Highlighted Year: Larry Csonka, 1970

Fullback, Miami Dolphins

Age: 24 (Dec. 25)

3^rd season in pro football & with Dolphins

College: Syracuse

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 235

Prelude:

Csonka rushed for 2934 yards in college and was a consensus first-team All-American in 1967. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1968 AFL/NFL draft (eighth overall) but, with a poor team, was undistinguished in his first two seasons. Csonka suffered a severe concussion as a rookie, when he rushed for 540 yards, and missed further time to injury in 1969, ending up with 566 yards on the ground. The arrival of new Head Coach Don Shula for 1970 brought about a significant turnaround for both the team and Csonka.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 193 [11]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 84 yds.) at Houston 9/27

Yards – 874 [5]

Most yards, game – 115 yards (on 21 carries) vs. Boston 12/6

Average gain – 4.5 [5]

TDs – 6 [9, tied with Paul Robinson, Jim Kiick & Leroy Kelly]

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 11      

Most receptions, game – 2 (for 16 yds.) at Boston 9/20, (for 8 yds.) at Philadelphia 11/8

Yards – 94

Most yards, game – 54 (on 1 catch) vs. Buffalo 12/20

Average gain – 8.5

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 6

Points – 36

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Oakland)

Rushing attempts – 10

Rushing yards – 23

Average gain rushing – 2.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Dolphins went 10-4 to finish second in the AFC East and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the conference in rushing yards (2082). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders (21-14).

Aftermath:

Csonka, a classic power-running fullback with speed and a punishing style, continued to excel for the Dolphins. He gained over a thousand yards rushing in each of the next three seasons, twice averaging over five yards per carry, and Miami won AFC titles in each of those years as well as two Super Bowls, going undefeated in ’72. His crowning achievement was a 145-yard rushing performance in the Super Bowl VIII win over the Vikings that earned him game MVP honors. While Csonka ran for 749 yards and 9 TDs in 1974 and was selected to a fifth straight Pro Bowl, he, along with teammates HB Jim Kiick and WR Paul Warfield, had already committed to jumping to the World Football League in 1975. Csonka gained 421 yards in seven games with the Memphis Southmen before the league folded and he returned to the NFL in ’76 with the New York Giants. He had three lackluster years with New York, never gaining more than 569 rushing yards in a season or averaging better than 3.6 yards-per-carry. He returned to the Dolphins for one last year in 1979 and returned to form, gaining 837 yards and scoring a career-high 12 touchdowns. Overall in the NFL, Csonka rushed 1891 times for 8081 yards, which ranked sixth all-time at the time of his retirement, for a 4.3-yard average with 64 touchdowns and caught 106 passes for 820 yards with another four TDs. 6737 of those rushing yards came with Miami, making him the franchise’s all-time leader. In 12 postseason games he added another 891 yards and 9 TDs on the ground and also had a scoring catch among his four pass receptions. Csonka received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition three times, garnered All-AFC honors after one other season, and was selected to five Pro Bowls. The Dolphins retired his #39 and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1987.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1971: Dolphins Defeat Colts in Key AFC East Battle

The two top contenders in the AFC East met in Miami on November 21, 1971 as the Dolphins hosted the Baltimore Colts. Coached for the second year by Don Shula, the Dolphins came into the game with a 7-1-1 record and six-game winning streak on the line. The backfield combination of FB Larry Csonka (pictured above) and HB Jim Kiick was highly productive and, when they needed to go to the air, QB Bob Griese was an excellent passer. The overachieving defense was scrappy and benefited most from the presence of MLB Nick Buoniconti and safeties Jake Scott and Dick Anderson.

Baltimore, the NFL’s defending champion, was coached by Don McCafferty, who had succeeded Shula when he departed for Miami. 38-year-old QB Johnny Unitas was brittle and no longer great but could still be effective and the running game, led by second-year FB Norm Bulaich, was improved and operating behind an excellent line. The defense was tough, particularly at linebacker where MLB Mike Curtis was flanked by Ted Hendricks and Ray May. The Colts had a 7-2 record and could vault into first place with a win in Miami.  

There was a crowd of 75,312 fans in attendance at the Orange Bowl. The Dolphins went three-and-out on their first possession and punted. Baltimore put together a long drive of 77 yards in 14 plays. The Colts converted three third downs with Johnny Unitas passes along the way. The first was to TE Tom Mitchell in a third-and-three situation, the second was to HB Tom Matte on a third-and-10 play to the Miami 47, and the third gained 20 yards to Norm Bulaich (pictured below) while facing third-and-five. That put the ball at the 11, and after Matte ran for seven yards, FB Don Nottingham followed up with a four-yard touchdown carry. Jim O’Brien added the extra point and the visitors had the early 7-0 lead.

A clipping penalty on the ensuing kickoff had the Dolphins starting deep in their own territory and they again had to punt. Baltimore had good starting field position at the Miami 40, but couldn’t move effectively and O’Brien missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.

The teams exchanged punts as the game headed into the second quarter before the Dolphins finally came alive on offense. Bob Griese threw to Larry Csonka for 13 yards on a third-and-eight play and followed up with a completion to TE Marv Fleming for 16 yards. A long carry for an apparent touchdown by HB Mercury Morris was nullified by a clipping penalty but Miami continued to chip away with a run by Csonka and consecutive Griese passes to Jim Kiick. However, after reaching the Baltimore seven, Griese fumbled when hit by DT Jim Bailey while looking to pass and DE Billy Newsome recovered for the Colts.

The teams once again traded punts before a Unitas pass was intercepted by CB Tim Foley at midfield. But a Griese toss to Kiick lost nine yards, Griese fumbled the snap on the next play and had to fall on the loose ball, and a 16-yard completion to Kiick was well short of a first down. Garo Yepremian’s 54-yard field goal try with 1:17 remaining in the first half fell short and the score stayed unchanged at halftime.

The Colts had the ball first in the third quarter and punted from their end zone. Miami made the most of the resulting good field position, advancing 46 yards in eight plays. Griese ran for nine yards on first down and Kiick had a 19-yard gain among his four carries. A pass interference penalty in the end zone gave the Dolphins a first down at the one, and Kiick plunged for a touchdown from there. Yepremian’s conversion tied the score at 7-7.

Miami got the ball back in short order when LB Doug Swift intercepted a Unitas pass at the Baltimore 22 and returned it 12 yards. On the next play, Griese connected with Fleming for a 10-yard TD and, with Yepremian again adding the point after, the home team was ahead by 14-7.

The Colts responded with a long drive of 76 yards in 13 plays. Unitas started the series off with a nine-yard completion to WR Willie Richardson but was injured shortly thereafter while throwing a block on a double reverse and it was Earl Morrall behind center the rest of the way. Morrall completed a third-down pass to TE John Mackey for 18 yards but, two plays later, was sacked by DT Manny Fernandez. Facing third-and-17, he threw to WR Eddie Hinton for a 16-yard gain and Matte gained the needed yard on fourth down to keep the series going. Two more Matte runs set up a four-yard touchdown carry by Bulaich and, with O’Brien booting the extra point, the score was tied once again at 14-14.

That remained the situation as the contest entered the fourth quarter and the teams exchanged punts. A personal foul on the Colts helped Miami out of a second-and-14 situation as they got the ball back again and Griese followed up with a 14-yard completion to WR Karl Noonan. The series finally stalled at the Baltimore 13, but Yepremian put the Dolphins ahead by three with a 20-yard field goal.

The Colts advanced into Miami territory when Morrall passed to Hinton for a 33-yard gain, but after reaching the 35, a throw into the end zone was intercepted by SS Dick Anderson. There were still over three minutes remaining, but the Dolphins never let the visitors get the ball back. Griese threw to WR Paul Warfield for 13 yards to convert a third-and-three situation and Csonka ran for two more first downs to seal the 17-14 win for Miami.

