# 2016 Miami Dolphins season
The 2016 [Miami Dolphins](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-dolphins) season was the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) franchise's 47th season, its 51st overall, and its first under head coach [Adam Gase](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-gase), who was hired in January 2016 to end an eight-year playoff drought. Miami finished 10-6, second in the AFC East, and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008, losing the AFC Wild Card game 30-12 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) • [2](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 10-6-0, second in the AFC East; 363 points scored, 380 allowed, a -17 differential[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) |
| Division and home splits | 4-2 in the division, 6-2 at home, 4-4 on the road[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) |
| Head coach | Adam Gase, hired January 9, 2016, with full control of the 53-man roster[3](https://www.nfl.com/news/miami-dolphins-hire-adam-gase-as-new-head-coach-0ap3000000619758) |
| Leading rusher | Jay Ajayi, 1,272 yards and 8 touchdowns on 260 carries (4.9 per carry)[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Leading passer | Ryan Tannehill, 2,995 yards, 67.1% completions, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 93.5 rating[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Leading receiver | Jarvis Landry, 94 catches for 1,136 yards[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/) |
| Playoff result | Lost AFC Wild Card 30-12 at Pittsburgh on January 8, 2017[5](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf) |
## Coaching change and staff
The Dolphins hired Adam Gase on January 9, 2016, after he had served as offensive coordinator of the [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears), and announced at his introductory news conference that he would have full control of the team's 53-man roster.[3](https://www.nfl.com/news/miami-dolphins-hire-adam-gase-as-new-head-coach-0ap3000000619758) Gase had thirteen years of NFL coaching experience at the time.[6](https://pro-football-history.com/season/672/2016-miami-dolphins-schedule)
His staff included offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, defensive coordinator [Vance Joseph](https://www.edgepedia.org/vance-joseph), and Darren Rizzi as both assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, with Chris Grier as general manager.[6](https://pro-football-history.com/season/672/2016-miami-dolphins-schedule)
## Season course
Miami lost four of its first five games, falling to 1-4 after a 30-17 home loss to the [Tennessee Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/tennessee-titans) on October 9.[2](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016) The season then turned: the Dolphins beat the Steelers 30-15 in Week 6 and won six consecutive games, including road wins over the Chargers, the Rams, and the Jets, to reach 8-5.[2](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016) A 38-6 loss at Baltimore in Week 13 was the worst defeat of the year, but Miami closed with wins over the Cardinals, Jets, and Bills to secure a playoff berth at 10-6.[2](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016)
The season ended with a 35-14 home loss to New England in Week 17, leaving Miami as the AFC's sixth seed.[2](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016)
## Quarterback injury
Backup [Matt Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-moore-american-football) finished the season's passing work, throwing for 721 yards with 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and a 105.6 passer rating in relief.[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/)
## Team statistics and individual leaders
Miami's offense produced 6,763 total yards, 4,532 passing and 2,231 rushing, against 31 turnovers; its defense allowed 7,719 total yards and 36 turnovers.[6](https://pro-football-history.com/season/672/2016-miami-dolphins-schedule) The team's point differential of -17 was unusual for a 10-6 team, and the club's league ranks placed the offense 24th in points and the defense 29th in yards.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg)
Anchoring the rushing attack with 1,272 yards and 8 touchdowns, **Jay Ajayi** accounted for the Dolphins' six best single-game rushing totals of 2016, and with three 200-yard games that year he joined a group of only four NFL players to accomplish that feat multiple times within a single season.[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/) • [7](https://www.huddle.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-4-MIA.pdf) [Jarvis Landry](https://www.edgepedia.org/jarvis-landry) led the receivers with 1,136 yards, [DeVante Parker](https://www.edgepedia.org/devante-parker) added 744, and [Kenny Stills](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenny-stills) caught 9 touchdown passes on 726 yards.[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/)
On defense, linebacker [Kiko Alonso](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiko-alonso) led the team with 115 tackles, [Cameron Wake](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-wake) recorded 11.5 sacks, and cornerback Tony Lippett had 4 interceptions.[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/) Rookie returner [Kenyan Drake](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenyan-drake) took a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown during the season.[4](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/)
## Playoffs: AFC Wild Card at Pittsburgh
In the Wild Card round on January 8, 2017, at Heinz Field, the Dolphins fell behind 14-0 and never recovered, losing 30-12 to the Steelers.[5](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf) Antonio Brown and [Le'Veon Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/leveon-bell) led Pittsburgh's offense in the win.[8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1U48LddfK0) Miami scored 3 points in each of the first two quarters, none in the third, and 6 in the fourth.[5](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf)
## Aftermath
The 2016 season was the Dolphins' only playoff appearance under Gase; Miami finished 6-10 in 2017 and did not make the playoffs, having last made back-to-back postseasons during the stretch from 1997 to 2001.[9](https://www.huddle.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_5_MIA.pdf) • [12](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2017/REG) Gase was fired after the 2018 season, having gone 6-10 in 2017.[11](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/coaches.htm)
## References
1. [2016 NFL League Standings, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg)
2. [2016 Miami Dolphins, Pro Football Rewind](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/dolphins/2016)
3. [Miami Dolphins hire Adam Gase as new head coach, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/miami-dolphins-hire-adam-gase-as-new-head-coach-0ap3000000619758)
4. [Miami Dolphins Team Stats, 2016, miamidolphins.com](https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/stats/2016/)
5. [2016 - AFC Wild Card, Miami Dolphins media guide, NFL.com](https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/MIA.pdf)
6. [2016 Miami Dolphins schedule and coaching staff, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/season/672/2016-miami-dolphins-schedule)
7. [Miami Dolphins head coach profile, 2017 weekly release, huddle.org](https://www.huddle.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-4-MIA.pdf)
8. [Dolphins vs. Steelers, NFL Wild Card Game Highlights, NFL YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1U48LddfK0)
9. [The Dolphins play first game at Hard Rock Stadium, 2017 weekly release, huddle.org](https://www.huddle.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_5_MIA.pdf)
10. [La gran incógnita: AFC Este y el dominio de los Patriots, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2018/05/14/nfl/1526325819_666618.html)
11. [Miami Dolphins Coaches, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/coaches.htm)
12. [2017 NFL League Standings](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2017/REG)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license