If you walk into a dive bar in South Boston or a sports pub in Foxborough during the week of a Miami game, you’re going to see it. It’s on faded T-shirts. It’s on bumper stickers. It’s scrawled on cardboard signs held up by fans who look like they’ve braved forty years of New England winters. Patriots squish the fish. It’s more than just a catchy rhyme; it’s a cultural relic of a rivalry that defines the AFC East.
Honestly, the phrase is technically a lie. Dolphins aren't fish. They’re mammals. Every marine biologist in the country probably winces when they see the slogan, but in the world of NFL rivalries, scientific accuracy takes a back seat to a good chant. This isn't just about a game. It’s about a decades-long grudge that transformed a struggling franchise into a dynasty, and it all started long before Tom Brady ever picked up a football.
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The 1985 AFC Championship: Where it All Began
To understand why "squish the fish" matters, you have to look at 1985. The Patriots weren't a powerhouse back then. They were the "Patsies." They were the team that usually found a way to lose, especially when they had to travel down to the Orange Bowl in Miami. Heading into the 1985 AFC Championship game, the Patriots hadn't won in Miami for 18 straight games. That’s nearly two decades of losing in the same stadium. It was a curse. It was a literal house of horrors.
The Dolphins were the kings. Led by Dan Marino—the man with the quickest release the league had ever seen—they were the only team to beat the 1985 Chicago Bears that year. Everyone expected a Dolphins-Bears Super Bowl rematch.
Then, the rain started.
It wasn't just a drizzle; it was a South Florida monsoon. The Patriots, coached by Raymond Berry, decided to stop trying to be fancy. They ran the ball. Then they ran it again. Then they ran it a third time. Tony Collins, Craig James, and Robert Weathers combined for a relentless ground attack that moved the chains while Marino struggled to grip the wet ball. The Patriots forced six turnovers. When the clock hit zero and the Patriots walked off the field with a 31-14 victory, the "squish the fish" mantra was cemented in sports history. They had finally exercised the demons of the Orange Bowl.
The Cultural Weight of a Slogan
Why does this specific phrase stick around? Most NFL slogans die out after a season or two. "Pound the Rock" or "Keep Pounding" has stayed with Carolina, sure, but "Squish the Fish" has a different kind of staying power because it represents the underdog's bite.
New England fans identify as the gritty, blue-collar workers of the NFL, even after winning six rings. They love the "us against the world" mentality. The Dolphins, with their perfect 1972 season and their flashy Miami lifestyle, were the perfect foils. Calling them "fish" was a way to dehumanize the opponent—or at least de-mammalize them—and make the task of beating them seem like a simple chore.
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You’ve probably seen the shirts. The classic design usually features a cartoonish Patriot—sometimes Pat Patriot himself—stepping on or squeezing a very sad-looking dolphin. It’s aggressive. It’s a bit silly. It’s perfectly Boston.
Breaking Down the Rivalry Dynamics
The AFC East is a weird place. You have the Bills fans jumping through tables in the snow, the Jets fans living in a perpetual state of existential dread, and then you have the Patriots and the Dolphins.
- The Weather Factor: This is the biggest driver of the rivalry. Miami players freeze when they come to Foxboro in December. New England players melt when they go to Miami in September.
- The Coaching Trees: From Don Shula and Raymond Berry to Bill Belichick and Brian Flores (or Mike McDaniel), the coaching chess matches have been legendary.
- The Tom Brady Era: Even during the height of the New England dynasty, Miami was often the "Boogeyman." No matter how good the Patriots were, they’d go down to Hard Rock Stadium and lose to a mediocre Dolphins team. Remember the "Miami Miracle" in 2018? Kenyan Drake’s lateral play? That’s why "squish the fish" remains a rallying cry. It’s a reminder that the job isn't done until the clock is at zero.
Is the Slogan Outdated?
Some younger fans think the phrase is a bit "cringe," as the kids say. They didn't live through the 18-game losing streak. They only know the Patriots as the team that dominated for twenty years. To them, the Dolphins were just a speed bump.