Baltimore led in total yards (268 to 249) while the Dolphins had the edge in first downs (16 to 14). Miami generated more yards on the ground (168 to 100) and the Colts had the net passing advantage (168 to 81). Baltimore turned the ball over three times, to one by the Dolphins.

Bob Griese completed 10 of 16 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Larry Csonka rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries while Jim Kiick (pictured above) contributed 52 yards on 14 attempts that included a TD and also caught four passes for 22 yards. Marv Fleming topped the Dolphins with 26 yards on two receptions that included a touchdown.

For the Colts, Johnny Unitas was successful on 9 of 17 throws for 78 yards, giving up two interceptions, and in relief Earl Morrall was 6 of 9 for 99 yards with one picked off. Tom Matte ran the ball 17 times for 44 yards and Norm Bulaich had 5 catches for 41 yards in addition to his 23 yards on 8 rushing attempts that included a TD. Eddie Hinton gained 49 yards on his two pass receptions and John Mackey was right behind with his 46 yards, also on two catches.

The win put Miami a game-and-a-half ahead of the Colts, and while they lost the rematch in Baltimore, the Dolphins finished on top of the AFC East at 10-3-1. The Colts lost the season finale to end up in second with a 10-4 record, qualifying for the postseason as a Wild Card. Both teams won their Divisional round games, Miami in classic fashion over Kansas City in overtime while the Colts more easily dispatched the Browns, and the clubs met for the AFC Championship. The Dolphins dominated in a 21-0 win and went on to lose to Dallas in the Super Bowl.

1968: Starr-to-Dale TDs Lead Packers to Win Over College All-Stars

The Green Bay Packers, defending champions of the NFL, were under a new head coach as they faced the College All-Stars on August 2, 1968 for the benefit of Chicago charities. Vince Lombardi, having led the club to five league titles, including the last three in a row (and wins in the first two Super Bowls), handed over the reins to defensive assistant Phil Bengtson, although he remained Green Bay’s general manager and was watching from the press box. After having been upset by an All-Star squad in 1963, the Packers had thrashed the collegians by a combined score of 65-0 in 1966 and ’67.

Green Bay still had an effective, if aging, veteran core, with the offense directed by QB Bart Starr (pictured above) behind a solid line and the defense containing stalwarts such as DE Willie Davis, DT Henry Jordan, MLB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley, and FS Willie Wood. If there was a major question at this early stage, it was who would handle the placekicking following the retirement of Don Chandler.

Norm Van Brocklin, former star quarterback in the NFL and first head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, coached the College All-Stars. The roster contained the usual assortment of future pro stars that included C Bob Johnson from Tennessee, USC tackle Ron Yary, TE Charlie Sanders of Minnesota, and running backs Larry Csonka from Syracuse and MacArthur Lane of Utah State on offense, while the defense had Tennessee State DE Claude Humphrey, DT Curly Culp of Arizona State, and Texas-El Paso LB Fred Carr.

There were 69,917 fans in attendance for the Friday night game at Soldier Field. Getting the ball for their second series of the game, the Packers were pinned deep at their three yard line after a 55-yard punt by Jerry DePoyster of Wyoming. However, Bart Starr faked a handoff and then threw to HB Elijah Pitts down the middle. Pitts broke away for a 72-yard gain to the All-Star 26, finally being hauled down by Fred Carr (Green Bay’s first-round draft pick). Six plays later, HB Donny Anderson scored the first touchdown of the game from a yard out and Jerry Kramer kicked the extra point.

Twenty seconds into the second quarter, Starr threw to flanker Carroll Dale (pictured at left) for a 20-yard TD to conclude a 12-play, 89-yard drive. Kramer again added the point after. Later in the period, the Packers went 73 yards in four plays, with Starr connecting with Dale for another touchdown, this time covering 36 yards. Kramer’s third PAT made it a 21-0 score.

The All-Stars, who relied heavily on the running of Syracuse FB Larry Csonka in the first half, responded by driving to a 22-yard field goal by DePoyster. It wasn’t much, but it was the first time a group of All-Stars had put points on the board in three years. Green Bay scored once more at the end of the half as newly-acquired PK Wade Traynham kicked a 30-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the All-Stars got a break when Green Bay FB Jim Grabowski fumbled the ball away at his own 37. After Csonka pounded away for a total of 30 yards, QB Gary Beban, a scrambler out of UCLA, threw a fourth down pass to WR Earl McCullouch from USC for a seven-yard touchdown. DePoyster kicked the extra point and Green Bay’s lead was narrowed to 24-10.

The Packers came back with another score, however, with Starr once again connecting with Dale on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 13-yard TD. Kramer converted. Later Kramer, who missed on a 45-yard field goal attempt, was good from 47 yards out, setting a new record for the All-Star Game and giving Green Bay a commanding lead.

Down 34-10, the All-Stars fought back, advancing 76 yards with Massachusetts QB Greg Landry throwing to McCullouch (pictured below) for a 24-yard touchdown. DePoyster kicked the point after, and while it brought cheers from the crowd, it proved to be the game’s last score. The Packers won handily by a final tally of 34-17.

The Packers led in total yards (381 to 312), although the All-Stars outgained Green Bay on the ground by 206 yards to 88. The pro champs also had the edge in first downs (20 to 17). The All-Stars turned the ball over four times, to one suffered by Green Bay.

Bart Starr completed 17 of 23 passes, including ten in a row at one point, for 288 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Carroll Dale had 6 catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Donny Anderson led the Packers with 64 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one of which was good for a TD.

Greg Landry was successful on 7 of 14 throws for 79 yards and a TD with one picked off and Gary Beban went three of six for 27 yards and a touchdown but also gave up two interceptions. Larry Csonka rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries.

“He had a terrific night,” said Coach Van Brocklin of the All-Stars regarding Bart Starr’s performance. “He picked us apart.”

Green Bay’s win put the pro champs ahead in the series by 24 to 9 with two ties. It was the sixth win in eight appearances for the Packers, and would turn out to be their last. High expectations for the team to remain at the top were dashed as the Packers slipped to 6-7-1 with age and injuries, including one to Starr’s arm, ultimately taking a toll.

Larry Csonka joined the Miami Dolphins of the AFL and, after a slow start, went on to rush for 8081 yards in the AFL and NFL, gain selection to five Pro Bowls, and ultimately earn enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Earl McCullouch had the more immediate pro success with the Detroit Lions, earning consensus Rookie of the Year honors after catching 40 passes for 680 yards and five touchdowns (two of which came against the Packer). His career took a downward course thereafter and he ended up with just 124 pass receptions in seven NFL seasons.

1973: Csonka’s 2 TDs Propel Dolphins to Win Over College All-Stars

The 40^th annual College All-Star Game on July 27, 1973 featured the Miami Dolphins, undefeated NFL Champions of the 1972 season, against a group of All-Stars coached by John McKay of USC.

The Dolphins, under Head Coach Don Shula, featured a ball control offense led by power-running FB Larry Csonka (pictured at right), and QB Bob Griese was capable of throwing passes to good effect when necessary. The “No Name” defense was often overlooked but allowed few points. However, injuries were a problem coming into the All-Star Game. MLB Nick Buoniconti had just undergone surgery on his wrist a week earlier, but was forced to play the whole game because of injuries to linebackers Bob Matheson, Mike Kolen, and Doug Swift.

The All-Stars contained future NFL standouts in QB Bert Jones from LSU; running backs Chuck Foreman of Miami, Terry Metcalf from Long Beach State, and Oklahoma’s Greg Pruitt; TE Charle Young of USC, and Alabama G John Hannah on offense. The defense included ends Wally Chambers of Eastern Kentucky and John Matuszak from Tampa, Miami CB Burgess Owens, and LB Jim Youngblood of Tennessee Tech. Coach McKay took a relaxed approach to preparing for the game with one practice per day, instead of the usual two, and had few rules. The collegians alternated front lines and used many players on both platoons.

