It was consensus opinion for a while that 1973 was the superior team. I remember when I was new to Las Vegas I met a very well known New York handicapper and writer named Dan Gordon. He took particular interest that I was from Miami and had attended the Dolphins games in that era. Gordon insisted that the 1973 Dolphins were the best team of all time to that point, and rattled off some stats to back it up.
The pass defense numbers may have been part of it. I wasn't fully up to date on the most relevant stats at that point. I think I've mentioned that an issue of Inside Sports magazine in August 1987 with an article by Dick Vermeil is what enlightened me to certain stats, like yards per pass attempt and also the value of rushing attempts and not rushing yards. Vermeil came across as such a cut above in that article I remember thinking it was a shame his coaching career ended so soon and at a young age. Then, of course, he had a revived career many years later with the Rams and earned the status he deserved.
The Dolphins had to drop that 1973 spotlight into the '80s and especially when the Bears challenged unbeaten. It became obvious that a concrete reference point line unbeaten was easier to defend and champion than a vague subjective judgment toward best ever.
And it is absolutely the correct move. The unbeaten team needed to overcome situational down spots. The 1973 team could not do that. We didn't understand the inexplicable flat loss at Baltimore late in the season. It was the worst effort in years, dating back to midseason 1970. Not until I started charting situational results in the late '80s did I understand that Colts game. Miami was in a Fury of Anti-Revenge situation hosting Pittsburgh on Monday Night a week earlier. It was a rematch of the 1972 AFC Championship Game and the ****y talented Steelers had mouthed off all offseason and during the year about that game. Miami was in such an energized frenzy to smack them in the mouth again it equated to a 30-3 lead at halftime. That single half of football was the high water mark in Dolphins franchise history, IMO. We have never played that well -- before or since -- against a team of that caliber.
However, the Fury of Anti-Revenge is a first half betting angle of mine, and that olden game demonstrated why. The Dolphins were on fumes in the second half and barely held on, 30-26. That was the famous intentional safety game, when Cosell, Gifford and Meredith in the booth had no idea it was going to happen. Then Seiple boomed the free kick and the defense shuttered Pittsburgh quickly to save the game.
Six days later and on the road, Miami had nothing. Baltimore trampled all over us, 14-3. That game led to plenty of concern in the season finale against the Lions, and also entering the playoffs.
Griese had an inexplicably weak season in 1973. I remember sensing it at the time. Not many big plays all year. He wasn't being sacked and the interceptions were low but simply not much was happening downfield.
Once I finally looked it up 15+ years later the numbers confirmed as much. Griese averaged on 6.5 YPA, which was easily his lowest full season number after Shula took over in 1970. Second lowest was 7.0 in 1979 at age 34. He was 8.2 in 1970, then 7.9 in 1971, broken ankle early in 1972, 6.5 in 1973, then 7.8 in 1974 and 8.9 in 1975.
I am more than reluctant to assign 1973 as better, given that anemic passing attack. The yards per completion of 12.0 look more like a modern number with all the safe underneath throws than a free wheeling big play '70s number.
Of course, Griese only had to pass 31 times in the 3 playoff games combined. Gad I loved that team and the style of play. I wish football had never changed. My dream every week was not one drop back to pass, let alone an actual pass itself.
