Memorable Moments: Patriots-Dolphins, presented by Empower

Schaefer Stadium's snowplow operator, Mark Henderson, cleared a spot on the snowy field for Patriots kicker John Smith, who hit a 33-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to give New England a 3-0 win over Miami on Dec. 12 1982.

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The Patriots reached their first Super Bowl in franchise history by "squishing the fish" in a 31-14 upset victory over the host Dolphins in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 12, 1986. New England racked up 255 rushing yards, converted six turnovers into 24 points and became the first NFL team to win three consecutive playoff games on the road.

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AP Images

In a classic shootout, Miami outlasted New England 39-35 in the season-opener on Sept. 4, 1994. Dolphins QB Dan Marino, returning from a torn Achillies' tendon the year before, threw for 473 yards and five TDs, including one to former Patriot WR Irving Fryar for the go-ahead score.

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The Dolphins sacked Tom Brady four times in his second-career start to secure a 30-10 win on Oct. 7, 2001. Miami DE Jason Taylor had a sack and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

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After trailing 21-7, the Patriots rallied thanks to four field goals by Adam Vinatieri, whose 35-yarder in overtime gave New England a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory on Dec. 29, 2002.

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Tom Brady threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown in overtime, allowing the Patriots to escape from Miami with a 19-13 overtime win on Oct. 19, 2003. Patriots DE Richard Seymour helped set up the win, blocking a 35-yard field goal attempt by Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare late in the fourth quarter.

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* FILE * New England Patriots' Tedy Bruschi (54) celebrates as he crosses into the end zone after his interception for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., in this Dec. 7, 2003, file photo. Dolphins' Ricky Williams (34) is in background. Bruschi is fully recovered from a 2005 stroke and back at the Super Bowl as one of the New England Patriots' defensive leaders. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

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Winslow Townson/AP Images

The Dolphins scored two touchdowns 44 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter, capped by A.J. Feeley's 21-yard pass to Derrius Thompson in a 29-28 comeback win over the Patriots on Dec. 20, 2004.

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Patriots back-up quarterback Doug Flutie, then 43 years old, converted the NFL's first successful drop kick since 1941 when he booted in an extra point on Jan. 1, 2006. Miami won the game, however, 28-26.

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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) fumbles the ball during a scramble against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter of a football at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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LUIS M. ALVAREZ/AP Images

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney rushed for 156 yards on 14 carries and Tom Brady threw three TD passes, as New England raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead in a 28-7 win over Miami on Dec. 23, 2007. With the win, the Patriots improved to 15-0 and passed the 1972 Dolphins for the longest win streak in a regular season.

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Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown rushed for a team-record four touchdowns and threw for another as Miami unleashed the "wildcat" offense and cruised to a 38-13 win on Sept. 21, 2008.

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Miami erased a 21-10 deficit thanks to the efforts of Chad Henne. The Dolphins QB threw for a career-high 335 yards and directed a 51-yard drive that set up Dan Carpenter's 41-yard go-ahead field goal with 1:02 left, giving the Dolphins a 22-21 win on Dec. 6, 2009.

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New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (27) runs towards the endzone after he recovered the ball from a blocked Miami Dolphins field goal at an NFL football game, Monday Oct. 4, 2010 in Miami. (AP Photo/ Lynne Sladky)

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Lynne Sladky/AP Images

Tom Brady threw for 517 yards and four touchdowns, including a Patriots-record 99-yard strike to Wes Welker, in New England's 38-24 season-opening triumph over Miami on Sept. 12, 2011.

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The final game for longtime analyst Gino Cappelletti was one to remember as the Patriots defense recorded seven sacks – three by Justin Francis – in a 28-0 shutout of Miami on Dec. 30, 2012.

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The Patriots wiped out a 17-3 halftime deficit by scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to cement a 27-17 win on Oct. 27, 2013. A three-yard TD run by Stevan Ridley midway through the fourth quarter helped seal the victory.

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A view of the NFL Draft stage in Philadelphia.

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Charles Krupa/AP Images

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Charles Krupa/AP Images

Malcolm Mitchell – Instagram (@malcolm_mitch26): season opener. Wishing good luck to the best high school in the world.

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