There were 54,103 fans in attendance at Chicago’s Soldier Field on a Friday night. Miami took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards in ten plays. Bob Griese threw just one pass along the way and Larry Csonka ran around right end for a three-yard touchdown to finish the series off. Garo Yepremian added the extra point.

The All-Stars had opportunities to score but failed to capitalize. They had a first down at the Miami 13 but Greg Pruitt fumbled and DT Manny Fernandez recovered for the Dolphins to snuff out the threat. In the second quarter, LB John Skorupan of Penn State intercepted a Griese pass and returned it 30 yards to the Miami 30. However, a 16-yard sack of Bert Jones moved the collegians out of scoring range and Ray Guy from Southern Mississippi was forced to punt.

Near the end of the first half, the All-Stars, starting from their 38 with Jones behind center, reached the Miami one yard line, but the Dolphins kept them out of the end zone and they settled for a 10-yard field goal by Guy. A key play occurred when injured FB Sam Cunningham of USC was sent in to attempt a leap into the end zone, but a five-yard penalty nullified the effort. The Dolphins maintained a 7-3 lead at the end of the half.

A heavy rain doused the stadium at halftime and the artificial surface was slick in the second half. The All-Stars had another break in the third quarter when Florida State DB James Thomas recovered a fumbled snap at the Miami eight. But the collegians again couldn’t punch the ball in and Guy’s 16-yard field goal try was missed.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jones fired a pass that traveled 60 yards and was intended for WR Barry Smith of Florida State, who had a step on his defender as he sprinted down the left sideline, but the ball went through his hands at the Miami 20. On the next Baltimore series, 39-year-old backup QB Earl Morrall (pictured at left) came into the game and directed a 55-yard scoring drive in seven plays. Morrall connected with TE Jim Mandich for two key completions and Csonka again finished off the possession with a seven-yard TD carry. Yepremian added the point after and, for all intents, the win was clinched for the Dolphins. Despite Miami’s sluggishness, the All-Stars failed to threaten again and the final score was 14-3.

“It wasn’t an emotional game for me or some of the other guys,” said Miami DT Manny Fernandez. “Actually, it was like a scrimmage.”

The Dolphins outgained the All-Stars (251 yards to 133) and had more first downs (16 to 9). Of the total for the All-Stars, only 13 yards and one first down came in the second half. Miami turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the collegians.

Larry Csonka was the offensive star for the Dolphins, rushing for 76 yards on 17 carries and scoring both touchdowns. Bob Griese completed 6 of 9 passes for 75 yards and had one intercepted while Earl Morrall was three of four for 38 yards. HB Jim Kiick had four catches for 24 yards and Jim Mandich led the club with 35 yards on two receptions.

Bert Jones played most of the game at quarterback for the All-Stars and completed 9 of 17 throws for 79 yards. Purdue HB Otis Armstrong led the runners with 39 yards on 11 attempts. Ray Guy punted nine times for a 44.1-yard average and helped keep the Dolphins from getting good starting field position, in addition to scoring the only points for the collegians.

Miami’s win marked the tenth straight for the pro teams and put them ahead in the series by 29 to 9. The Dolphins repeated as NFL Champions in 1973, but failed to return to the College All-Star Game when it was cancelled due to a players’ strike during the ’74 preseason.

While Ray Guy both placekicked and punted for the All-Stars, he had been chosen by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the NFL draft strictly for his ability as a punter. He would go on to a 14-year career, all with Oakland, and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first six seasons (seven overall). In 2014, Guy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1970: Eagles Upset Dolphins for First Win of Season

The Philadelphia Eagles were winless at 0-7 and, going back to the previous year, were struggling with an 11-game losing streak as they hosted the Miami Dolphins on November 8, 1970. QB Norm Snead, in his seventh season with the team, had a strong arm but was immobile and interception-prone. There were good receivers, most notably WR Harold Jackson (pictured at right), but the running game missed FB Tom Woodeshick, who had gone down for the year with an ankle injury. The defense had some talent, especially at linebacker and in the backfield, but the pass rush had not been impressive thus far. Head Coach Jerry Williams made some lineup changes coming into the game, inserting rookie first draft choice Steve Zabel at tight end and moving Gary Ballman from tight end to flanker, thus benching Ben Hawkins, in the hope of improving blocking for the running game.

Miami was in its first season under Head Coach Don Shula, having suffered through four lackluster years as an AFL expansion team (1970 was the first year with AFL teams merged into the reorganized NFL). Another new arrival, WR Paul Warfield, was obtained from Cleveland and proved beneficial to the young offense with his ability to stretch defenses. QB Bob Griese was still a work in progress, while halfbacks Jim Kiick and Eugene “Mercury” Morris, and FB Larry Csonka, were all talents on the rise. The young defense was anchored by veteran MLB Nick Buoniconti, who had rookies Mike Kolen and Doug Swift starting on either side of him, and also benefited from the presence of FS Jake Scott, a CFL veteran. After getting off to a surprising 4-1 start, however, the Dolphins had been shut out in their previous two contests and were 4-3 coming into Philadelphia.

There were 58,171 fans in attendance at Franklin Field. The teams started off the game trading punts, with each blunting promising drives by committing penalties. Miami got the first break when CB Curtis Johnson recovered a fumble by FB Lee Bouggess at the Philadelphia 45. Bob Griese ran the ball himself for a 16-yard gain, but the drive stalled at the 21 and Garo Yepremian missed on a 28-yard field goal attempt.

The Eagles were driving as the first quarter came to an end. Norm Snead completed consecutive passes to Harold Jackson for 15 and 9 yards and HB Cyril Pinder ran effectively. Snead capped the 80-yard, nine-play series with another pass to Jackson that was good for a 31-yard touchdown, Mark Moseley added the extra point, and the home team was ahead by 7-0.

The teams again exchanged punts, with the Eagles pinning the Dolphins back at their four yard line. The visitors dug out of the hole, however. After reaching their 13, Griese threw to Paul Warfield (pictured at left) for 15 yards and Larry Csonka followed up with a 14-yard carry to the 42. But Jim Kiick lost two yards and Griese’s next pass was intercepted by FS Steve Preece, who returned it 19 yards to the Miami 37. The Eagles advanced to the 16 and Moseley booted a 23-yard field goal.

Mercury Morris returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to give the Dolphins good field position at the Philadelphia 49 with 1:45 remaining in the first half. Kiick ran for 12 yards and caught a pass for another seven, but Griese again was picked off, this time by LB Adrian Young. Philadelphia drove 71 yards in six plays, with Snead throwing to Bouggess for a gain of 34 yards and Pinder running up the middle for 15 yards along the way. Snead connected with Jackson once again for a 15-yard TD and, with Moseley’s conversion, the Eagles took a 17-0 lead into halftime.

The teams started off the third quarter with an exchange of punts before Griese again gave up an interception, this time by CB Ray Jones, who returned it 17 yards to the Miami 16. The Eagles again took advantage of the turnover and Snead passed to Steve Zabel for a two-yard touchdown. Moseley added the PAT.

Down by 24-0, John Stofa replaced Griese at quarterback for the Dolphins. Miami had to punt after a short series, but this time the visitors were the beneficiaries of an interception as Jake Scott picked off a Snead pass and returned it 47 yards to the Philadelphia 19. On the third play of the fourth quarter, Yepremian finally got the Dolphins on the board with a 24-yard field goal.

The Eagles went three-and-out and punted, and the Dolphins struck quickly as Stofa threw long to Warfield for a 52-yard touchdown. Yepremian’s extra point made it a 14-point game with plenty of time remaining.

Philadelphia got a 23-yard gain on a pass from Snead to WR Ben Hawkins on the next series, but once again had to punt, and both teams followed up with short possessions leading to punts. Finally, starting at their own 38 with 5:16 to go, the Dolphins put together a six-play, 62-yard drive. Stofa converted a third down with a pass to Kiick that gained 20 yards and finished off the series with a toss to WR Willie Richardson for a 27-yard TD. Yepremian again converted and Philadelphia’s margin was down to seven points.

