The Florida NFL Teams: A Rivalry Analysis
Jul 07, 2023
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Florida is home to three NFL teams: the Miami Dolphins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. These franchises not only share the sunny climate of the Sunshine State but also ignite a cross-state rivalry that adds an extra layer of excitement to the football landscape when they play.
These three teams have experienced their fair share of ups and downs throughout the years, from the Buccaneers' 0-26 start to the Dolphins' perfect season. This article will examine the battles these teams have seen over the years and reflect upon each franchise's trials and greatest moments.
A Head-to-Head Comparison
While the teams don't play each other enough in the regular season to really make it a standout in-state rivalry like that of the Browns-Bengals or Jets-Bills, when they do get together, there are a lot of Florida bragging rights on the line. The two fanbases go back and forth while the players fight to show they are the best in the state. The teams also go at it every year in the preseason.
All the regular season series between the three teams are pretty even, with the Jaguars holding a 4-3 record against the Bucs and a 6-5 record against the Dolphins. The Bucs hold a 7-5 advantage over the Dolphins. Only the Jaguars and Dolphins have faced off in the postseason, with the Jaguars embarrassing Jimmy Johnson and Dan Marino in the 1999 Divisional Round, winning 62-7.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Overview
Established in 1976, the Bucs weathered many hardships in their first 20 seasons; they lost their first 26 games in franchise history and went through a stretch of 14 consecutive losing seasons from 1983 to 1996.
However, after tossing aside the orange creamsicles for the red and pewter in 1997, along with ushering in head coach Tony Dungy, the Bucs found new life. They went on to make the playoffs in eight of the next 12 seasons and won their first Super Bowl behind Jon Gruden in 2002. The '02 Bucs defense, led by Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks, is regarded as one of the greatest units of all-time.
The Bucs won their second Super Bowl title in 2020, led by Tom Brady, who won a record seventh championship trophy. Though Brady and his trusty target Rob Gronkowski have retired, reflected in the downturn in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gamelines, the Bucs still have great talent, which includes All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Mike Evans, who has a record nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career.
Miami Dolphins Overview
The Miami Dolphins' storied NFL history features the unmatched 1972 perfect season and back-to-back Super Bowl victories, driven by Coach Don Shula and standouts like Larry Csonka and Bob Griese. To this day, the 1972 team is the only club in history to go through an entire regular season and postseason undefeated. Shula helped lead the Dolphins to five Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s and 1980s.
The franchise has since hosted remarkable Hall of Fame talents like quarterback Dan Marino and defensive end Jason Taylor; more recently, All-Pro Xavien Howard has made a significant impression. Despite some down years during the 2000s and 2010s, the Dolphins have found new life. Led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have one of the more dynamic offenses in the league, with wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle racking up yards and touchdowns. Despite a challenging AFC East, the Dolphins are determined to come out on top and win their first Super Bowl in 50 years.
Jacksonville Jaguars Overview
The Jaguars have had some noteworthy moments since their establishment in 1995, particularly the 1999 season, which saw them attain a record 14-2 and reach the AFC Championship Game. Key figures like Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor, and Tony Boselli played significant roles in the team's strong run under head coach Tom Coughlin.
But the Jaguars went through a long stretch of losing after that 1999 season. From 2000 to 2021, the Jaguars made the playoffs just three times, changing head coaches six times. The lone bright spot came with their one division title in 2017. The team made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, but lost in a nail-biter to the Patriots.
However, the Jaguars' fortunes changed when they drafted quarterback Trevor Lawrence No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, along with hiring former Eagles Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson. The Jaguars won the AFC South in 2022, then went on to win a thrilling wild card game against the Chargers in January. Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, and wide receiver Christian Kirk have given Jaguars fans reasons to believe they can make their first Super Bowl in franchise history.