Mercury Morris’ TDs stake lead, close scoring
November 12
New England, 52-0
It’s 31-0 by half; even third-string QB Jim Del Gaizo played
November 19
New York Jets, 28-24
Miami overcomes early 17-7 deficit
November 27
St. Louis, 31-10
Pair of Otto Stowe scoring catches lead rout
December 3
At New England, 37-21
Two late Pats scores made it seem close
December 10
At New York Giants, 23-13
Winning points on Paul Warfield’s 34-yard catch
December 16
Baltimore, 16-0
Garo Yepremian hits field goals from 40, 50 and 35
POSTSEASON 1972
December 24
Cleveland, 20-14
Kiick’s 8-yard 4th-quarter run caps comeback
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December 21
At Pittsburgh, 21-17
Kiick’s two TDs, Griese’s return lead another rally
January 14 Super Bowl
Washington, 14-7
Only Garo’s “pass” prevented Super shutout
SEASON LEADERS
Passing:
Earl Morrall, 83 for 150, 1,360 yards, 11 TDs, 7 ints.; Bob Griese, 53 for 97, 638 yards, 4 TDs, 4 ints.
Rushing:
Larry Csonka, 213 for 1,117 yards, 5.2 avg.: Mercury Morris, 190 for 1,000 yards, 5.3 avg.
Receiving:
Paul Warfield, 29 for 606 yards, 20.9 avg.; Jim Kiick, 21 for 147 yards, 7.0 avg.
Touchdowns: Morris, 12; Csonka, 6; Kiick 5.
Kicking:
Garo Yepremian, 24-37 FGs, 43-45 extra points, 115 points.
Punting:
Larry Seiple, 36 for 1,437 yards, 39.9 avg.
Kickoff returns:
Morris, 14 for 334 yards, 23.9 avg.
Punt returns:
Charlie Leigh, 22 for 210 yards, 9.5 avg.
Interceptions:
Jake Scott, 5; Lloyd Mumphord, 4.
Sacks:
Vern Den Herder, 10 1/2; Bill Stanfill, 10.
Tackles/assists:
Nick Buoniconti, 146; Manny Fernandez, 107.
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1974
December 15:
Paul Warfield catches four touchdown passes (21, 7, 16 and 4 yards) from Bob Griese in the first half of a 34-7 victory over Detroit at the Orange Bowl. Miami finishes 12-2.
December 30:
Dolphins win their third consecutive AFC Championship, rushing for 266 yards in a 27-10 victory against Oakland at the Orange Bowl.
January 13:
Dolphins dominate Minnesota, 24-7, in Super Bowl 8 at Rice Stadium in Houston to win their second consecutive NFL championship. Larry Csonka is named MVP after gaining 145 yards on 33 carries.
DOLPHINS ARE SUPER AGAIN
Monday, January 14, 1974
Gary Long
All week the Minnesota Vikings grumbled they were getting second-class treatment. Sunday, in Super Bowl 8, the Dolphins gave them worse.
Don Shula’s magnificent mercenaries mauled Minnesota, 24-7, to reassert their superiority over pro football.
The Dolphins bludgeoned the Vikings 33 times with a muscular sledgehammer named Larry Csonka and frustrated them with a defense that is losing its architect, Bill Arnsparger.
Csonka, who slammed for a record 145 yards and two TDs, and Arnsparger, next head coach of the New York Giants, both received game balls.
“That ought to put that rumor to rest,” Shula said when announcing Arnsparger’s award. “All I can say is the Giants are getting one hell of a coach.”
The thrashing of Minnesota before a Rice Stadium crowd of 68,142 (the no-show count was 3,740) confirmed that the National Football League is dealing with a Dolphin dynasty.
The Super Bowl appearance was the Dolphins’ third straight, a record. And the back-to-back victories matched the mark of the late Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in Super Bowls 1 and 2.
In addition, the triumph was Miami’s 32nd in the last 34 games that counted and eighth in its last nine win-or-out playoff games.
The 17-point victory margin over Minnesota matched the difference between the Dolphins and Oakland Raiders in the American Conference title game. Miami
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whipped