That was the last gasp for Miami, however. Following a short series that led to a punt by the Eagles, the Dolphins got the ball back at their 20 with the clock showing 1:40 to play. Stofa completed a pass to Morris for 14 yards but then was intercepted by Young, whose second pickoff of the day sealed the 24-17 win for the Eagles.

Philadelphia had the edge in total yards (291 to 245) and first downs (17 to 14). The inspired Eagles defense accounted for four sacks and four interceptions, which accounted for Miami’s turnover total. Philadelphia turned the ball over twice and gave up just one sack. The Dolphins also were penalized eight times, at a cost of 62 yards, while the Eagles were flagged on six occasions.

Norm Snead (pictured above) completed 15 of 29 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns while giving up one interception. Harold Jackson had 5 catches for 74 yards, two of them for TDs. Lee Bouggess also had 5 receptions, for 57 yards, although he gained only two rushing yards on 12 carries. Cyril Pinder ran for 99 yards on 23 attempts. Defensively, Adrian Young accounted for two of Philadelphia’s four interceptions.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese was successful on just 6 of 14 throws for 42 yards with no TDs and three interceptions. In relief, John Stofa went five-of-15 for 120 yards, two of them good for touchdowns and with one picked off. Willie Richardson caught three passes for 39 yards and a TD and Paul Warfield gained 67 yards on his two receptions that included one for a long score.

The Eagles tied Atlanta the next week and then upset the Giants on the way to a 3-10-1 record that placed last in the NFC East. The season turned around in a good way for Miami, which won its remaining six games to end up second in the AFC East at 10-4. The Dolphins qualified for a Wild Card playoff spot in the revamped postseason format brought about by the AFL/NFL merger and lost in the Divisional round to Oakland.

Norm Snead, in his last year with the Eagles, passed for 2323 yards and 15 touchdowns, but with 20 interceptions. Harold Jackson caught 41 passes for 613 yards (15.0 avg.) and five TDs. The performance by the rookie Lee Bouggess was characteristic as he led the club with 50 pass receptions, for 401 yards (8.0 avg.) and two TDs, but averaged just 2.5 yards per rushing attempt with 401 yards on 159 carries.

Just as Miami’s fortunes improved, so did Bob Griese’s. The fourth-year quarterback completed 58.0 percent of his passes for 2019 yards and 12 touchdowns, although with 17 interceptions, and was named to the Pro Bowl. Paul Warfield missed three games due to injury but averaged 25.1 yards on 28 catches for 703 yards and six TDs.

1973: Raiders End Miami’s Winning Streak

The Miami Dolphins, who were coming off an undefeated NFL Championship season in 1972, had an 18-game winning streak on the line (playoff games included) as they met the Oakland Raiders on September 23, 1973. Head Coach Don Shula’s team had last been defeated by the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI following the ’71 season and, in terms of regular season play, had won their last game in 1971 in addition to all 14 in ‘72 and, with a 21-13 victory over the 49ers in Week 1, the first in ’73 for a total of 16. QB Bob Griese directed an efficient ball control offense with FB Larry Csonka the chief ground gainer and WR Paul Warfield the dangerous receiver who could stretch the field and keep opposing defenses honest. The so-called “No Name” defense was tough and effective.

Oakland, coached by John Madden, topped the AFC West in 1972 with a 10-3-1 record but had lost its ‘73 opening game at Minnesota the previous week. At age 32, QB Daryle Lamonica had his share of critics but was still a fine passer and there was quality and depth at the receiving and running back positions. The offensive line was excellent and the defense was a good veteran group.   

The game was played at Memorial Stadium at the Univ. of California due to a scheduling conflict for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with baseball’s Oakland Athletics, and there were 74,121 fans in attendance, which set a franchise record for a Raiders home game. The Dolphins had first possession and moved in typical fashion from their 16 yard line with Larry Csonka and HB Mercury Morris running the ball and Bob Griese completing three short passes. But after reaching the Oakland 45, Csonka fumbled and SS George Atkinson recovered for the Raiders.

Now it was Oakland’s turn to move methodically down the field, with an 11-yard carry by HB Charlie Smith followed by FB Marv Hubbard (pictured at left) running the ball four straight times, the last picking up 26 yards to the Miami four. The Dolphins held at that point and George Blanda (pictured at top), who had recently celebrated his 46^th birthday and was playing in his 300^th pro game, kicked a 12-yard field goal to give the Raiders the early 3-0 lead.

The Dolphins had to punt following their next series and, in a possession that stretched into the second quarter, Oakland kept the ball on the ground and moved effectively, the biggest carry being for 19 yards by Smith. Once again the Raiders went for a field goal, this time much longer from 46 yards, but the result was the same as Blanda’s kick was good.

Miami went three-and-out on its next possession, but got a break when SS Jake Scott intercepted a pass by Daryle Lamonica. Starting at the Oakland 41, Csonka and HB Jim Kiick ran the ball down to the 18. However, Griese threw three straight incomplete passes at that point and the Dolphins came up empty when Garo Yepremian’s 26-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right. Neither team was able to threaten again for the remainder of the half, which ended with the Raiders ahead by 6-0.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter before the Raiders, taking advantage of a short 24-yard kick by Larry Seiple, gained possession at the Miami 46. Smith and Hubbard again ran to good effect and Lamonica completed a pass to Smith for seven yards. The drive stalled at the 12 and Blanda kicked his third field goal, this time from 19 yards.

RB Charlie Leigh returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to give the Dolphins good starting field position at the Oakland 45, but they were unable to put together a drive and Yepremian was short on a 45-yard field goal attempt that DT Art Thoms, stretching the full length of his 6’5”, got a hand on.

The teams again traded punts as the contest headed into the fourth quarter, with neither able to move well on offense. With 11 minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders began to advance as Lamonica completed passes to WR Fred Biletnikoff for nine and 22 yards. From the Miami 27, Smith and Hubbard again ground away at the Dolphin defense, and after driving 58 yards in 12 plays, Blanda was successful on a 10-yard field goal try, his fourth. With the clock down to 2:24, Oakland was up by 12-0.

The Dolphins came out throwing following the kickoff, with Griese completing passes to Kiick and Lee that totaled nine yards. Morris ran for six yards and a first down, and after an incompletion, he carried for seven yards. Griese threw to TE Jim Mandich for ten yards and the Dolphins picked up another 15 yards thanks to a personal foul. The seven-play, 75-yard series concluded with Griese passing to Mandich for a 28-yard touchdown. With Yepremian’s extra point, the Dolphins were down by five points and the clock showed just over a minute to go.

Miami tried for an onside kick but HB Pete Banaszak recovered for the Raiders. Three running plays were followed by a punt into the end zone and, with 42 seconds left and a winning streak on the line, the Dolphins took over at their 20. But all four of Griese’s passes fell incomplete and the Raiders held on to win by a final score of 12-7.

Oakland led in total yards (250 to 195) and first downs (12 to 10), reflecting the defensive nature of the contest. Neither team reached triple figures in net passing yards, with the Dolphins leading by 90 to 63. Miami turned the ball over twice, to one by the Raiders.

Daryle Lamonica went to the air just 10 times and had 7 completions for 63 yards with one intercepted. Marv Hubbard ran for 88 yards on 20 carries and Charlie Smith was right behind with 80 yards, also on 20 attempts. Fred Biletnikoff was Oakland’s leading receiver with three catches for 36 yards. The specialists did their part, with George Blanda kicking four field goals in as many attempts to account for all of the team’s points and Ray Guy averaging 49.0 yards on six punts. Otis Sistrunk, Art Thoms, and Phil Villapiano were most noteworthy in what was an outstanding group effort by the Oakland defense.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese completed 12 of 25 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Mercury Morris gained 48 yards on 7 carries and Larry Csonka had 47 yards on 10 attempts. Charlie Leigh led the club with three catches, for 16 yards, while Jim Mandich (pictured at right) totaled 38 yards on his two receptions that included the game’s only TD.

