The (pathetic) history of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football

The History of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football

Lack of appearances

History and certain websites will tell you that the Miami Dolphins have appeared on Sunday Night Football four times, which would still be the second least. But the number is actually three, since a 2009 Week 12 game between the Dolphins and Patriots was flexed in favor of a Vikings/Cardinals match up.

The numbers are pathetic. Starting at the top, we have the Dallas Cowboys with an incredible 56 appearances on Sunday Night Football, far and away the leader with a 14 game edge on the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. The top five is rounded out by the usual suspects of the Packers, Steelers, and Patriots, and the Chiefs and Beats are in the top ten too. All of them have 30+ appearances.

Remember, the Dolphins have three.

The bottom of the list is even more eye-popping when you consider the relation to Miami. The Vikings have 23 appearances, the Falcons 14. The Houston Texans have somehow been on 13 times, and the Lions, Jets, Raiders, and Panthers have all been on 8 or more. Even the Cleveland Browns have more appearances than the Dolphins, with 5.

It is true that the Dolphins haven’t fielded the most competitive of teams in recent memory, but they certainly have better overall records than some of the teams that have been gifted the prime time slots. But they haven’t done much with their opportunities, either…