1972 Miami Dolphins season

1972 Miami Dolphins season

The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the team’s seventh season, and third season in the National Football League. The Dolphins went 14–0 in the regular season and won all three postseason games, including Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins. The team remains the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated and untied from the opening game through the Super Bowl.

About 1972 Miami Dolphins season in brief

Summary 1972 Miami Dolphins seasonThe 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the team’s seventh season, and third season in the National Football League. The Dolphins went 14–0 in the regular season and won all three postseason games, including Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins. The team remains the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated and untied from the opening game through the Super Bowl. The closest team to repeating this feat was the 2007 New England Patriots, who recorded the most wins in a season in NFL history by going 18–0 before shockingly losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. 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. In all, nine players—Csonka, Morris, Warfield, Little, Evans, Buoniconti, Stanfill, Anderson and Scott—were named 1st team All-Pro. On August 20, 2013, four decades after their accomplishment, President Barack Obama hosted the 1972 Dolphins, noting that they \”never got their White House visit.\’ The Dolphins’ 1972 regular season began with a road match against the Kansas City Chiefs – the first regular season game ever played at Arrowhead Stadium. Miami held Kansas City scoreless until the third quarter in this game. In the second quarter, the Dolphins scored twice within a span of 37 seconds – a 47-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian and then a 2-yard run from Larry Csonka following an interception by Jake Scott.

After possessing a halftime lead of 17–0, Miami scored again in the third quarter with another fieldgoal by Jan Stenerud. Later in the fourth quarter, Kansas City got on the board with a touchdown pass from Len Frazier, but the Dolphins were able to win 20–10. In week 2, Miami played against the Houston Oilers at the newly installed Poly-Turf field and intermittent rains led to slippery conditions. Only a few minutes into the game, Houston running back Hoyle Granger fumbled at the 14-yard line, while Dolphins running back Dan Kiick returned it to the Miami line. A few minutes later, Miami running back Jim Kiick scored a touchdown on a run on a 1-yard pass from quarterback Bob Griese to Marlin Briscoe. On the ground, running backs Larry Conka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a year. The offensive line included future Hall of Fame members Jim Langer and Larry Little and Pro Bowler Norm Evans. The defensive line included Bill Stanfill and Manny Fernandez, and safety Dick Anderson and safeties Dick Scott and Jake Scott were named 1 first-team All-pro. The Miami Dolphins were the only other team to ever complete theRegular Season undefeated andUntied is the Chicago Bears, who accomplished the feat in both 1934 and 1942. Both of those Bears’ teams however failed to win the NFL Championship Game.