We played Pittsburg in the 72 playoffs ON THE ROAD??!!?

[FinFan71]

For all the years that I've supported the 72 Dolphins, I never knew that we had to go on the road to play the Steelers in the AFC title game. I only found out becuase Tony Kornheiser mentioned it on PTI. They then later mentioned in a few minutes ago on Sportscenter.
So my question is, why did we have to do this? I wasn't alive when it happened so I have no idea

 

[Roman529]

I think they alternated home field among divisions back then...so what we did is even more amazing....unlike the Colts who will have home field the whole time, and they never will have played anyone tough outdoors in the crappy weather this year....don't even say the COLTS are as good as the '72 Phins....we were the best team ever.

 

[Agua]

The location of games was determined on a rotating basis between each division, not on the basis of record.

 

[Gonk]

The location of games was determined on a rotating basis between each division, not on the basis of record.

This is correct.

What's even more amazing is that our 72 offense and defense were both ranked #1 in the NFL that year.

 

[Danny]

I knew that and I've been talking about that at work with some of the guys..is the way it just to be.

Ozzy rules!!

Go Italy 2006 world cup

 

[FinFan71]

huh... interesting

Does anyone know when they changed the rule?

 

[bryan allen]

Yes Wilbon and Kornheuiser payed proper respect to the "perfect' ones. They also gave props to the job Nick is doing referring to him jokingly as the "imperial autocratic nightmare"

 

[Roman529]

I was reading my local paper here in Colorado and some writer from the Sun Sentinel in Florida said the '72 Dolphins did not play anyone who had a winning record that year and we played the Jets and Bills twice who I think only won about 4 games between them....but they also don't realize how we shut out teams that year and how dominant we were on both sides of the ball.

 

[FinFan71]

I just wish I was alive to see the 52-0 beatdown of the Patriots. Man, that must have been sweet

 

[bryan allen]

It was

 

[Roman529]

The Patriots had some horrible teams back then...they traded away Jim Plunkett to the Raiders and he eventually won a SB for them in 1980.....they also had Grogan at QB and were just as horrible.....I remember those days well. I also remember us beating the Bills every game during the 1970's...something like 20+ times in a row.

 

[jlfin]

I think they alternated home field among divisions back then...so what we did is even more amazing....unlike the Colts who will have home field the whole time, and they never will have played anyone tough outdoors in the crappy weather this year....don't even say the COLTS are as good as the '72 Phins....we were the best team ever.

The way you judge a team or an individual player is by the manner in which they dominated in their era.
Obviously, most of today's teams with improved nutritional and training technology would dominate teams of the 60's and 70's. The 72 Dolphins did everything asked of them, including winning a road playoff game against the vaunted Steelers. The Steelers are considered the team of the 70's and the best team ever by some. However, they didn't become dominant in the AFC until the Dolphins came apart. I still have a little resentment towards Csonka, Warfield and Kiick for abandoning the Dolphins and joining the fledgling WFL.

 

[Sundance Kid]

There is a VHS Called Legacy Begins...

It covers the Dolphins from the time Shula got there to the 74 Play-off Loss to the Raiders...which was one of the Greatest games I ever saw,as a kid it brought me to tears after that game knowing that Csonka,Kiick and Warfield were not going to be on the Team any-more......What a team for a kid to grow up with and look up to.....sigh....


Bring US back there...Nick...

 

[jlfin]

I was reading my local paper here in Colorado and some writer from the Sun Sentinel in Florida said the '72 Dolphins did not play anyone who had a winning record that year and we played the Jets and Bills twice who I think only won about 4 games between them....but they also don't realize how we shut out teams that year and how dominant we were on both sides of the ball.

In 2 SB wins the No Name defense surrendered 3 points. If that isn't dominance, what is? Griese only threw 12 passes in the SB in 72 because our O-line was that dominant.
That is why I have a hard time putting the Pats in the category of dynasty. They have won 3 of 4, but they have struggled in all of them, including a win against an upstart team Carolina that was just decent.
The Dolphins manhandled a highly regarded Vikings team (purple people eaters) in the 73 SB.

 

[Hasta]

I was reading my local paper here in Colorado and some writer from the Sun Sentinel in Florida said the '72 Dolphins did not play anyone who had a winning record that year and we played the Jets and Bills twice who I think only won about 4 games between them....but they also don't realize how we shut out teams that year and how dominant we were on both sides of the ball.

Remember that the Jets had won a Superbowl just a couple years before and the Steelers already had most of their Hall of Fame cast assembled. The thing that drove the 72 Dolphins was the embarrassing loss to the Cowboys in the Superbowl the previous year. To say that didn't play anyone when they went through the playoffs and the Superbowl is just silly.