When was the last time the Dolphins won a playoff game?

The Miami Dolphins have gone an awfully long time without winning a single playoff game.

For decades now, the Miami Dolphins have made Darius Rucker cry.

Though the 2022 Dolphins ended a five-year playoff drought this season, they only made it in by the skin of their teeth as the No. 7 seed. To date, no No. 7 seed has beaten a No. 2 seed in the expanded NFL playoffs. Should the Dolphins upset the the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, not only would it be a historic victory, but it would be their first playoff win in a generation.

So when was the last time the Dolphins won a playoff game?

NFL playoffs: When was the last time the Miami Dolphins won a playoff game?

The last time Miami won a playoff game, Dave Wannstedt was the Dolphins head coach. Miami defeated Peyton Manning and the 2000 Indianapolis Colts as the No. 3 seed in … Pro Player Stadium. Lamar Smith was their star running back in overtime. Jay Fielder was the Dolphins quarterback. Miami overcame a 14-0 deficit at halftime to beat the Colts in overtime, 23-17.

Miami would get shut out the next week at the then-Oakland Raiders 27-0 in the AFC Divisional Round. Though they made the playoffs once again in Wannstedt’s second year at the helm, Miami has only been to the playoffs three times since he resigned midway through the 2004 season: 2008 under the late Tony Sparano, 2016 under … Adam Gase and 2022 under Mike McDaniel.

Even if the Dolphins are unable to upset Buffalo, it would not remain the longest active playoff win drought. The Detroit Lions have not won a playoff game in 31 years, having last done so in the 1991 NFC Divisional Round. Detroit has lost its last nine playoff games, an NFL record. Miami entered the 2022 playoffs with a franchise-tying four straight playoff defeats. It could be worse…

The 1972 Dolphins are the NFL’s last undefeated team, but Miami has not won a playoff game since 2000.