Turner 26 yard field goal New York 20–6 3 NYJ Jim Turner 18 yard field goal New York 23–6 4 NYJ Joe Auer 11 yard pass from Dick Wood (Gene Mingo kick) New York 23–13 4 MIA Mark Smolinski 1 yard rush (Jim Turner kick) New York 30–13

During week 12, the Dolphins traveled to Shea Stadium in New York City for their second match-up against the Jets on November 20. Miami built a six point lead in the first quarter with two field goals by Gene Mingo. However, they would not maintain their lead. In the second quarter, the Jets scored a touchdown and a field goal, before adding another touchdown and two additional field goals in the third quarter. Miami, down 23–6 at the close of the third quarter, finally scored again with a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins were unable to overcome the deficit, and New York scored another touchdown before the end of regulation. The game ended with a 30–13 loss for Miami, dropping their record to 2–8.^[23]

1 2 3 4 Total • Patriots 0 10 10 0 20 Dolphins 0 0 7 7 14 Date: November 27 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 22,480 Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), wind 6 mph

Scoring summary 2 BP Art Graham 22 yard pass from Babe Parilli (Gino Cappelletti kick) Boston 7–0 2 BP Gino Cappelletti 32 yard field goal Boston 10–0 2 BP Gino Cappelletti 49 yard field goal Boston 13–0 3 BP Jim Nance 27 yard rush (Gino Capelletti kick) Boston 20–0 3 MIA Frank Jackson 32 yard pass from Dick Wood (Gene Mingo kick) Boston 20–7 4 MIA Joe Auer 38 yard pass from Dick Wood (Gene Mingo kick) Boston 20–14

In their first game against the division rival Boston Patriots, the Dolphins hosted the Patriots at the Orange Bowl on November 27. After neither team scored in the first quarter, the Patriots scored twice in the first quarter, with a touchdown pass from Babe Parilli to Art Graham and then a 32-yard field goal by Gino Cappelletti. The first half of the game closed with a 13-0 lead for Boston. A rushing touchdown by Jim Nance allowed the Patriots to increase their lead to 20-0. Later in the third quarter, the Dolphins finally scored with a 32-yard pass from Dick Wood to Frank Jackson. In the fourth quarter, another Miami touchdown pass from Wood to Joe Auer for 38 yards further reduced the Patriots lead to 20-14. However, with no additional scores by either team, the game ended with a 20-14 loss for the Miami Dolphins, causing them to fall to 2-9.^[24]

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 0 7 0 0 7 • Broncos 0 10 7 0 17 Date: December 4 Location: Bears Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game attendance: 32,116 Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) (28 °F (−2 °C) wind chill), wind 4 mph

Scoring summary 2 DEN Gary Kroner 28 yard field goal Denver 3–0 2 MIA Tom Erlandson 26 yard interception return (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 7–3 2 DEN Max Choboian 1 yard rush (Gary Kroner kick) Denver 10–7 3 DEN Charley Mitchell 79 yard pass from Max Choboian (Gary Kroner kick) Denver 17–7

For week 14, the Dolphins traveled to Bears Stadium in Denver for another game against the Broncos on December 4. The game was a low-scoring affair. After neither team scored in the first quarter, Denver put points on the board with a Gary Kroner field goal, before Miami countered with Tom Erlandson scoring a touchdown after returning an interception 26 yards. However, the Broncos responded with a touchdown before the end of the second quarter. Denver scored another touchdown in the third quarter. Following that, neither Miami nor Denver any additional points in the third or fourth quarter. The game ended with a 17–7 loss for Miami, dropping their record to 2–10.^[25]

1 2 3 4 Total • Chiefs 3 3 0 13 19 Dolphins 0 11 0 7 18 Date: December 11 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 17,881 Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), wind 9 mph

Scoring summary 1 KC Mike Mercer 37 yard field goal Kansas City 3–0 2 KC Mike Mercer 13 yard field goal Kansas City 6–0 2 MIA Gene Mingo 35 yard field goal Kansas City 6–3 2 MIA Dick Westmoreland 39 yard interception return (two point conversion) Miami 11–6 4 KC Curtis McClinton 49 yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) Kansas City 13–11 4 MIA Dick Wood 7 yard rush (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 18–13 4 KC Chris Burford 25 yard pass from Len Dawson (two point conversion failed) Kansas City 19–18

Miami returned home for their second match against Kansas City on December 11. The Chiefs opened up with two Mike Mercer field goals, with one each in the first and second quarters. Later in the second quarter, the Dolphins scored a field goal and a touchdown (with a 2-point conversion) to close the first half 11–6. After no scores in the third quarter, Kansas City was the first team to put more points on the board with a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Miami then scored another touchdown to take the lead in the fourth quarter. However, the Chiefs countered with a touchdown before the game ended. Miami lost by a score of 19–18.^[26]

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 7 14 0 7 28 • Dolphins 0 8 7 14 29 Date: December 18 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 19,274 Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), wind 10 mph

Scoring summary 1 HOU Hoyle Granger 27 yard pass from Don Trull (George Blanda kick) Houston 7–0 2 HOU Larry Elkins 11 yard pass from Don Trull (George Blanda kick) Houston 14–0 2 MIA Joe Auer 27 yard pass from John Stofa (two point conversion) Houston 14–8 2 HOU Bob McLeod 2 yard pass from Don Trull (George Blanda kick) Houston 21–8 3 MIA Frank Jackson 48 yard pass from John Stofa (Gene Mingo kick) Houston 21–15 4 HOU Don Trull 1 yard rush (George Blanda kick) Houston 28–15 4 MIA Bill Cronin 4 yard pass from John Stofa (Gene Mingo kick) Houston 28–22 4 MIA Joe Auer 14 yard pass from John Stofa (Gene Mingo kick) Miami 29–28

In the final game of their inaugural season, the Dolphins hosted the Oilers at the Orange Bowl on December 18. The Oilers mounted a 14-0 lead before the Dolphins scored – a 27-yard pass from Don Trull to Hoyle Granger in the first quarter and an 11-yard pass from Trull to Larry Elkins. Miami then responded with a 27-yard pass from John Stofa to Joe Auer and a successful 2-point conversion. Houston added seven more points with a 2-yard pass from Trull to Bob McLeod. By the end of the first half of the game, the Oilers led by 21-8. The third quarter saw a 48-yard touchdown pass from Stofa to Frank Jackson, cutting the Oilers' lead to 21-15. In the fourth quarter, Houston scored again with a 1-yard rush from Trull. The Dolphins scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, via a 4-yard pass from Stofa to Bill Cronin and a 14-yard pass from Stofa to Auer. With no further scores by either team, the game ended with a 29-28 win for the Miami Dolphins. Miami ended their season with a win–loss record of 3-11.^[27]

AFL Eastern Division
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Buffalo Bills	9	4	1	.692	6–2	358	255	W1
Boston Patriots	8	4	2	.667	5–1–1	315	283	L1
New York Jets	6	6	2	.500	4–3–1	322	312	W1
Houston Oilers	3	11	0	.214	1–7	335	396	L8
Miami Dolphins	3	11	0	.214	2–5	213	362	W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.^[28][29]

• Tom Erlandson, American Football League All-Star game selection^[30]
• Jimmy Warren, American Football League All-Star game selection^[30]
• Willie West, American Football League All-Star game selection^[30]

• 1966 Miami Dolphins at Pro-Football-Reference.com