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This exhibit at the Hall of Fame chronicles
the Dolphins ''72 season.
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The Anatomy of a Perfect Season ... that''s the theme of the Pro Football Hall of Fame display that commemorates the magnificent record of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, when they became the first team in National Football League history to go through an entire season undefeated and untied.
The Dolphins'' 17-0-0 season culminated with a 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. It is a unique feat that has stood the test of time. Will there ever be another perfect season? Every year that passes makes the remarkable record seem less and less likely to be matched. The latest serious challenger was the 1991 Redskins team that won its first 11 games in a seemingly invincible fashion before losing to the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 in Week 12.
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Larry Csonka
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The 1972 season was legendary coach Don Shula''s third with the Dolphins. Under his strict no-nonsense approach, the young Dolphins team gelled into a cohesive unit. Though the team featured players, like Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Bob Griese, Jim Langer and Paul Warfield - all Hall of Famers - it was often contributions from the lesser-knowns that made the difference. In fact, the team featured a defense that, although very good, lacked "star-power." Capitalizing on their anonymity, they accepted the nickname the "No-Name Defense." Eventually, even the "No-Names" of defensive linemen Manny Fernandez and Bill Stanfill became familiar names.
In week five a name from the past surfaced when 38-year-old veteran quarterback Earl Morrall came off the bench to replace a severely injured Bob Griese. Morral kept the unbeaten streak going through the remainder of the regular season and a 20-14 playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.
In Week 16, it was a healthy Bob Griese who came from the bench to direct his team to victory with a hard-fought 21-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two weeks later, Griese started and finished Miami''s 14-7 victory over the Redskins in Super Bowl VII.
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1972 Miami Dolphins Game-by-Game Results
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| No. 1 -- Dolphins 20, Chiefs 10 |
| No. 2 -- Dolphins 34, Oilers 13 |
| No. 3 -- Dolphins 16, Vikings 14 |
| No. 4 -- Dolphins 27, Jets 17 |
| No. 5 -- Dolphins 24, Chargers 10 |
| No. 6 -- Dolphins 24, Bills 23 |
| No. 7 -- Dolphins 23, Colts 0 |
| No. 8 -- Dolphins 30, Bills 16 |
| No. 9 -- Dolphins 52, Patriots 0 |
| No. 10 -- Dolphins 28, Jets 24 |
| No. 11 -- Dolphins 31, Cardinals 10 |
| No. 12 -- Dolphins 37, Patriots 21 |
| No. 13 -- Dolphins 23, Giants 13 |
| No. 14 -- Dolphins 16, Colts 0 |
| No. 15 -- Dolphins 20, Browns 14 |
| No. 16 -- AFC Championship -- Dolphins 21, Steelers 17 |
| No. 17 -- Super Bowl VII -- Dolphins 14, Redskins 7 |
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