1972 Miami Dolphins season: Difference between revisions
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The '''1972 [[Miami Dolphins]]''' are the only [[National Football League]] team to have a "[[Perfect season]]", and win the [[Super Bowl]], following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Their undefeated campaign was led by coach [[Don Shula]] and notable teammates [[Bob Griese]], [[Earl Morrall]], and [[Larry Csonka]] (among many others). This team went 14-0 in the regular season (prior to the extension of the regular season by the NFL), and won all three playoff games, including [[Super Bowl VII]] against the [[Washington Redskins]], for a season record of 17-0. Although the New England Patriots were at one point in time 18-0 (Only undefeated 16 game regular season) they went on to lose Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. As of [[2009]], the 1972 Dolphins remain the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated from the opening regular season game through the Super Bowl. |
The '''1972 [[Miami Dolphins]]''' are the only [[National Football League]] team to have a "[[Perfect season]]", and win the [[Super Bowl]], following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Their undefeated campaign was led by coach [[Don Shula]] and notable teammates [[Bob Griese]], [[Earl Morrall]], and [[Larry Csonka]] (among many others). This team went 14-0 in the regular season (prior to the extension of the regular season by the NFL), and won all three playoff games, including [[Super Bowl VII]] against the [[Washington Redskins]], for a season record of 17-0. Although the New England Patriots were at one point in time 18-0 (Only undefeated 16 game regular season) they went on to lose Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. As of [[2009]], the 1972 Dolphins remain the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated from the opening regular season game through the Super Bowl. |
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During the 1972 season, Bob Griese's ankle was broken while being sacked by defensive tackle [[Ron East]] in Week 5 against the [[San Diego Chargers]] and was replaced by veteran [[Earl Morrall]] for the rest of the regular season, with Griese returning to the field as a substitute during the AFC Championship game versus the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and would once again start for Miami in [[Super Bowl VII]]. On the ground, running backs [[Larry Csonka]] and [[Mercury Morris]] became the first [[List of NFL teams with multiple 1000 yard rushers|teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards]] in a season. [[Paul Warfield]] led the receivers, averaging over 20 yards per catch on 29 receptions. The offensive line included future Hall of Fame members [[Jim Langer]] and [[Larry Little]] and Pro Bowler [[Norm Evans]]. The [[1972 NFL season|1972]] Dolphins defensive unit, called the No-Name Defense because Miami’s impressive offense received much more publicity, was the league’s best that year. It was led by linebacker [[Nick Buoniconti]], end [[Bill Stanfill]], tackle [[Manny Fernandez (American football)|Manny Fernandez]], and safeties [[Dick Anderson]] and [[ |
During the 1972 season, Bob Griese's ankle was broken while being sacked by defensive tackle [[Ron East]] in Week 5 against the [[San Diego Chargers]] and was replaced by veteran [[Earl Morrall]] for the rest of the regular season, with Griese returning to the field as a substitute during the AFC Championship game versus the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and would once again start for Miami in [[Super Bowl VII]]. On the ground, running backs [[Larry Csonka]] and [[Mercury Morris]] became the first [[List of NFL teams with multiple 1000 yard rushers|teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards]] in a season. [[Paul Warfield]] led the receivers, averaging over 20 yards per catch on 29 receptions. The offensive line included future Hall of Fame members [[Jim Langer]] and [[Larry Little]] and Pro Bowler [[Norm Evans]]. The [[1972 NFL season|1972]] Dolphins defensive unit, called the No-Name Defense because Miami’s impressive offense received much more publicity, was the league’s best that year. It was led by linebacker [[Nick Buoniconti]], end [[Bill Stanfill]], tackle [[Manny Fernandez (American football)|Manny Fernandez]], and safeties [[Dick Anderson]] and [[Jake Scott]]. |
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==Regular season== |
==Regular season== |
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Revision as of 22:55, 9 August 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
| 1972 Miami Dolphins season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Don Shula |
| Home field | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Results | |
| Record | 14-0 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 20-14 Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 21-17 Won Super Bowl VII (Redskins) 14-7 |
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to have a "Perfect season", and win the Super Bowl, following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Their undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable teammates Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka (among many others). This team went 14-0 in the regular season (prior to the extension of the regular season by the NFL), and won all three playoff games, including Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins, for a season record of 17-0. Although the New England Patriots were at one point in time 18-0 (Only undefeated 16 game regular season) they went on to lose Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. As of 2009, the 1972 Dolphins remain the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated from the opening regular season game through the Super Bowl.
