Super Bowl VII

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Super Bowl VII
Image:SuperBowlVII.png
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Tot
Dolphins 7 7 0 0 14
Redskins 0 0 0 7 7
Date January 14, 1973
Stadium Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
City Los Angeles, California
MVP Jake Scott, Safety
Favorite Dolphins by 1
National anthem Andy Williams
Little Angels of Holy Angels Church, Chicago
Coin toss Game referee
Referee Tom Bell
Halftime show Woody Herman and the University of Michigan Band
Attendance 90,182
TV in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
Nielsen Ratings 42.7
Market share 72
Cost of 30-second commercial US$88,000

Super Bowl VII was the seventh Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The game was played on January 14, 1973 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California following the 1972 regular season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins, 14–7, and became the first (and only) team in the NFL to complete a perfect, undefeated season.

The score indicates a much closer game than it actually was as the Dolphins' "No-Name Defense" dominated the game, only allowing Washington to cross midfield only twice. But Super Bowl VII is most memorable for the final two minutes of the game: Miami's quest for a perfect season almost came to a sudden halt after Redskins cornerback Mike Bass picked up Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian's fumble and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.

Dolphins Safety Jake Scott was named Most Valuable Player. He recorded 2 interceptions for 63 return yards, including a 55-yard one from the end zone during the 4th quarter. Scott became the second defensive player in Super Bowl history (after Linebacker Chuck Howley in Super Bowl V) to earn a Super Bowl MVP.

Contents

[edit] Background

[edit] Miami Dolphins

Although the Dolphins went undefeated during the season, the team still had a bit of a quarterback controversy. In the fifth game of the regular season, starter Bob Griese suffered a fractured right leg and dislocated ankle. In his place, Earl Morrall led Miami to win the remaining nine regular season games. Morrall had previously played for Dolphins head coach Don Shula when they were both with the Baltimore Colts; Morrall had backed up quarterback Johnny Unitas and started Super Bowl III.

But Miami also had the same core group of players who helped the team advance to the previous year's Super Bowl VI. The Dolphins still had a powerful running attack, spearheaded by running backs Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Eugene "Mercury" Morris. Csonka led the team with 1,117 yards and 6 touchdowns. Kiick contributed 521 yards and 5 touchdowns, and also caught 21 passes for 147 yards and another touchdown. Morris rushed for 1,000 yards, caught 15 passes for 168 yards, added another 334 yards returning kickoffs, and scored 12 touchdowns. Overall, Miami set a record with 2,960 total rushing yards during the regular season, and became the first team ever to have 2 players rush for over 1,000 yards in one season.

Receiver Paul Warfield once again provided the run-based Dolphins with an effective deep threat option, catching 29 passes for 606 yards, an average of 20.9 yards per catch. Miami's offensive line, led by future hall of famers Jim Langer and Larry Little was also a key factor for the Dolphins' offensive production. And Miami's "No-Name Defense" (a nickname first used by Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry when he could not recall the names of any Dolphins defenders just before Super Bowl VI), led by future hall of fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti, allowed the fewest points in the league during the regular season (171). Defensive back Jake Scott recorded 5 interceptions.

[edit] Washington Redskins

After finishing the 1970 season with a 6-8 regular season record, the Redskins hired George Allen as their head coach, hoping he could turn the team's fortunes around. Allen's philosophy was that veteran players win games, so immediately after taking over the team, he traded away most the younger team members and draft choices for older, more established players. Washington quickly became the oldest team in the NFL and earned the nickname "The Over the Hill Gang". However, Allen's strategy turned the Redskins around as the team improved to a 9-4-1 record in 1971, and finished the 1972 season with an NFC-best 11-3 record.