But talk to anyone over the age of 45 in Massachusetts, and they’ll tell you that the Dolphins are still the team to beat. They remember the Dan Marino years. They remember when the AFC East went through Miami, not New England. For those fans, the phrase is a badge of honor. It represents the shift in power.
Interestingly, the Dolphins fans have their own version: "Squish the Pish" (a play on the Patriots' name) or simply "Pats Suck." It’s nowhere near as catchy. "Squish the fish" has that internal rhyme that makes it perfect for a stadium chant or a headline.
The Logistics of a Modern Rivalry
In today's NFL, things are different. The rosters turn over so fast that half the players on the field probably don't even know the history of the 1985 AFC Championship. But the fans don't forget.
When the Patriots travel to Miami, thousands of New Englanders make the trip. They fill the stands, wearing their Brady, Edelman, or now Drake Maye jerseys, and they shout it. The heat index might be 105 degrees on the field, but they’re still yelling about squishing fish.
It’s also worth noting the impact of social media. On Twitter (X) and Reddit, #SquishTheFish trends every single time these two teams meet. It’s a digital shorthand. It’s a way for a global fanbase to connect back to the roots of the franchise. It’s basically the "Roll Tide" of the Northeast, just more specific to a single opponent.
Beyond the Slogan: What to Watch For
If you’re a fan looking to really get into the spirit of the rivalry, you have to look at the matchups. Historically, the Patriots struggle with mobile quarterbacks in the Miami heat. They struggle with the speed of the Dolphins' receivers.
When you hear "Patriots squish the fish" this season, look for these specific keys:
- The Defensive Line Push: To "squish" anything in football, you have to win the trenches. If the Patriots' front four isn't getting pressure, the slogan is meaningless.
- The Turnover Margin: The '85 win was built on turnovers. The Patriots have always been at their best against Miami when they force the Dolphins into mistakes.
- Special Teams: New England has a long history of using "boring" football—punting, field position, and kickoff coverage—to grind out wins against flashier teams.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you want to participate in this tradition properly, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it.
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Grab the Vintage Gear
Don't buy the cheap, knock-off shirts from a random sidewalk vendor. Look for the authentic throwback designs. The 1980s-style Pat Patriot logo is the only one that truly fits the "squish the fish" era. Wearing a modern "Flying Elvis" logo with an 80s slogan feels a bit like wearing brown shoes with a black tuxedo.
Know the History
Don't just say the phrase. Know why you're saying it. Be ready to talk about the 1985 game. Mention Tony Collins' 75 yards on the ground or the fact that the Patriots defense held Dan Marino to just 20 completions on 48 attempts. That’s how you earn respect in the stands.
Respect the "Fish" (Biologically)
Maybe don't argue with a marine biologist. Just accept that for three hours on a Sunday, a dolphin is a fish. You can go back to knowing they're mammals on Monday morning.
Watch the Weather Report
If the game is in Miami, check the humidity. If it’s in Foxboro, look for the "Snow Bowl" potential. The environment is the third character in this rivalry.
The phrase "Patriots squish the fish" isn't going anywhere. It’s woven into the fabric of New England sports. It’s a bridge between the lean years of the 70s and 80s and the unprecedented success of the 2000s. It represents a moment when a team stopped being a doormat and started being a threat. Whether you're at Gillette Stadium or watching from a bar in Maine, it’s the battle cry that reminds everyone: in the AFC East, records don't matter as much as the rivalry.
To truly honor the tradition, focus on the upcoming schedule and identify the home game against Miami. That is the time to break out the old gear. Study the defensive schemes that historically shut down high-motion offenses. If you're attending in person, arrive early to the tailgate; that's where the real "squish the fish" energy lives, among the charcoal grills and the cold October air. Understand that while the players change, the animosity remains constant. Use that energy to fuel your fandom, but keep the "fish" talk to the football field. In the end, the best way to squish the fish is to show up, stay loud, and never let them forget 1985.