“We wanted to play them last year and stop the streak but we didn’t get the chance,” said Oakland’s Coach Madden. “But now we’re the team that did it.”

The Dolphins shook off the loss and reeled off ten straight wins on the way to a 12-2 record and second Super Bowl victory. Oakland lost the following week, and with the offense having difficulty scoring points, Daryle Lamonica was replaced by Ken Stabler at quarterback. The Raiders again topped the AFC West at 9-4-1 and advanced to the AFC Championship game, where the Miami exacted its revenge.

The 24^th-year veteran George Blanda went on to kick a career-high 23 field goals in 33 attempts (69.7 %) and, adding in 31 extra points, scored an even 100 points. Marv Hubbard led the Raiders in rushing with 903 yards and in touchdowns with six. He was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1972: Griese Leads Dolphins to Win Over Steelers for AFC Championship

The Miami Dolphins had gone undefeated through the regular season and were looking to move on to the Super Bowl as they faced the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC Championship on December 31, 1972. The Dolphins had immediately benefited from the arrival of Don Shula as head coach in 1970, reaching the playoffs in each of his first two seasons and topping the AFC in ’71. It seemed as though they would be in trouble when star QB Bob Griese (pictured above) went down with a broken ankle in the fifth game, but 38-year-old backup Earl Morrall stepped in and the club kept winning. The ball control offense set a league record with 2960 rushing yards and bulldozing FB Larry Csonka and fleet HB Eugene “Mercury” Morris both reached the thousand-yard mark. When the Dolphins needed to go to the air, WR Paul Warfield was one of the best deep threats in the league. The “No-Name” defense in reality had plenty of outstanding players, including pass rushing ends Bill Stanfill and Vern Den Herder, MLB Nick Buoniconti, and the excellent safety tandem of Dick Anderson and Jake Scott. After going 14-0, Miami won a tough AFC Divisional battle over the Browns to reach the conference title game.

The Steelers, coached by Chuck Noll, were an up-and-coming club that was in the postseason for the first time since 1947. After going 11-3 during the regular season to top the AFC Central, Pittsburgh won a hard-fought Divisional round game over the Raiders thanks to an astonishing play – the “Immaculate Reception” – scored by FB Franco Harris. Harris had rushed for 1055 yards as a rookie while third-year QB Terry Bradshaw continued his development. The defense was especially strong, with an outstanding line anchored by DT “Mean Joe” Greene, a fine pair of outside linebackers in Jack Ham and Andy Russell, and a group of backs that included a rising star in CB Mel Blount. A source of concern coming into the game, however, was that several of the players were battling the flu, including Bradshaw.

There were over 50,000 fans in attendance at Three Rivers Stadium on a 63-degree day in Pittsburgh. The Dolphins had the first possession and it ended with SS Glen Edwards intercepting an overthrown Earl Morrall pass that he returned 28 yards to the Miami 48. Pittsburgh moved methodically in ten plays, with Franco Harris carrying on the first four and seven times overall for 35 yards. Facing third-and-two at the Miami three, Terry Bradshaw ran around left end but fumbled into the end zone when hit by Jake Scott. OT Gerry Mullins recovered for a touchdown and, with Roy Gerela adding the extra point, the Steelers had the early 7-0 lead. However, Bradshaw was shaken up on the play and Terry Hanratty came in at quarterback when Pittsburgh next had the ball.

The teams exchanged punts and, as the first quarter ended, the Dolphins had a first down at their 46 after a Morrall throw to TE Marv Fleming picked up 15 yards. The series stalled at the Pittsburgh 42, but Larry Seiple, lined up to punt, caught the Steelers napping and instead took off and ran 37 yards to the 12 (pictured below). Two plays later, Morrall threw to Larry Csonka for a nine-yard TD and Garo Yepremian added the extra point to tie the score. Neither team was able to get out of its end of the field for the remainder of the half as they traded punts and failed at connecting on long passes. The score remained 7-7 at the half.

Pittsburgh took the second half kickoff and drove into Miami territory. On third-and-13, Hanratty completed a pass to TE John McMakin for 22 yards and followed up with a throw to WR Ron Shanklin for 24 yards to the Miami 37. The Steelers got another big gain, this time on a draw play as HB John “Frenchy” Fuqua ran for another 24 yards. The series finally stalled at the seven and Gerela booted a 14-yard field goal to put Pittsburgh back in front by 10-7.

When the Miami offense came on the field, Bob Griese was at quarterback, making his first appearance since suffering the injury in Week 5. After two short running plays, Griese went to the air and connected with Paul Warfield for a 52-yard gain to the Pittsburgh 24. The Dolphins got a huge break when LB Jack Ham intercepted a pass that was nullified by an offside penalty on the Steelers. The series continued and ended after 80 yards and 11 plays with HB Jim Kiick taking a pitchout and running two yards for a touchdown. Yepremian added the PAT and Miami was on top by 14-10.

The teams exchanged punts to finish off the third quarter. Pittsburgh had good field position to start the final period at the Miami 48 following a 33-yard Seiple punt. Harris ran for seven yards but then Hanratty threw two incomplete passes and a 48-yard field goal attempt by Gerela was blocked.

Taking over at the Pittsburgh 49, the Dolphins put together another scoring drive. Griese passed just once in the 11-play possession, as Csonka, Kiick, and Mercury Morris carried the load. Kiick again finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown carry and Yepremian’s extra point made Miami’s lead 21-10.

Terry Bradshaw was back behind center for the Steelers as they took possession at their 29 following the kickoff. He wasted no time moving the team down the field, completing a nine-yard pass to TE Larry Brown and following up with consecutive 25-yard completions to WR Al Young and Shanklin. The fourth play was a 12-yard TD pass to Young and Gerela’s conversion cut the Miami lead to four points.

The Dolphins went three-and-out on their next series and had to punt. Bradshaw was tossed for a nine-yard loss, threw an incomplete pass, and then was intercepted by Nick Buoniconti. Miami was able to run the clock down to 48 seconds, turning the ball over on downs at the Pittsburgh nine. Two plays later, LB Mike Kolen intercepted Bradshaw’s last-gasp pass and the Dolphins were winners by a score of 21-17.

Miami had the edge in total yards (314 to 250), with 193 of that total coming on 49 running plays, and first downs (19 to 13). The Dolphins also recorded the only two sacks of the game on defense. The Steelers turned the ball over twice, late in the contest, while Miami suffered the one early turnover.

Bob Griese completed three of five passes for 70 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions after relieving Earl Morrall, who was 7-of-11 for 51 yards with a TD and an interception. Mercury Morris led the ground attack with 76 yards on 16 carries while Larry Csonka contributed 68 yards on 24 attempts and also scored on his one catch. Jim Kiick (pictured above) gained just 12 yards on 8 carries, but two were good for TDs. Marv Fleming caught 5 passes for 50 yards and Paul Warfield, thanks to his one long reception on Griese’s first throw, gained 63 yards on his two catches.

For the Steelers, both Terry Bradshaw and Terry Hanratty were successful on 5 of 10 passes, with Bradshaw tossing for one TD while giving up the two late interceptions while Hanratty’s completions gained 57 yards. Franco Harris ran for 76 yards on 16 attempts. Al Young was the team’s top receiver with four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Miami, with Bob Griese starting at quarterback, went on to crown its undefeated season with a win in the Super Bowl over the Washington Redskins. The Dolphins won a third consecutive AFC Championship in 1973 and again won the Super Bowl. The Steelers were a 10-4 Wild Card team in ’73, losing to Oakland in the Divisional playoff round, but would succeed Miami as the NFL’s top team with back-to-back Super Bowl victories in 1974 and ’75.

