1973 Miami Dolphins

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

The 72 Dolphins:

1. Scored the most points.
2. Gave up the fewest points.
3. Has the most yards on offense.
4. Gave up the fewest yards on defense.

(By the way, it's the only time in the Super Bowl era that a team has managed to lead all four of those categories. Not Lombardi's Packers. Not Jimmy's Cowboys. Not Walsh's 49ers. Once. The '72 Dolphins)

5. Had the second most takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways.
7. Went undefeated. Having to go on the road in the playoffs.
8. Despite having their starting quarterback gone for most of the year.

The 73 Dolphins:

1. Fifth in points scored. Scored 42 points fewer.
2. Gave up the fewest points. This is true. 21 points fewer. They might be the greatest pass defense of all time. Gave up 3.5 net YPA. If another team ever surrendered less than 4 yards per net pass attempt, I'm not aware of it.
3. Ninth in offensive yards.
4. Third in defensive yards.
5. Ranked 22nd in takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways. Again.
7. Didn't go undefeated.
8. Had their starting quarterback all year (Morrall started the last game of the season, which they lost).

The 72 Dolphins are the best team in NFL history.

But are they better than the 2007 Dolphins?

 

[BlueFin]

I've seen that more than a few times. Never gets old! Always thought the '73 Dolphins were a better team than the undefeated '72 team. '72 team played no team better than 8-6 in the regular season and if I remember, the '73 team set an NFL record allowing the fewest points. Csonka went over 1,000 and Morris was close. And the complete domination of Minnesota in SB VIII is icing on the cake. Kicked their a$$. I was 7 and I remember that win like it was yesterday. Great memories!

Its arguable....but the 1972 team was number one ranked on offense and defense and never slipped up like the 73' team did.

And the 72' did have to go on the road (due to a wierd rule), and defeat that Steeler team....loaded with future hall of famers...in the AFC championship game.

 

[Geforce]

8. Had their starting quarterback all year (Morrall started the last game of the season, which they lost).

Morrall started against the Baltimore Colts in the next to last game of the season. The Dolphins beat the Colts 4 weeks earlier 44-0 and I think Shula and the team took them lightly.

Griese started the last game against Detroit where he and Warfield connected on 4 first half touchdowns.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

For what it's worth, Don Shula called the 1973 team the better team although he did back off that statement.

The teams were nearly identical, but the 1973 team was more dominant in the playoffs. The difference there was having Bob Griese healthy for the entire postseason as opposed to coming in during the second half and sparking Miami to a victory in the AFC Championship game on the road against Pittsburgh. Earl Morrall was one of the best backups in NFL history, but the team was at a different level with Griese.

That 1973 playoff run was unreal starting with a 34-16 win over Cincinnati and an absolutely dominant, 27-10, win over a loaded Oakland Raiders team that had beat Miami, 12-7, early in the season. In the super bowl, the Dolphins just methodically took apart a Minnesota team that was recognized as one of the best defenses in the NFL with a line that included Alan Paige, Carl Eller and Jim Marshall. Plus the Vikings had a dual threat quarterback (a rarity then) in Fran Tarkenton.

Miami didn't allow a first down in Super Bowl VIII until the second quarter and made it 24-0 early in the second half. The Vikings scored that late touchdown to make it 24-7. It was the only offensive touchdown scored against the Dolphins in the two consecutive super bowl wins.

The 1972 team did something that no other team has ever accomplished. Besides going undefeated, Miami scored the most points, allowed the fewest and were ranked first in offense and in defense. The Dolphins also survived an injury to Griese as he missed nine game and most of the postseason. That showed the depth the team had at the most important position.

Those were great times to be a Miami Dolphins fan, but I honestly felt more confident with the 1973 team. That was probably because, as a fan, until you win it all you don't know for sure that you can. That said, the win in Super Bowl VII was much more impressive than the score. Miami came within 2:07 of the first-ever super bowl shutout and allowed just one play of 15 yards in the entire game. They dominated a Washington team that had sailed through the postseason in an impressive manner prior to facing the Dolphins.

 

[royalshank]

The 72 Dolphins:

1. Scored the most points.
2. Gave up the fewest points.
3. Has the most yards on offense.
4. Gave up the fewest yards on defense.

(By the way, it's the only time in the Super Bowl era that a team has managed to lead all four of those categories. Not Lombardi's Packers. Not Jimmy's Cowboys. Not Walsh's 49ers. Once. The '72 Dolphins)

5. Had the second most takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways.
7. Went undefeated. Having to go on the road in the playoffs.
8. Despite having their starting quarterback gone for most of the year.

The 73 Dolphins:

1. Fifth in points scored. Scored 42 points fewer.
2. Gave up the fewest points. This is true. 21 points fewer. They might be the greatest pass defense of all time. Gave up 3.5 net YPA. If another team ever surrendered less than 4 yards per net pass attempt, I'm not aware of it.
3. Ninth in offensive yards.
4. Third in defensive yards.
5. Ranked 22nd in takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways. Again.
7. Didn't go undefeated.
8. Had their starting quarterback all year (Morrall started the last game of the season, which they lost).

The 72 Dolphins are the best team in NFL history.

Damn - those '72 stats are insane. Throw in no starting QB most of the year and playing the title game in Pitt and I say, "**** you" to every broadcaster or fan that tries or tried to say the 2007 pats were better, or the '85 Bears or the '84 49ers, or blah blah. **** em all.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

The 72 Dolphins:

1. Scored the most points.
2. Gave up the fewest points.
3. Has the most yards on offense.
4. Gave up the fewest yards on defense.

(By the way, it's the only time in the Super Bowl era that a team has managed to lead all four of those categories. Not Lombardi's Packers. Not Jimmy's Cowboys. Not Walsh's 49ers. Once. The '72 Dolphins)

5. Had the second most takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways.
7. Went undefeated. Having to go on the road in the playoffs.
8. Despite having their starting quarterback gone for most of the year.

The 73 Dolphins:

1. Fifth in points scored. Scored 42 points fewer.
2. Gave up the fewest points. This is true. 21 points fewer. They might be the greatest pass defense of all time. Gave up 3.5 net YPA. If another team ever surrendered less than 4 yards per net pass attempt, I'm not aware of it.
3. Ninth in offensive yards.
4. Third in defensive yards.
5. Ranked 22nd in takeaways.
6. Had the fifth fewest giveaways. Again.
7. Didn't go undefeated.
8. Had their starting quarterback all year (Morrall started the last game of the season, which they lost).

The 72 Dolphins are the best team in NFL history.

That net yard per pass play in 1973 is simply unbelievable. Miami's defense back then was so underrated. I laugh when NFL Network does its top 10 lists and excludes the Dolphins from top 10 defenses of all-time. How can you get much better than back-to-back super bowl wins where the D gave up just one offensive touchdown?

Miami gave up one play of 15 yards versus Washington in Super VII and didn't allow a first down to Minnesota until the second quarter in Super Bowl VIII. Might have been a bunch of No Names, but man could they play.