Editing Miami Dolphins (section)

===Divisional===
==== New England Patriots ====
{{main|Dolphins–Patriots rivalry}}
The Dolphins dominated the [[New England Patriots]] during the 1970s and the 1990s, but there were some notable moments as well, including a 1982 game now known as the [[Snowplow Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1982-12-26 |title=Icy Aftermath |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/26/sports/sports-people-icy-aftermath.html |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Fortunes changed when [[Tom Brady]] became the franchise quarterback for the Patriots, and during his [[Brady–Belichick era|tenure with the Patriots]], New England dominated the AFC, especially the AFC East, winning 16 of 17 division titles between 2003 and 2019, with the Dolphins winning the only non-Patriots division title in that time frame when Brady was out due to injury. Miami posed the biggest divisional challenge to the Brady-led Patriots, however, winning more games against them than the Bills or Jets did during that era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Joe |date=October 26, 2021 |title=Loved to hear it: Tom Brady cites Dolphins defense of early 2000's as toughest |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/10/26/tom-brady-says-miami-dolphins-defense-toughest-he-faced-and-they-heard/8549472002/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartwell |first=Darren |date=2021-10-26 |title=Which defense gave Brady the most trouble? QB gives surprising answer |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/which-defense-gave-brady-the-most-trouble-qb-gives-surprising-answer/193489/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=NBC Sports - Boston |language=en-US}}</ref>

Notable wins over New England by the Dolphins include the [[Miracle in Miami]], which involved a dramatic last-minute game-winning touchdown that paralleled "The Night that Courage Wore Orange", where in [[2004 Miami Dolphins season|2004]], the Dolphins, at 2–11, upset the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots 28–29, and handed them the second of their 2 losses that season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miracle in Miami: Dolphins Stun Patriots with Last-Second Touchdown|url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/12/09/dolphins-stun-patriots-miracle-in-miami-nfl-week-14/|location=Boston|publisher=[[WBZ-TV]]|date=December 9, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210014034/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/12/09/dolphins-stun-patriots-miracle-in-miami-nfl-week-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> The rivalry briefly intensified in 2005 when [[Nick Saban]], [[Bill Belichick]]'s former Browns defensive coordinator was hired as their new head coach and when Saban nearly signed quarterback [[Drew Brees]], as well as in 2008, when the two teams battled for the AFC East division title. Miami and New England are also the only two franchises to have posted undefeated regular-season records since the NFL-AFL merger, with Miami going [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|14–0 in 1972]] and New England going [[2007 New England Patriots season|16–0 in 2007]], but only the 1972 Dolphins were able to win the Super Bowl. As of the 2024 season, the Dolphins lead the all-time series 64–55.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Miami Dolphins vs. Boston/New England Patriots |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=mia&tm2=nwe&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== Buffalo Bills ====
{{main|Bills–Dolphins rivalry}}
The Dolphins and the [[Buffalo Bills]] have a long-standing rivalry, as there are stark characteristic differences between the cities of Miami and Buffalo, especially in climate and culture. The rivalry was extremely lopsided in favor of Miami during the 1970s, as the Dolphins won all 20 games against the Bills during that decade. Fortunes changed in the 1980s and 1990s when [[Jim Kelly]] became the Bills' starting quarterback. Though both teams were extremely dominant during that period, the Bills ultimately held the edge and dominated the Dolphins during their four playoff matchups in the 1990s, with the Dolphins' only playoff win coming after Kelly's retirement. With the rise of Tom Brady and the Patriots during the 2000s and the retirements of Kelly and Dolphins quarterback [[Dan Marino]], the Bills-Dolphins rivalry faded in relevance, but remains somewhat intense to this day. Some former Dolphins have gone to play for the Bills as well, most notably [[Dan Carpenter]], [[Chris Hogan (American football)|Chris Hogan]], and [[Charles Clay (American football)|Charles Clay]].

In the 2020s, the rivalry intensified again, with Dolphins quarterback [[Tua Tagovailoa]], drafted in 2020, leading a resurgent Dolphins team against the [[Josh Allen]]-led Bills, who had gained a streak of success after Brady's departure from the Patriots and the division. Though Allen's career record against Miami currently stands at 13–2, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to their first win over Bills in 8 games in 2022, and the Dolphins played the Bills tightly in the teams' two other meetings that year despite losing both, including the playoffs. As of the 2024 season, the Dolphins lead the all-time series 62–60–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=mia&tm2=buf&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== New York Jets ====
{{main|Dolphins–Jets rivalry}}
The [[New York Jets]] are perhaps Miami's most bitter rivals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yousefi |first=Ryan |date=September 14, 2018 |title=The New York Jets Will Forever Be South Florida's Most Hated Rival |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/dolphins-jets-is-still-the-best-rivalry-in-south-florida-sports-10721666 |access-date=October 21, 2022 |work=Miami New Times |language=en}}</ref> Dolphins fans despise the Jets due to the sheer amount of New York City transplants who have moved to South Florida and the Jets' misplaced cocky demeanor. Just as the Bills-Dolphins rivalry is motivated by differences, the Dolphins-Jets series is also notable for the differences between New York and Miami. Unlike the former, this rivalry has been more consistent over the years. Some of the more memorable moments in this rivalry include [[Dan Marino]]'s [[Clock Play|fake spike]], [[Vinny Testaverde]] leading the Jets to a [[Monday Night Miracle (American football)|notable comeback on Monday Night Football]], and former Jets quarterback [[Chad Pennington]] signing with the Dolphins and leading them to a divisional title. The two teams have also played in the [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|1982 AFC Championship]], with Miami winning to face the [[1982 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] in [[Super Bowl XVII]]. As of the 2024 season, the Dolphins lead the all-time series 61–57–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=mia&tm2=nyj&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>