1974: Raiders Stun Dolphins in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The Miami Dolphins had won the Super Bowls following the 1972 and ’73 seasons and were looking to make it three straight as they faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoff round on December 21, 1974. Coached by Don Shula for the fifth year, Miami featured a highly productive ground game on offense led by FB Larry Csonka. QB Bob Griese was an able field general who, on the occasions when he passed, was very effective and WR Paul Warfield was a deep threat who kept defenses honest. The fact that Csonka and Warfield, along with HB Jim Kiick, were lame ducks in Miami because of having signed with the World Football League’s Memphis Southmen for 1975 didn’t limit their performance in ‘74. Defensively, the team was strong with solid ends Bill Stanfill and Vern den Herder, aging MLB Nick Buoniconti anchoring a fine corps of linebackers, and the outstanding safety tandem of Jake Scott and Dick Anderson. The Dolphins topped the AFC East with an 11-3 record and appeared primed for another title run.

Oakland, coached by John Madden, was an annual title contender but had not been to the Super Bowl since representing the AFL after the 1967 season. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler was an exciting performer who led the league with 26 TD passes during the regular season. The starting wide receivers were excellent, with Cliff Branch providing the speed and Fred Biletnikoff the reliability as a possession receiver.  The stable of running backs was a good one and the defense, while not the best, was rugged. The Raiders topped the AFC West at 12-2 and, in the eyes of many fans, the Raiders and Dolphins were the league’s two best teams and this Divisional playoff, as a result, was the “real” Super Bowl.

There were 52,317 fans in attendance on a gray Saturday at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The game got off to an exciting start when Miami WR Nat Moore ran the opening kickoff back 89 yards for a touchdown. Garo Yepremian added the extra point and the Dolphins were ahead by 7-0 after just 15 seconds of action.

The contest settled into a battle for field position as the teams traded punts until the Raiders put together a seven-play, 78-yard drive to get on the board in the second quarter. Ken Stabler completed two nine-yard passes, to Fred Biletnikoff and FB Marv Hubbard, and HB Clarence Davis had a 19-yard carry to the Miami 36. Three plays later, Stabler connected with HB Charlie Smith for a 31-yard TD and George Blanda’s extra point tied the score.

The Dolphins responded with a long scoring drive of 63 yards in 11 plays. The first six were running plays, with HB Benny Malone, Larry Csonka, and Jim Kiick carrying the load. Facing third-and-four at the Oakland 29, Bob Griese threw to Kiick for five yards and, after getting to the 16, Yepremian kicked a 33-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining in the half. The Dolphins held a 10-7 lead at halftime.

The teams again exchanged punts to start the third quarter. On their second series, the Raiders advanced 60 yards in nine plays. Stabler passed to Biletnikoff for 20 yards on the first play, taking the ball into Miami territory, and a pass to TE Bob Moore on third-and-seven was just enough for a first down. A run by HB Pete Banaszak picked up nine yards and Davis gained eight. Finally, Stabler connected with Biletnikoff for a 13-yard touchdown. Blanda added the PAT and Oakland was on top for the first time by 14-10.

The Dolphins came back with another score. Griese helped his cause with a nine-yard scramble and Malone and Csonka had good gains along the way. A pass interference penalty on the Raiders gave Miami a first down at the Oakland 16 and, from there, Griese threw to Paul Warfield for a touchdown. Yepremian’s extra point attempt was blocked by DE Bubba Smith, but the Dolphins remained ahead by two points at 16-14.

The teams again traded punts until, on the last play of the third quarter, Csonka ran for 15 yards to spark a drive that covered 60 yards in nine plays. With Malone and Csonka running effectively and Griese completing a pass to Warfield for 20 yards along the way, the visitors reached the Oakland 28. Yepremian kicked a 46-yard field goal to widen the Miami lead to 19-14.

After another exchange of punts, and with less than five minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders scored in spectacular fashion. Stabler threw to Cliff Branch, who made a diving catch at the Oakland 28. However, CB Henry Stuckey failed to touch him and the alert Branch leaped up and ran the distance for a 72-yard TD. Blanda’s extra point put the home team on top at 21-19 with 4:37 remaining to play.

In response, the Dolphins went 68 yards in just four plays. Griese threw to Nat Moore for 23 yards and then Miami ran at the Oakland defense, with Csonka picking up a total of 22 yards on two carries. Finally, Malone (pictured below) swept around end on a 23-yard touchdown run that put Miami back in the lead. Yepremian added the extra point and it was 26-21 with a little over two minutes on the clock.

Starting from the Oakland 32 after the ensuing kickoff, Stabler completed passes to Biletnikoff of 18 and 20 yards and two more throws, to Branch and WR Frank Pitts, got the ball to the Miami 14. Facing third-and-one, Coach Madden called for a running play and Davis gained six yards off tackle for first-and-goal at the eight. The time remaining was now down to 35 seconds and the Raiders used their final timeout. On the next play, with the primary receivers well covered Stabler seemed about to be sacked by Vern Den Herder but caught a glimpse of Davis in the end zone and threw while falling forward. Leaping amid a crowd of defenders, Davis pulled the ball away from LB Mike Kolen and fell to the ground for a touchdown (pictured at top). Blanda again converted and Oakland had a two-point lead.

That was enough. The Dolphins got the ball back, but Griese threw a pass that was intercepted by LB Phil Villapiano, and the Raiders won the classic encounter and advanced by a final score of 28-26.

Oakland had more total yards (411 to 294) and the edge in first downs (19 to 18). The Dolphins ran the ball well, totaling 213 yards on the ground (to 135 for the Raiders) while Oakland had 276 net passing yards to Miami’s 81. Each team recorded two sacks and turned the ball over one time apiece.

Ken Stabler  (pictured below) completed 20 of 30 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.  Fred Biletnikoff had 8 catches for 122 yards and a TD and, with the long scoring reception, Cliff Branch contributed 84 yards on three catches. Clarence Davis led the team’s running attack with 59 yards on 12 attempts while also accounting for two pass receptions for 16 yards and the game-winning score. Marv Hubbard was right behind with 55 yards on 14 carries.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese was successful on 7 of 14 throws for 101 yards and a TD, while one pass was picked off. Larry Csonka rushed for 114 yards on 24 attempts and Benny Malone gained 83 yards on 14 carries that included a touchdown. Paul Warfield caught three passes for 47 yards and a TD.

“When you lose like that, you know it wasn’t meant to be,” said Don Shula. “Your dreams just go down the drain.”

The loss did indeed end Miami’s dream of a third consecutive NFL Championship, but, ironically enough considering the speculation that the winner of this game would be sure to advance to the Super Bowl, the Raiders did not make it that far as they lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

Oakland topped the AFC West again in 1975, and again reached the AFC title game before falling to the Steelers. The Raiders finally achieved the elusive NFL Championship in ’76. As for the Dolphins, the loss to the Raiders did mark the end of an outstanding run that was highlighted by the three straight AFC titles as well as the back-to-back Super Bowl victories. The loss of the veterans Csonka, Warfield, and Kiick in 1975 had an effect, with Csonka’s role at fullback proving difficult to replace. Miami just missed the playoffs with a 10-4 record and fell to 6-8 in 1976; the Dolphins would not return to the postseason until 1978. 

1975: Southmen Rally in Second Half to Defeat Hornets

In Week 2 of the World Football League’s second season, the Charlotte Hornets took on the Memphis Southmen on August 9, 1975 at the Liberty Bowl. There were 19,729 fans in attendance for the Saturday night matchup, including singer Elvis Presley.

The Southmen, popularly referred to as the “Grizzlies” by their fans, had put together the league’s best record in 1974 under Head Coach John McVay, although they had come up short in the postseason. They looked to be an even stronger club with the addition of the celebrated trio of FB Larry Csonka, HB Jim Kiick, and WR Paul Warfield, who were signed away from the NFL’s Miami Dolphins amid great fanfare (pictured above are Csonka, at left, and Kiick). However, the Southmen had barely edged Jacksonville to win their first game.

