No person transformed the game of football like the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins

The NFL is entering its 104th period as well as will be holding the 58th Super Bowl in Las Las Vega in February. Twenty NFL franchise business have actually won at the very least one Super Bowl, yet just one of those teams was excellent. Even taking into account the NFL's pre-Super Bowl era background, dating back to 1920, no team has actually ever finished a perfect season, winning each and every single game on their routine-- except one. The 1972 Miami Dolphins made history as well as altered the game. The Dolphins, getting in 1972, were only a seven-year-old franchise, beginning in the American Football Organization, and also entering into the NFL as component of the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. They were likewise coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Dallas Cowboys after the 1971 season and there were increasingly critical comments that head coach Don Shula, entering his third year with Miami, might not win the "large one. "The Dolphins, and also Shula, were established to rectify what went incorrect the previous year. Absolutely nothing less than a Super Dish was acceptable in South Florida, and the only method to make certain a Super Bowl championship was to win every video game. Miami did that. They began the period by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10 in the opening game of Arrowhead Arena. They backed that up with a 34-13 success over the Houston Oilers in Week 2 in Miami, then defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-14 in Minneapolis. The New York Jets were beside be dispatched, falling 27-17 to Miami in Shea Stadium prior to the juggernaut that was the Dolphins rolled through the San Diego Chargers 24-10 as well as the Buffalo Bills 24-23, both in Miami. Week 7 featured Shula's former team, the Baltimore Colts, in the first of 2 conferences, with Miami traveling to Maryland to win 23-0. Miami completed their home-and-home series versus the Bills in Week 8, coming away with a 30-16 triumph. The New England Patriots proved to be no barrier for the Dolphins, who defeated them 52-0 in Week 9 in Miami prior to cleansing up the 2nd half of the Jets collection with a 28-24 victory. Lugging the momentum right into Week 11, Miami defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 23-10 prior to the 2nd Patriots video game as well as a 37-21 win. In Week 13, Miami beat the New York Giants 23-13 prior to completing off the Colts 16-0, finishing a best go through the normal period with a 14-0 record. Miami got on a winning streak that wouldn't endThat wasn't the only tale surrounding this team, however. Aside from the wins, Miami's largest storyline of the period was an injury to starting quarterback Bob Griese. In the team's Week 5 game versus the Chargers, San Diego's Deacon Jones tipped on Griese's leg, damaging it as well as dislocating the ankle joint. Shula was prepared, however, having actually convinced seasoned Earl Morrall to authorize with the Dolphins in the offseason just in situation he was needed. In the last considerable having fun time of his job, Morrall, then 38 years of ages, began the last 9 video games of the regular period for the Dolphins, then lugged the starting function into the playoffs. The 1972 regular season finished with the Miami Dolphins holding an ideal record of 14 success and 0 losses. The group had actually dominated the entire period, with an average margin of success of 15. 2 factors per video game, as well as just three games were won by much less than 10 points. The team had 2 1,000-yard rushes (Larry Csonka with 1,117 and Mercury Morris with 1,000-- the first time in league background that accomplishment was achieved); Jim Kiick had an additional 521 lawns, which incorporated to set the franchise's single-season group rushing yardage record. The violation was the top-ranked infraction in the organization (first in the thrill, 16th in the pass, 1st in scoring), racking up 5,036 backyards of total violation as well as 385 factors. The Dolphins also had the organization's top protection (third versus the run, fifth versus the pass, initially in points permitted), providing up just 3,297 lawns and also 171 points. How the Dolphins pulled it offIn the postseason, Miami beat the Cleveland Browns 20-14 in Miami before having to play the AFC Champion video game when driving, in spite of having a much better record than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The organization's rotation system of hosting playoff video games place Miami in Three Rivers Stadium, where the Steelers opened the racking up with an initial quarter touchdown. After tying the game before the half, the Dolphins discovered themselves encountering a 10-7 deficiency in the third quarter before Shula made the difficult phone call. Having actually recovered from his leg injury, Griese took back control of the Miami crime and showed to be the spark they needed. Miami got away Pittsburgh with a 21-17 victory and also were headed to their second straight Super Bowl. The last win for the 1972 DolphinsSuper Dish VII was held in Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 14, 1973. Over 90,000 followers packed right into the arena for an afternoon first between the Dolphins and the then-Washington Redskins. In spite of their dominance all period, oddsmakers did not appear to trust the Dolphins, and Washington was preferred in the video game by 1. 5 points. Miami controlled the video game on both infraction and protection Dolphins Store. The Dolphins' legendary "No-Name Defense," led by linebacker Nick Buoniconti that was calling out defensive modifications much faster than the Washington crime can react, was so effective defensive tackle Manny Fernandez finished the video game with 17 tackles. Washington's only factors from the video game followed among one of the most notorious plays in Miami background. With just over 2 mins to go in the video game, the Dolphins aligned for a 42-yard basket as well as what appeared to be a 17-0 lead as Miami sought to complete their 17-0 Perfect Period. Kicker Garo Yepremian connected on a low line drive, as well as the round was obstructed. Morrall, supporting Greise as well as acting as the owner on placekicks, tried to reach the round, but Yepremian defeated him to it as well as attempted to toss a pass to Csonka. The round unclothed Yepremian's hand, flying straight up right into the air. Yepremian remained with the ball and also attempted to strike the sphere out of bounds, but ended up batting it back into in the air, permitting Washington cornerback Mike Bass to order it. Yepremian made a twist's tackle effort, yet Bass prevented it as well as returned the sphere 49 lawns for a touchdown. Unexpectedly, as opposed to having the only nothing in Super Dish background, the Dolphins were clinging to a 14-7 lead with 2:07 left in the game. Washington picked to kick the sphere deep as opposed to try an onside kick. The protection held the Dolphins to a five-play drive, however they were required to use every one of the group's timeouts. Miami punted from their very own 36-yard line, a punt that was almost blocked, with just over one minute left on the clock. Nonetheless, the No-Name Protection was not going to let the desire for a Perfect Season die. After 2 straight incomplete passes, the defense forced a 4-yard loss on a swing pass. Encountering fourth down with 14-yards to go, the Redskins appeared seeking to pass yet Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer was sacked as time ended. The Dolphins won the video game 14-7, in the most affordable scoring Super Dish ever before. The 1972 Miami Dolphins finished their Perfect Period, finished conversation of Shula's document in the "big one," and cemented themselves right into NFL background. The 1972 Perfect Season continues to be the just such period in NFL background. The closest teams were the 1934 as well as 1942 Chicago Bears, both of whom shed the National championship to the Giants as well as Washington specifically, and the 2007 New England Patriots, who were shamed by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. Adhering to the period, lots of Dolphins received honors as well as honors. The group had 9 players named to the Pro Bowl. Quarterback Earl Morrall won the inaugural version of the NFL Resurgence Gamer of the Year. 8 members of the 1972 Dolphins group have actually been inducted right into the Pro Football Hall of Popularity: supervisor of player employees Bobbu Beathard, linebacker Nick Buoniconti, running back Larry Csonka, quarterback Bob Griese, facility Jim Langer, guard Larry Little, head instructor Don Shula and also large receiver Paul Warfield. The Dolphins' 1972 undefeated period continues to be the best period in NFL background. The 1972 Miami Dolphins group remains the best team in NFL background. As well as the video game of football was permanently altered by the Dolphins' Perfect Season.