Miami Dolphins: Top 5 moments of the 2000s

Moment #2: The “1” in “1-13”

The second-best moment of the decade came during what was undisputedly the worst season in franchise history.

The 2007 Miami Dolphins were abysmal. The quarterback position was an ever-changing rotation of Cleo Lemon, Trent Green, and John Beck, each of whom started at least four games. The defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed in the running game, allowing over 150 yards per game to opposing ground attacks. So when the Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills in December to drop their record to 0-13, the first winless season in the 16-game era was looking like a real possibility for Miami.

On December 16th, 2007, the Baltimore Ravens came to down to get their free win at the expense of the Dolphins. The Ravens were reeling themselves, having lost seven in a row after a 4-2 start to the season, and were 3-point road favorites for the Week 15 matchup. The game was a predictably ugly one. There were just two touchdowns scored in regulation in comparison to six total field goals, the last of which sent the game in to overtime for Baltimore. The 2007 Dolphins had already lost six games by three points up to that point, and it looked like another heartbreaker was in the offing.

Ravens kicker Matt Stover lined up for a 44-yard game winning field goal, but pushed it wide left, giving the Dolphins one last gasp of air. They took it, and on 3rd and 8 from their own 36 yard line, Cleo Lemon completed a pass to Greg Camarillo over the middle, who broke free from Jamaine Winborne and outran the rest of the Baltimore defense. When he crossed the goal line, the Dolphins had not only won the game, but removed themselves from the history books where they would have lived in infamy as the worst team to ever play.