Washington was led by 34-year old quarterback Billy Kilmer, who completed 120 out of 225 passes for 1,648 yards and a league leading 19 touchdowns during the regular season, with only 11 interceptions, giving him an NFL best 84.8 passer rating. Their powerful rushing attack featured two running backs. Larry Brown gained 1,286 yards in 285 carries during the regular season, caught 32 passes for 473 yards, and scored 12 touchdowns, earning him both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. Running back Charlie Harraway had 567 yards in 148 carries. Future hall of fame wide receiver Charley Taylor and wide receiver Roy Jefferson provided the team with a solid deep threat, combining for 84 receptions, 1,223 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

Washington also had a solid defense led by defensive backs Chris Hanburger (4 interceptions, 98 return yards, 1 touchdown), Pat Fischer (4 interceptions, 61 return yards), and Mike Bass (3 interceptions, 53 return yards)

[edit] Playoffs

For more details on this topic, see NFL playoffs, 1972-73.

Morrall led the Dolphins to a 20-14 playoff win over the Cleveland Browns. However, Griese returned late in the AFC Championship Game to help rally the Dolphins to a 21-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, the Redskins advanced to the Super Bowl without allowing a touchdown in either their 16-3 playoff win over the Green Bay Packers or their 26-3 NFC Championship Game victory over the Cowboys.

[edit] Super Bowl pregame news and notes

Much of the pregame hype surrounded the chances of the Dolphins completing a perfect, undefeated season, as well as their quarterback controversy between Griese and Morrall. Griese was eventually picked to start the Super Bowl because Shula felt more comfortable with Morrall as the backup just in case Griese was ineffective due to his recent inactivity.

Still, many favored the Redskins to win the game because of their group of "Over the Hill Gang" veterans.

[edit] Television and entertainment

The game was broadcast in the United States by NBC with play-by-play announcer Curt Gowdy and color commentator Al DeRogatis.

This was the first Super Bowl to be televised in the city in which it was being played. Despite unconditional blackout rules in the NFL that normally would have prohibited the live telecast from being shown locally, the NFL allowed the game to be telecast in the Los Angeles area on an experimental basis when all tickets for the game were sold.[1] The league then changed its blackout rules the following season to allow games sold out at least 72 hours in advance to be televised in the host market.

The pregame show was a tribute to Apollo 17, the sixth and last mission to date to land on the Moon and the final one of Project Apollo. The show featured the crew of Apollo 17 and the University of Michigan Band.

Later, singer Andy Williams accompanied by the Little Angels of Chicago's Angels Church from Chicago performed the national anthem.

The halftime show, featuring Woody Herman and the University of Michigan Band, was titled "Happiness Is".

[edit] Game summary

Most of the first quarter was a defensive battle with each team punting on their first two possessions. Then, Miami got the ball on their own 37-yard line with 2:55 left in the first quarter. Running back Jim Kiick started out the drive with 2 carries for 11 total yards. Then quarterback Bob Griese completed an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Paul Warfield to reach the Washington 34-yard line. After 2 more running plays, Griese threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to receiver Howard Twilley, giving the Dolphins a 7-0 lead with 1 second remaining in the period.

On the third play of the Redskins' ensuing drive, Miami defensive back Jake Scott intercepted quaterback Billy Kilmer's pass and returned it 8 yards to the Washington 47-yard line. However a 15-yard illegal man downfield penalty nullified a 20-yard pass completion on the first play after the turnover, and the Dolphins were forced to punt 3 plays later.

After the Redskins were forced to punt again, Miami reached the 47-yard line with a 13-yard run by Larry Csonka and an 8-yard run by Kiick. But on the next play, Griese's 47-yard touchdown pass to Warfield was nullified by an illegal procedure penalty. Then on third down, Redskins defensive tackle Diron Talbert sacked Griese for an 8-yard loss and the Dolphins had to punt.

The Redskins then advanced from their own 17-yard line to the Miami 48-yard line with less than two minutes left in the half. But on third down and 3 yards to go, Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti intercepted Kilmer's pass and returned it 32 yards to the Washington 27-yard line. From there, Kiick and Csonka each ran once for 3 yards, and then Griese completed a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Jim Mandich to reach the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Kiick scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with just 18 seconds left in the half, giving the Dolphins a lead 14-0 before halftime.

