| Team: | Miami Dolphins |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Record: | 6–8 |
| Division Place: | 3rd AFC East |
| Coach: | Don Shula |
| Stadium: | Orange Bowl |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Shortnavlink: | Dolphins seasons |
The 1976 Miami Dolphins season was the team's 11th, and seventh as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Dolphins failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only six games.[1] One of these wins came over their new in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who proceeded to lose all 14 games that year. The 6–8 finish marked the first losing record of head coach Don Shula's career.
The Dolphins would not have another losing season until the 1988 Season.
See main article: 1976 NFL draft. [2]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at Buffalo Bills | W 30–21 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium | 77,683 | ||
| 2 | September 19 | at New England Patriots | L 14–30 | 1–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 46,053 | |
| 3 | September 26 | New York Jets | W 16–0 | 2–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 49,754 | |
| 4 | October 3 | Los Angeles Rams | L 28–31 | 2–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 60,753 | |
| 5 | October 10 | at Baltimore Colts | L 14–28 | 2–3 | Memorial Stadium | 58,832 | |
| 6 | October 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 17–20 | 2–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 43,325 | |
| 7 | October 24 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 23–20 | 3–4 | Tampa Stadium | 61,437 | |
| 8 | October 31 | New England Patriots | W 10–3 | 4–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 52,863 | |
| 9 | November 7 | at New York Jets | W 27–7 | 5–4 | Shea Stadium | 53,344 | |
| 10 | November 14 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 3–14 | 5–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,945 | |
| 11 | Baltimore Colts | L 16–17 | 5–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | 62,104 | ||
| 12 | November 28 | at Cleveland Browns | L 13–17 | 5–7 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 74,715 | |
| 13 | December 5 | Buffalo Bills | W 45–27 | 6–7 | Miami Orange Bowl | 43,475 | |
| 14 | Minnesota Vikings | L 7–29 | 6–8 | Miami Orange Bowl | 46,543 |