Ranking the Dolphins' 54 season openers

The Miami Dolphins will open the 2020 regular season against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 13 and it’s really hard — practically impossible, really — to envision a worse season opener than what they produced a year ago.

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The 59-10 loss against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium was utterly forgettable and every bit as ugly as the final score would suggest.

It’s no stretch to suggest it was — by far — the worst season opener in Dolphins history.

But what about the rest? The Dolphins actually have fared pretty well in season openers, compiling a 29-24-1 record in their first 54 years of existence.

Besides the abomination of last season, there have been some memorable performances on opening day, some thrillers and other not-so-good efforts.

So let’s rank the 54 Dolphins season openers, using as criteria the quality of the game, the Dolphins’ performance and unique factors that made them stand out.

1 — 1994: MIAMI 39, NEW ENGLAND 35

Maybe the most memorable Dan Marino moment in a career filled with them. In his first regular-season game since he had torn his Achilles tendon the previous October, Marino outdueled Drew Bledsoe in a dazzling display of passing. Three of Marino’s five touchdown passes on the day went to Irving Fryar, including the game-winning 35-yard hook-up on a fourth-and-5.

2 — 1984: MIAMI 35, WASHINGTON 17

This was a masterful performance by Dan Marino that served as an opening act to his record-setting 1984 season. Marino threw five TD passes in a convincing road win against a Washington team coming off two consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

3 — 1972: MIAMI 20, KANSAS CITY 10

This was the much-anticipated rematch of the Christmas Day classic, as well as the first game at Arrowhead Stadium, and the Dolphins dominated to start their march to a perfect season. The Dolphins took advantage of four turnovers to build a 20-0 lead on a day when Larry Csonka rushed for 118 yards.

4 — 2001: MIAMI 31, TENNESSEE 23