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Sunday's contest at Hard Rock Stadium will give the Dolphins the opportunity to start 3-0 for the first time since 2013. Oakland on the other hand, looks to avoid starting 0-3 for the first time since 2014.
As is customary, we'll count down the top five moments for the Dolphins in the history of the series with the Raiders:
Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders
All-Time Series: Oakland leads 20-17-1
All-Time Series in Miami: Miami leads 10-9-1
Last Meeting: Oakland won 27-24 (Nov. 5, 2017)
Last Meeting in Miami: Oakland won 27-24 (Nov. 5, 2017)
TOP 5 MOMENTS
5. Stoyanovich's Overtime Game-Winner
Los Angeles Raiders 17, Miami Dolphins 20 (OT)
Oct. 16, 1994
In what was a game that many thought the Dolphins should win midway through the 1994 season, Miami never led in the contest with the 2-3 Los Angeles Raiders. The Raiders raced to a 10-0 lead and held a 17-10 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. That was erased less than three minutes in as Keith Byars scored on the receiving end of an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dan Marino. The contest would go to overtime and the Dolphins would need just one possession. After Marino marched the team into the red zone, Pete Stoyanovich connected on a 29-yard field goal to win the contest.
4. Tannehill's First Win as Starting QB
Oakland Raiders 13, Miami Dolphins 35
Sept. 16, 2012
It had been 29 years since the Dolphins had drafted a quarterback in the first round until they selected Ryan Tannehill eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Dolphins had lost the season-opener in Houston that year, but against the Oakland Raiders in his home debut, Tannehill earned his first win as starting quarterback. The ground game, led by Reggie Bush's 172 yards and two touchdowns, carried the way for Miami, but Tannehill was efficient in his home debut. Tannehill went 18-for-30 passing for 200 yards with both his first passing and rushing touchdown in the win.
3. Fiedler Plunges to Cap Game-Winning TD Drive
Oakland Raiders 15, Miami Dolphins 18
Sept. 23, 2001
In what would be the home opener for the Miami Dolphins in 2001, things looked bleak. With 1:40 to play in the contest, the Dolphins trailed 15-10 and were starting at their own 20-yard-line with no timeouts. To that point in the contest, quarterback Jay Fiedler had been less than spectacular, but with the game on the line, Fiedler found his zone. On the final drive of the contest, Fiedler connected on five of his seven throws for 70 yards, including a fourth down conversion completion to Dedric Ward. With time ticking away however, it wasn't Fiedler's arm that would decide the outcome, but his legs. Facing 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard-line, the Miami quarterback eluded tacklers before diving into the end zone with five seconds remaining for his second rushing touchdown of the day in an 18-15 win.
2. Marino Makes NFL Debut
Miami Dolphins 14, Los Angeles Raiders 27
Sept. 19, 1983
It's hard to imagine a loss making the list, but Week 3 of the 1983 season proved that Miami had something special. Trailing 27-0 in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins were looking for a spark and replaced quarterback David Woodley with rookie Dan Marino. The former Pittsburgh star wasn't able to complete a comeback for the ages, but went 11-for-17 passing with 90 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. Of his six misfires, four came on drops. Marino would slowly work his way into the starting role as a rookie and remain in that role for the next 16 seasons. Marino retired after the 1999 season as the NFL's all-time leader in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
1. Dolphins 3-Peat as AFC Champs
Oakland Raiders 10, Miami Dolphins 27
Dec. 30, 1973
All that stood between the world champion Miami Dolphins and a third straight appearance in the Super Bowl was the Oakland Raiders in late December 1973. The Raiders were one of just two teams to beat Miami in 1973, but at the Orange Bowl in late December, the silver and black were no match. The rushing duo of Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris combined to go for over 200 on the ground for Miami. The workhorse Csonka carried the ball 29 times for 117 yards and all three Miami touchdowns. Oakland managed to cut a 14-0 Miami lead to seven after three quarters, but Garo Yepremian's second field goal and Csonka's third touchdown iced the contest. Bob Matheson's 29-yard return of a Ken Stabler interception highlighted the day for a Miami defense that held Oakland to just 236 yards. Miami would go on to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII, 24-7, to become the first AFC team to win consecutive Super Bowls.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Days of Dolphins Past. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
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