1973 Miami Dolphins season

Infobox NFL_season

team = Miami Dolphins
year = 1973
record = 12-2
division_place = 1st AFC East
coach = Don Shula
stadium = Orange Bowl
playoffs = Won Divisional Playoffs (Bengals) 34-16
Won Conference Championship (Raiders) 27-10
Won Super Bowl VIII (Vikings) 24-7

Offseason

NFL Draft

Regular Season

Although the Dolphins were unable to match their 17-0 perfect season of 1972, many sports writers, fans, and Dolphins players themselves felt that the 1973 team was better. While the '72 team faced no competition in the regular season that had a record of better than 8-6, the '73 team played against a much tougher schedule that included games against the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys (all playoff teams), plus two games against a resurgent Buffalo Bills squad that featured 2,000-yard rusher O.J. Simpson. Miami finished with a 12-2 regular season, including their opening game victory over the San Francisco 49ers that tied an NFL record with 18 consecutive wins. The Dolphins' streak ended in week two with a 12-7 loss to the Raiders in Berkeley, California.

Just like the last two previous seasons, Miami's offense relied primarily on their rushing attack. Fullback Larry Csonka recorded his third consecutive 1,000 rushing yard season (1,003 yards), while running back Mercury Morris rushed for 954 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Running back Jim Kiick was also a key contributor, rushing for 257 yards, and catching 27 passes for 208 yards. Quarterback Bob Griese, the AFC's second leading passer, completed only 116 passes for 1,422 yards, but threw about twice as many touchdown passes (17) as interceptions (8), and earned an 84.3 passer rating. Wide receiver Paul Warfield remained the main deep threat on the team, catching 29 passes for 514 yards and 11 touchdowns. Also, the offensive line was strong, once again led by center Jim Langer and right guard Larry Little. Griese, Csonka, Warfield, Langer, and Little would all eventually be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Miami's "No Name Defense" continued to dominate their opponents. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown. Safety Dick Anderson led the team with eight interceptions, which he returned for 163 yards and two touchdowns. And safety Jake Scott, the previous season's Super Bowl MVP, had four interceptions and 71 return yards. The Dolphins were still using their "53" defense devised at the beginning of the 1972 season, where Bob Matheson (#53) would be brought in as a fourth linebacker in a 3-4 defense, with Manny Fernandez at nose tackle. Matheson could either rush the quarterback or drop back into coverage.

eason Schedule

eason Standings

[ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296 ]

Postseason

AFC Divisional Playoff

* Miami Dolphins 34, Cincinnati Bengals 16Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bengals
R1=3
R2=13
R3=0
R4=0
RT=16
Home=Dolphins
H1=14
H2=7
H3=10
H4=3
HT=34

"at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida"

*TV: NBC

The Dolphins outgained Cincinnati in total yards, 400-194, and first downs, 27-11, while also scoring on three of their first four possessions and shutting out the Bengals in the second half. The Dolphins racked up 241 yards on the ground, including 106 from Mercury Morris and 71 from Larry Csonka, while receiver Paul Warfield caught 5 passes for 95 yards and a score.

AFC Championship Game

* Miami Dolphins 27, Oakland Raiders 10Linescore Amfootball
Road=Raiders
R1=0
R2=0
R3=10
R4=0
RT=10
Home=Dolphins
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=10
HT=27

"at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida"

*TV: NBC

Running back Larry Csonka led the Dolphins to a victory with 117 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.

uper Bowl VIII

coring summary

*MIA - TD: Larry Csonka 5 yard run (Garo Yepremian kick) 7-0 MIA
*MIA - TD: Jim Kiick 1 yard run (Garo Yepremian kick) 14-0 MIA
*MIA - FG: Garo Yepremian 28 yards 17-0 MIA
*MIA - TD: Larry Csonka 2 yard run (Garo Yepremian kick) 24-0 MIA
*MIN - TD: Fran Tarkenton 4 yard run (Fred Cox kick) 24-7 MIA

Awards and Honors

* Larry Csonka, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
* Larry Csonka, Pro Bowl Selection
* Bob Griese, Pro Bowl Selection

Notes and references

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/1973.htm?redir Miami Dolphins on Pro Football Reference]
* [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1973-mia Miami Dolphins on jt-sw.com]