Adapted from "Simply
Perfect," a 20th-anniversary look at the 1972 Dolphins that
originally appeared in a 1992 edition of Sports Illustrated
Classic.
They were a perfect 17-0, yet to this day the Miami
Dolphins of 1972 talk about lack of respect. "We were the
only Super Bowl champ of the last 20 years not to get
invited to the White House," claims their kicker, Garo
Yepremian.
The '71 Dolphins had flopped in their first title
try -- Super Bowl VI -- losing 24-3 to the Dallas Cowboys.
Seven months later Miami had something to prove, and it
launched the '72 campaign with an offense that was heavy on
the run and a defense that was
young and unknown. These Dolphins ultimately won consecutive
championships (Supes VII and VIII) and became the only team
ever to play in three straight Super Bowls. Then the WFL
took away three of their greatest stars -- Larry Csonka, Paul
Warfield and Jim
Kiick -- and the run was
over.
Sept.
17: It was the Chiefs' first game in brand-new Arrowhead
Stadium. Their last one in old Municipal Stadium had been
the Christmas Day playoff loss to the Dolphins in double
overtime, the longest pro game ever. "We closed out their
old one," quarterback
Bob Griese says now, "and we ruined their opener in the new
one."
GAME 2, VS. HOUSTON, 34-13
Houston
0
0
13
0
-- 13
Miami
13
7
7
7
-- 34
Passing:
Griese 11-16-142, 1 TD, 1 TD run, 1 INT
Rushing: Morris 15-94, 1
TD
Receiving: Warfield
3-67
Sept. 24:
The new Poly-Turf in the Orange Bowl was a disaster. After
the game, fullback Csonka said, "Technology has advanced
to the point where it's capable of finishing every player
before his time. Every time I tried to cut, my toes were
driven to the point
of my shoe. I feel like my ribs are coming out of my throat.
Look at this turf. It's slimy. I swear, there's some kind
of fumes coming off the
rug."
No matter. Miami rushed for 274
yards.
GAME 3, AT MINNESOTA,
16-14
Miami
0
0
6
10
-- 16
Minnesota
7
0
0
7
-- 14
Passing: Griese 16-33-127, 1 TD, 2
INT
Rushing: Csonka 10-66
Receiving: Kiick
3-25
Oct.
1: The Vikings led 14-6 with 4:34 left. The Dolphins drove
and were stopped. Coach Don Shula called on Yepremian to
try a 51-yard field goal, even though his career longest
was 48. "There was a lot of talk about that decision,"
Shula says. "What the
hell, we needed 10 points." The kick was
good.
Miami forced a punt and drove to a first down on the Viking
three, where Griese fooled Minnesota with a little sneak
pass to tight end Jim Mandich for the winning touchdown.
"That was the game that really made us," guard Bob
Kuechenberg says. Says Griese, "I remember thinking
afterward, Hey, we must be pretty good."
GAME 4, AT NEW YORK JETS,
27-17
Miami
0
14
3
10
-- 27
New York
7
0
3
7
-- 17
Passing: Griese 15-27-110, 1 TD
Rushing: Csonka
18-102
Receiving: Warfield
5-71
Oct.
8: "Our whole concern was Joe Namath," says Miami middle
linebacker Nick Buoniconti. "If the rest of the Jets
didn't show up, he could beat us alone." So defensive
coach Bill Arnsparger surprised New York with five
defensive backs on first down, and in
the second half he used his new 53 Defense -- a modern
3-4 -- exclusively, and Namath and the Jets were
stopped.
GAME 5, VS. SAN DIEGO,
24-10
San Diego
3
0
0
7
-- 10
Miami
3
14
7
0
-- 24
Passing: Morrall 8-10-86, 2 TD
Rushing: Csonka
13-70
Receiving: Twilley 2-41, 1
TD
Oct. 15:
In the first quarter, Charger defensive end Rob East
crashed into Griese's right leg, breaking the fibula and
dislocating the ankle. In came Earl Morrall, an April
waiver pickup from Baltimore. "I remember seeing Griese
lying there in pain, with his
ankle all contorted," Mandich says, "and here's this
38-year-old man with a flattop haircut coming on the field,
and I thought, Oh hell, it's all
over."
Against San Diego, he completed eight of 10 passes and
threw for two touchdowns. But everyone wondered, How long
could he hold
up?
GAME 6, VS. BUFFALO,
24-23
Buffalo
0
13
0
10
-- 23
Miami
7
0
10
7
-- 24
Passing: Morrall 6-10-91, 1
INT
Rushing: Csonka 18-107, 1
TD
Receiving: Twilley
2-41
Oct. 22:
Yepremian kicked a 54-yard field goal, his longest ever,
and the Dolphins hung on to win. "I remember later reading
our yearbook about the unbeaten season," Yepremian says,
"and thinking, My god, what if I didn't make the
54-yarder?"
GAME 7, AT BALTIMORE,
23-0
Miami
7
9
7
0
-- 23
Baltimore
0
0
0
0
-- 0
Passing: Morrall 9-15-85, 1
INT
Rushing: Csonka 19-93, 2
TD
Receiving: Twilley
2-46
Oct.
29: "They gave me a big cheer when I trotted out," says
Morrall, who played for four seasons in Baltimore. Morrall
threw 15 passes; the Dolphins called 52 running plays.