For Charlotte Head Coach Bob Gibson, who had been offensive backfield coach with the Southmen in ’74, the game in Memphis was something of a homecoming. The team he was now coaching started out as the New York Stars before moving to Charlotte midway through the previous season. While they still had Tom Sherman, along with ex-Yale star Brian Dowling, available at quarterback the Hornets had lost many of the veterans, mostly from the NFL Jets, who had been on the roster the previous year. They were 0-1 after having lost their season-opening game to the San Antonio Wings.

In the first half, Charlotte was dominant on defense but didn’t score until getting a 25-yard field goal by Pete Rajecki late in the second quarter. However, the Hornets got the ball back quickly when CB David Thomas fumbled after returning the ensuing kickoff 22 yards and was hit by G John Culpepper. LB Tom Embrey grabbed the ball in the air and ran it back 22 yards. Three plays later, Brian Dowling tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to WR Kreg Kapitan. Dowling followed up with another throw to Kapitan to add the action point (in the WFL, touchdowns counted for seven points and were followed by an action point that could not be kicked) and the visitors were up at halftime by a score of 11-0.

In the third quarter, things began to turn around. Csonka scored the first touchdown for the Southmen on a pass from QB John Huarte that covered 10 yards. In the meantime, the Memphis defense also took charge, putting pressure on Dowling and stifling the Charlotte offense.

Once again in scoring territory, and with the home crowd having come alive, Huarte threw another 10-yard scoring pass, this time to Warfield, who was wide open in the end zone. The action point attempt failed but Memphis had the lead at 15-11.

In the fourth quarter, an eight-play drive by the Southmen that covered 51 yards ended with Kiick scoring a touchdown from two yards out. The 29-year-old halfback was the key player on the series, running the ball four times for 26 yards. The action point was successfully tacked on and that was it - the final score was 23-11 in favor of Memphis.

The Southmen outgained Charlotte (313 yards to 232), with 199 yards of that total coming on the ground, and also had the edge in first downs (21 to 13). Both teams turned the ball over twice and there were many penalties, with Memphis committing 10 at a cost of 90 yards while the Hornets were flagged 7 times for 44 yards.

Larry Csonka rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries and added another 23 yards on three pass receptions that included a touchdown. Jim Kiick ran the ball 12 times for 66 yards and a TD. He was also the team’s most productive receiver with 38 yards on his three catches. Paul Warfield’s 10-yard scoring catch was his only one of the game. John Huarte completed 8 of 18 passes for 101 yards with two touchdowns and none intercepted.

For the Hornets, Brian Dowling was successful on 9 of 15 throws for 91 yards with a TD and an interception. Tom Sherman also saw action and added 4 completions out of 9 passes for 48 yards with one intercepted. HB Don Highsmith rushed for 63 yards on 23 carries and caught 6 passes for 64 more yards.

The Southmen went on to post a 7-4 that placed them second in the Eastern Division at the point that the WFL folded in October. Charlotte was 6-5 and tied for third in the division with Jacksonville.

Of the celebrated trio of ex-Dolphins, Jim Kiick rushed for 462 yards and 9 touchdowns on 121 carries (3.8 avg.) and caught 25 passes for 259 yards and another TD. Larry Csonka, who was slowed by injuries, gained 421 yards on 99 attempts (4.3 avg.). Paul Warfield had 25 pass receptions for 422 yards (16.9 avg.) and three TDs. All three returned to the NFL after the demise of the WFL. 

1974: Miami Dominates on Ground to Defeat Vikings in Super Bowl VIII

Coming off an undefeated season that culminated in a Super Bowl victory certainly was a hard act to follow for the Miami Dolphins in 1973, but while the record was not unblemished, it was still a more-than-satisfactory 12-2. Head Coach Don Shula’s team still featured a strong running game on offense led by the power of FB Larry Csonka (pictured above) and the speed of HB Eugene “Mercury” Morris. QB Bob Griese was efficient and, when he had to throw, he had an outstanding deep threat available in WR Paul Warfield. The offensive line was exemplary and the “No Name Defense” was solid and tough. They again finished atop the AFC East and blew past the Bengals and Raiders to win a third straight AFC title and return to the Super Bowl.

On January 13, 1974 the Dolphins defended their NFL title against the Minnesota Vikings, who had also gone 12-2 in winning the NFC Central. Coached by Bud Grant for the seventh year, the Vikings had long been known for defensive excellence, and that was still the case in ’73. The line of ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall and tackles Alan Page and Gary Larsen was highly experienced and formidable while the linebacking corps was led by MLB Jeff Siemon and ball-hawking FS Paul Krause was in the backfield. The offense was directed by 33-year-old QB Fran Tarkenton and benefited from the presence of two newcomers, WR John Gilliam, obtained from the Cardinals, and rookie RB Chuck Foreman.

There were 68,142 fans in attendance – not to mention the mammoth television audience – on an overcast day at Houston’s Rice Stadium. The Dolphins had the ball in the opening possession and methodically drove 62 yards in 10 plays. It was all Csonka and Morris running the ball while Griese passed just twice, to TE Jim Mandich (pictured below) for 13 yards in a third-and-four situation, and to WR Marlin Briscoe for six yards to the Minnesota 21. Csonka ran for the last five yards and a touchdown and, with Garo Yepremian’s extra point, the defending champs were ahead by 7-0.

The Vikings responded with a three-and-out series and, after receiving Mike Eischeid’s punt, Miami again advanced almost effortlessly down the field. Once again Griese needed to go to the air just twice, and a 13-yard completion to Briscoe on a third-and-one play gave the Dolphins a first-and-goal at the Minnesota one yard line. Two plays later HB Jim Kiick scored a TD to cap the 10-play, 56-yard drive and it was 14-0 after a quarter of action. It would be all Miami needed.

The Vikings had two more possessions in which they failed to generate a single first down while, in between, the Dolphins , largely thanks to a sack of Griese by DT Alan Page for a ten yard loss, had to punt. But on Miami’s next series, they went 44 yards in seven plays to score again. It was much the same story as before – five runs by Csonka, a ten-yard gain by Morris, and a Griese completion to Paul Warfield for six yards. While the Vikings were actually able to stop Csonka twice for no gain on second and third down in a short-yardage situation, the Dolphins added a 28-yard field goal by Yepremian.

With just over six minutes remaining in the half, the Vikings finally put together a long drive. Tarkenton connected with TE Stu Voigt for 17 yards on a third-and-eight play, again hit Voigt in a third-and-nine situation for 14 yards, and right after the two minute warning threw to John Gilliam for 30 yards to the Miami 15. But on a fourth-and-one play from the Miami six, RB Oscar Reed fumbled and FS Jake Scott recovered. Minnesota came up empty and the Dolphins took the 17-0 lead into halftime.

A 65-yard kickoff return by Gilliam to start the second half was called back due to a clipping penalty and, from that point, the third quarter looked like a reprise of the opening period. The Vikings punted after going nowhere in three plays and Miami put together a 43-yard scoring drive in eight plays. On a third-and-five play, Griese made another of his rare but effective passes, connecting with Warfield for a 27-yard gain to the Minnesota 11. Csonka finished the series off with a two-yard touchdown carry and, at 24-0, the Dolphins had an insurmountable lead.

The Vikings finally put points on the board in the fourth quarter. Tarkenton completed five passes in a 10-play possession that covered 57 yards. The biggest play was a 15-yard throw to Voigt in a third-and-eight situation to start the final period. The nimble quarterback kept the ball himself in running around right end for a four-yard TD and Fred Cox added the extra point.

