Throwback Thursday: Patriots vs. Dolphins Week 18 1993
By Fran Brown
Before each game this year, we’ll take a look back at some memorable matchups between the Patriots and the upcoming opponent. This week, we take a look back at the Week 18 matchup against Miami in 1993.
Setting
The Patriots looked to play the role of spoiler as the Dolphins came to the old Foxboro Stadium for the final game of the season needing a win or tie to secure a playoff berth. A few weeks earlier it seemed Miami was destined for the playoffs as they raced out to a 9-2 record, the last of which will forever live in Thanksgiving lore. However, injuries (Dan Marino was limited to 5 games) caught up to the Dolphins and they came in having dropped 4 straight.
The Patriots, meanwhile, came in having won 3 in a row after a 1-11 start which included a tough 17-13 loss to the Dolphins in Miami during Week 12. It would be one of eight games the 1993 Patriots would lose by 6 points or less.
What Happened
You can watch highlights of the game here
Both teams started out slow with the Patriots taking a 3-0 lead into the second quarter before Drew Bledsoe found Ben Coates for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 10-0. Miami got on the board just before halftime with a Mark Riggs 5-yard touchdown run to make it 10-7.
After Bledsoe lost a fumble deep in his own territory to begin the second half, the Patriots defense held strong and forced Miami to a short field goal, tying the game at 10. Another 11-yard touchdown pass from Bledsoe, this time to Vincent Brisby, gave the Patriots a 17-10 lead after the third.
The fourth quarter of this one featured 27 points and three lead changes. After the Scott Mitchell found Mark Ingram for a touchdown to even the score, Bledsoe and Coates hooked up for a long gain to set up a Matt Bahr field goal giving the Patriots a 20-17 lead. After another Dolphin field goal tied it at 20, Miami running back Terry Kirby scampered in from 15 yards on 3rd-and-1 to give the Dolphins a 24-20 lead with 3:40 remaining.
Bledsoe, playing the best game of his rookie season, led the Patriots back down the field and found Coates for another 11 -yard touchdown to make it 27-24. With 1:14 left, Mitchell took over and got the Dolphins down the field for another field goal, sending this game to overtime.
By now, the Dolphins knew that the Steelers had won so they needed a win or a tie in order to make the playoffs and it looked like they might be headed there after Bledsoe threw a pick on the first possession of overtime. However, the Patriots defense finally made a stop, forcing Miami to punt.
With another shot, Bledsoe again led the offense down the field culminating in a 36-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to Michael Timpson, sending Patriots fans home happy and the Dolphins home for the season.
Significance of the Game
1993 was the turning point of the Patriots franchise. After going 9-39 from 1990-1992, the team was in danger of moving to St. Louis. However, they were able to pull two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Parcells from the tv studio to the field and took franchise quarterback Bledsoe with the #1 pick in the draft. A month after this game Robert Kraft bought the team, keeping it in New England.
Ending the season on a high note with 4 consecutive wins and knocking the rival Dolphins out of the playoffs helped set the foundation for a playoff appearance in 1994, the team’s first in 7 seasons.
While this game marked the coming out party of Drew Bledsoe (27/43, 329 yards, 4 TDs), it also marked the final game in the Hall of Fame career of linebacker Andre Tippett. Tippett went out with 1.5 sacks in this game, giving him an even 100 for his career.