The Redskins took the second half kickoff and advanced across midfield for the first time in the game, driving from their own 30-yard line to Miami's 17-yard line. But defensive lineman Manny Fernandez sacked Kilmer on third down, and Washington's drive ended with no points after kicker Curt Knight missed the ensuing field goal attempt. Later in the period, the Dolphins drove 78 yards to Washington's 5-yard line, featuring a 49-yard run by Csonka, the second longest run in Super Bowl history. However, Redskins defensive back Brig Owens intercepted a pass from Griese in the end zone.

Early in the fourth quarter, Washington threatened to score by driving 79 yards from their own 11 to the Miami 10-yard line. But on third down, Scott intercepted Kilmer's pass in the end zone and returned it 55 yards to the Redskins 48-yard line.

After Miami moved the ball to the 34-yard line on their ensuing drive, kicker Garo Yepremian attempted a 42-yard field goal in what is now remembered as one of the most famous blunders in NFL lore. The kick was blocked by Washington defensive tackle Bill Brundige, but instead of falling on the ball, Yepremian picked it up and made a feeble attempt to throw a pass. Unfortunately for Miami, the ball slipped out of his hands. Yepremain batted it in the air while trying to regain control of it, and it went right into the arms of Redskins cornerback Mike Bass, who then returned the fumble 49 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead in half with 2:07 left in the game.

The Redskins were forced to use up all of their timeouts on the Dolphins ensuing possession, but forced them to punt with 1:14 remaining in the game, giving them a chance to drive for the tying touchdown. However, Miami's defense forced two incompletions, a 4-yard loss on a swing pass, and linebacker Bill Stanfill's 9-yard sack on fourth down as time expired.

Griese finished the game with 8 out of 11 pass completions for 88 yards and a touchdown, with 1 interception. Csonka was the game's leading rusher with 15 carries for 112 yards. Kiick had 38 rushing yards, 2 receptions for 6 yards, and a touchdown. Morris had 34 rushing yards. Kilmer completed 6 more passes then Griese, but finished the game with just 16 more total passing yards and was intercepted 3 times. Washington's Larry Brown rushed for 72 yards and 5 receptions for 26 yards. Redskins receiver Roy Jefferson was the top receiver of the game, with 5 receptions for 50 yards.

[edit] Scoring summary

  • MIA- Twilley 28 pass from Griese (Yepremian kick)
  • MIA- Kiick 1 run (Yepremian kick)
  • WAS- Bass 49 fumble return

[edit] Trivia

  • The last Super Bowl to be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Five subsequent Super Bowls would be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
  • This was the lowest scoring Super Bowl to date with both teams racking up a total of only 21 points.
  • This was the longest period in a Super Bowl to date for one team to be shut out, as Washington was held scoreless until 2:07 remained in the fourth quarter.

[edit] Officials

  • Referee: Tom Bell
  • Umpire: Lou Palazzi
  • Head Linesman: Tony Veteri
  • Line Judge: Bruce Alford
  • Field Judge: Tony Skover
  • Back Judge: Tom Kelleher

Note: A seven-official system was not used until 1978

[edit] See also

[edit] References

    The Super Bowl
    I 1967 | II 1968 | III 1969 | IV 1970 | V 1971 | VI 1972 | VII 1973 | VIII 1974 | IX 1975 | X 1976 | XI 1977 | XII 1978 | XIII 1979 | XIV 1980 | XV 1981 | XVI 1982 | XVII 1983 | XVIII 1984 | XIX 1985 | XX 1986 | XXI 1987 | XXII 1988 | XXIII 1989 | XXIV 1990 | XXV 1991 | XXVI 1992 | XXVII 1993 | XXVIII 1994 | XXIX 1995 | XXX 1996 | XXXI 1997 | XXXII 1998 | XXXIII 1999 | XXXIV 2000 | XXXV 2001 | XXXVI 2002 | XXXVII 2003 | XXXVIII 2004 | XXXIX 2005 | XL 2006 | XLI 2007 | XLII 2008 
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