During the 1972 season, Bob Griese's ankle was broken while being sacked by defensive tackle Ron East in Week 5 against the San Diego Chargers and was replaced by veteran Earl Morrall for the rest of the regular season, with Griese returning to the field as a substitute during the AFC Championship game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and would once again start for Miami in Super Bowl VII. On the ground, running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Paul Warfield led the receivers, averaging over 20 yards per catch on 29 receptions. The offensive line included future Hall of Fame members Jim Langer and Larry Little and Pro Bowler Norm Evans. The 1972 Dolphins defensive unit, called the No-Name Defense because Miami’s impressive offense received much more publicity, was the league’s best that year. It was led by linebacker Nick Buoniconti, end Bill Stanfill, tackle Manny Fernandez, and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 1972 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 20-10 |
| 2 | September 24 1972 | Houston Oilers | W 34-13 |
| 3 | October 1 1972 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 16-14 |
| 4 | October 8 1972 | at New York Jets | W 27-17 |
| 5 | October 15 1972 | San Diego Chargers | W 24-10 |
| 6 | October 22 1972 | Buffalo Bills | W 24-23 |
| 7 | October 29 1972 | at Baltimore Colts | W 23-0 |
| 8 | November 5 1972 | at Buffalo Bills | W 30-16 |
| 9 | November 12 1972 | New England Patriots | W 52-0 |
| 10 | November 19 1972 | New York Jets | W 28-24 |
| 11 | November 27 1972 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 31-10 |
| 12 | December 3 1972 | at New England Patriots | W 31-10 |
| 13 | December 10 1972 | at New York Giants | W 23-13 |
| 14 | December 16 1972 | Baltimore Colts | W 16-0 |
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 24 1972 | Cleveland Browns | W 20-10 |
| 2 | December 31 1972 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 21-17 |
| 3 | January 14 1973 | N Washington Redskins | W 14-7 |
Division standings
| AFC East | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 385 | 171 |
| New York Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 367 | 324 |
| Baltimore Colts | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 235 | 252 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 257 | 377 |
| New England Patriots | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 192 | 446 |
Urban legend
There is an urban legend that every season, whenever the last remaining undefeated NFL team loses its first game, all the surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins open bottles of champagne in celebration. Coach Don Shula tried to play down the myth by saying that two players, Dick Anderson and Nick Buoniconti, who live near each other sometimes have a toast together.[1][2] However, in a college football broadcast on ABC, following the loss of an undefeated team, Bob Griese commented that he called up former Dolphins, and they had Diet Cokes together, after being asked by his colleague. That celebration comes with the connotation that they no longer drink alcoholic beverages, but that a toast was customary.
The perfect season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the first team to execute a perfect regular season in the modern, post-Merger NFL. They are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated in the regular season and playoffs (doing so in the current era would imply going 19-0, a mark yet unreached). Prior to them, only two NFL teams had earned perfect regular seasons: the 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears, who went 13-0 and 11-0 respectively. Both times, the Bears lost in the NFL Championship Game, denying themselves a completely perfect season. The Cleveland Browns accomplished an undefeated season in 1948, but as members of the All-America Football Conference, going 14-0 in the regular season and beating the Buffalo Bills for the AAFC Championship. The 2007 New England Patriots completed the only perfect 16 game regular season to date, but finished 18-1 following a Super Bowl XLII loss to the New York Giants.
Aside from the Patriots, the 1998 Broncos,[3] and the 2005 Colts[4] came the closest to matching the 1972 Dolphins. Both the Broncos and Colts won their first 13 games before losing their next two. Also, four teams have had regular seasons of 15-1, two of which have won the Super Bowl, finishing with 18-1 overall records: the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears; the other two, who went 16-2 overall, are the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots, and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who fell to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game. Also of note are the 1976 Oakland Raiders, who, following a 13-1 regular season, won the Super Bowl for an overall 16-1 record.
Notes and references
- ^ ESPN - Shoes ... The Jaw ... by any name, Shula still the king - Columnist
- ^ Urban Legends Reference Pages: 1972 Miami Dolphins Toast First Losses by Undefeated Teams
- ^ 1998 Denver Broncos Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com
- ^ 2005 Indianapolis Colts Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com