The High Court

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Setting a Precedent– 1984 in the NFL

 

Setting a Precedent

 

Marino Makes His Mark

 

As a kid, Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino became my favorite NFL player during his amazing season of 1984.  The rocket-armed youngster from the University of Pittsburgh began his assault on the NFL record book by throwing for a record 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns (the latter record was since broken by Peyton Manning in 2004).  Join me for a journey back to 1984 in the NFL – the Rams and Raiders were still in LA, the Cardinals were in St. Louis, Houston had the Oilers and Baltimore had just lost the Colts.  The season ended with the 49ers capping an 18-1 season by drilling the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.  But the story of 1984 in the NFL was league MVP Dan Marino who went on to own the following career records…

 

Most Passing Attempts                   8,358

Most Pass Completions                  4,967

Most Passing Yards                      61,361

Most 3,000 Yard Seasons                    13

Most Yards in a Season                  5,084

Most 400 Yard Games                         13

Most Touchdown Passes                   420

 

FINAL STANDINGS (Stats courtesy www.profootball-reference.com)

 

AFC EAST

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

Miami	14	2	513	298	Don Shula
New England	9	7	362	352	Ron Meyer/Ray Berry
NY Jets	7	9	332	364	Joe Walton
Indianapolis	4	12	239	414	Frank Kush/Hal Hunter
Buffalo	2	14	250	454	Kay Stephenson

 

AFC CENTRAL

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

Pittsburgh	9	7	387	310	Chuck Noll
Cincinnati	8	8	339	339	Sam Wyche
Cleveland	5	11	250	297	S.Rutigliano/M.Schottenheimer
Houston	3	13	240	437	Hugh Campbell

 

AFC WEST

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

Denver	13	3	353	241	Dan Reeves
Seattle	12	4	418	282	Chuck Knox
LA Raiders	11	5	368	278	Tom Flores
Kansas City	8	8	314	324	John Mackovic
San Diego	7	9	394	413	Don Coryell

 

NFC EAST

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

Washington	11	5	426	310	Joe Gibbs
St. Louis	9	7	423	345	Jim Hanifan
Dallas	9	7	308	308	Tom Landry
NY Giants	9	7	299	301	Bill Parcells
Philadelphia	6	9 – 1	278	320	Marion Campbell

 

NFC CENTRAL

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

Chicago	10	6	325	248	Mike Ditka
Green Bay	8	8	390	309	Forrest Gregg
Tampa Bay	6	10	335	380	John McKay
Detroit	4	11 – 1	283	408	Monte Clark
Minnesota	3	13	276	484	Les Steckel

 

NFC WEST

Team                        Wins      Losses       PF          PA       Coach

San Francisco	15	1	475	227	Bill Walsh
LA Rams	10	6	346	316	John Robinson
New Orleans	7	9	298	361	Bum Phillips
Atlanta	4	12	281	382	Dan Henning

 

 

POST SEASON RESULTS

 

AFC Wildcard Game                              NFC Wildcard Game

(4) Seattle 13, (5) LA Raiders 7              (5) NY Giants 16, (4) LA Rams 13

 

AFC Divisional Playoffs                         NFC Divisional Playoffs

(3) Pittsburgh 24, (2) Denver 17             (3) Chicago 23, (2) Washington 19

(1) Miami 31, (4) Seattle 10                     (1) San Francisco 21, (5) NY Giants 10

 

AFC Championship Game                    NFC Championship Game

(1) Miami 45, (3) Pittsburgh 28                (1) San Francisco 23, (3) Chicago 0

 

 

Super Bowl XIX

                         

1           2           3           4           TOTAL

Miami             10       6         0         0            16

San Fran.     7      21        10        0            38

 

MVP – Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco     

           Passing:  24-35, 331 yards, 3 TD, 0 Int.

 

 

LEAGUE LEADERS

 

AFC                                                        NFC_________________________

Rush Yds.     Earnest Jackson, SD (1,179)        Eric Dickerson, Rams (2,105)

Rush TD       Marcus Allen, Raiders (13)           Dickerson, Rams / Riggins, WAS (14)

Recepts        Ozzie Newsome, CLE (89)            Art Monk, WAS (106)

Rec. Yds.      John Stallworth, PIT (1,395)        Roy Green, STL (1,555)

Rec. TD        Mark Clayton, MIA (18)               Roy Green, STL (12)

Tot. Yds.      Marcus Allen, Raiders (1,926)       Eric Dickerson, Rams (2,244)

Pass Yds.      Dan Marino, MIA (5,084)             Neil Lomax, STL (4,614)

Pass TD        Dan Marino, MIA (48)                 Neil Lomax, STL (28)

Scoring         Gary Anderson, PIT (117)           Ray Wersching, SF (131)

Interceptions Kenny Easley, SEA (10)              Tom Flynn, GB (9)

Sacks           Mark Gastineau, NYJ (22)            Richard Dent, CHI (17.5)

 

1984 NFL Pro Bowl Selections Currently in the Hall of Fame

 

Dan Marino, QB, Miami

Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco

Marcus Allen, RB, LA Raiders

Eric Dickerson, RB, LA Rams

Walter Payton, RB, Chicago

Steve Largent, WR, Seattle

John Stallworth, WR, Pittsburgh

James Lofton, WR, Green Bay

Ozzie Newsome, TE, Cleveland

John Hannah, OL, New England

Mike Munchak, OL, Houston

Anthony Munoz, OL, Cincinnati

Dwight Stephenson, OL, Miami

Mike Webster, OL, Pittsburgh

Howie Long, DL, LA Raiders

Dan Hampton, DL, Chicago

Lee Roy Selmon, DL, Tampa Bay

Randy White, DL, Dallas

Mike Singletary, LB, Chicago

Lawrence Taylor, LB, NY Giants

Mike Haynes, DB, LA Raiders

Ronnie Lott, DB, San Francisco

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

        

Even in his Hall of Fame blazer, you have no doubt this pass would be on the mark.  He may have never won a Super Bowl, but Marino’s passing exploits made him an NFL legend.  On Sunday, the ‘84 NFL MVP took his rightful place in Canton.  (AP)