Minnesota, in desperation, tried an onside kick that was initially successful but was nullified by an offside penalty. The Dolphins got the ball and punted following a short series, and the Vikings, taking over at their three yard line, drove into Miami territory. The highlight of the drive was a swing pass to RB Ed Marinaro that gained 27 yards, but the series stalled at the Miami 32 and Tarkenton’s long third down pass intended for WR Jim Lash was intercepted at the goal line by CB Curtis Johnson.

That was it for the Vikings. Miami controlled the ball for the remaining 6:24 and the Dolphins were once again champions by a score of 24-7.

The Dolphins had more total yards (259 to 238), with 196 of that total coming on the ground, and accumulated more first downs (21 to 14). The Vikings turned the ball over twice, as opposed to none suffered by Miami, and were also penalized seven times at a cost of 65 yards while the Dolphins were flagged just once.

Larry Csonka was the game’s MVP as he rushed for 145 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns. Bob Griese (pictured below) went to the air only 7 times but completed 6 of those passes for 73 yards. Paul Warfield, Jim Mandich, and Marlin Briscoe all caught two passes apiece, for 33, 21, and 19 yards, respectively.

For the Vikings, Fran Tarkenton was successful on 18 of 28 throws for 182 yards with no TDs and one interception – he also ran the ball four times for 17 yards and a touchdown. Oscar Reed led the club in rushing with 32 yards on 11 carries while Chuck Foreman was held to 18 yards on 7 attempts, although he caught 5 passes for 27 yards. Stu Voigt gained a team-leading 46 yards on his three catches and John Gilliam was right behind with 44 yards on four receptions.

“Csonka’s the strongest fullback I’ve ever seen,” said Tarkenton in summation. “We gave them our best shot and weren’t good enough. They played as nearly perfect a game as a team can play.”

Several weeks following the Super Bowl win it was announced that Csonka, Warfield, and Kiick would be jumping to the World Football League’s Toronto Northmen (later Memphis Southmen) for 1975. While a distraction, the Dolphins still topped the AFC East with an 11-3 record in ’74, although the quest for a third straight NFL title ended in a memorable Divisional Playoff loss to the Raiders. Minnesota went 10-4 in winning the NFC Central and advanced once more to the Super Bowl, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Vikings won a pre-merger NFL Championship and three NFC titles during the Bud Grant coaching era, they fell short in all four Super Bowl appearances.

1976: Larry Csonka Signs with Giants

On April 7, 1976 and following some five hours of intense negotiations, the New York Giants announced that they had signed star FB Larry Csonka, formerly of the Miami Dolphins and World Football League’s Memphis Southmen, who was now available due to the demise of that short-lived entity.

The 29-year-old Csonka had originally planned to continue the search and sit down with other teams, including the Dolphins, Colts, and Browns, after meeting with the Giants. In all, 15 teams were known to have expressed interest in signing Csonka now that he was a free agent, with six serious offers, according to his agent.

The Dolphins had hoped that the 6’5”, 235-pound fullback would return to Miami once the WFL folded. Csonka had originally said he would let the Dolphins match any offer he received, but was angered by comments made by owner Joe Robbie to the effect that Csonka’s asking price was unrealistic. In the end, the Giants gave him the multiyear deal he was seeking, with three years for around $2 million.

The Syracuse All-American had gotten off to a slow start as a pro in his first two years with the struggling Dolphins. Taken in the first round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft, he gained a total of 1106 yards for the 8-18-2 recent expansion team and had problems with injuries as well as adjustment to the pro game. Things changed dramatically for both Csonka and the Dolphins upon the arrival of Don Shula as head coach in 1970. The team made it to the postseason with a 10-4 record and the running game, led by Csonka and his 874 yards with a 4.5 average gain, was a big part of the turnaround.

Miami won three straight AFC titles from 1971-73 and back-to-back Super Bowls in the latter two years, including an undefeated record in 1972. A straight-ahead runner with battering-ram effectiveness between the tackles, Csonka was a consensus first-team All-Pro in 1971 and ’73 and was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from ’70 through ’74. In all, he rushed for 5900 yards on 1286 carries (4.6 avg.) and 41 touchdowns in the regular season and added another 871 yards on 215 attempts (4.1 avg.), including four hundred-yard games and recognition as MVP of Super Bowl VIII, in the postseason.

However, going into the 1974 season, in which the Dolphins again reached the postseason before losing a close-fought game to Oakland in the Divisional round, it was already known that Csonka and two of his teammates were lame ducks in Miami. In a sensational development Csonka, HB Jim Kiick, and WR Paul Warfield signed with the Toronto Northmen of the WFL. The Northmen became the Memphis Southmen by the time the franchise took the field in ‘74, and, after playing out their Miami contracts, it was there that the celebrated trio played in 1975. The league went under after 11 weeks and Csonka, limited to seven games by injury, rushed for 421 yards on 99 carries (4.3 avg.) and one TD.

The head coach of the Giants, Bill Arnsparger, had been Miami’s defensive coordinator when Csonka was with the club. While New York had suffered through three straight losing seasons and had not reached the postseason since 1963, Csonka indicated that he didn’t consider the Giants to be in a rebuilding mode. “I’m too old to be starting from scratch. I don’t think I could endure rebuilding years now. I think the New York Giants are pretty well rebuilt.”

The confident words proved to be inaccurate. While the Giants had a capable quarterback in Craig Morton, the receiving corps was nothing special, the running game no better than fair, and the offensive line was mediocre. The defense was strong at linebacker but nowhere else. Morton had completed 51.2 % of his passes for 2359 yards and 11 TDs in ‘75, but he also threw 16 interceptions and was sacked on 47 occasions. The top rushers were FB Joe Dawkins (129 carries, 438 yards, 3.4 avg.), HB Doug Kotar (122 carries, 378 yards, 3.1 avg.), and HB Ron Johnson, once a star but now on the downside (116 carries, 351 yards, 3.0 avg. plus 34 catches for 280 yards). Dawkins and Johnson were both gone before the ‘76 season.

The addition of a solid fullback addressed one of the team’s needs, but there were too many other holes to fill. A change of venue, with the move to a newly-constructed stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands, didn’t help. The Giants sank to 3-11 in 1976, losing their first nine games before finally registering a win. Csonka played in 11 games before being knocked out for the remainder of the year with a knee injury and gained just 569 yards on 160 carries (3.6 avg.) and four touchdowns – Kotar ended up leading the club with 731 yards on the ground.

Bill Arnsparger was dismissed as head coach halfway through the season and his successor was John McVay, who coincidentally had been Csonka’s coach in Memphis of the WFL. Morton was also gone, dealt to Denver where he revived his career. While two mediocre veterans, Steve Ramsey and Dennis Shaw, were brought in to compete for the vacant quarterback position, a rookie, Jerry Golsteyn, won the job but was soon replaced by another NFL newcomer by way of Canada, Joe Pisarcik. Csonka had another rough year on an offensively-challenged club, this time ranking third on the Giants with 464 yards on 134 attempts (3.5 avg.) and one TD.

The nadir for Csonka and the team was reached in 1978. While the record actually improved to 6-10 and several of the defeats were by close margins, a loss to Philadelphia at home came to epitomize the team’s futility and set the stage for a huge shakeup of the organization. The key play, which became a part of pro football folklore and was celebrated as “the Miracle of the Meadowlands” by Eagles fans and called simply “The Fumble” by morose Giants backers, came in the final seconds. With possession of the ball and time running out, Pisarcik was instructed to run a play rather than take a knee - an attempted handoff to Csonka resulted in a fumble, and the Eagles scored on the recovery to win the game in stunning fashion.

The Giants won only one more contest the rest of the way, negating what had been a promising 3-1 start. Along with the coaching staff and GM Andy Robustelli, Csonka was gone after the ’78 season. It was his least productive pro year as he rushed for only 311 yards on 91 carries for an average gain of just 3.4 yards and six touchdowns.

In three seasons with New York, Csonka ran the ball 385 times for 1344 yards (3.5 avg.) and 11 TDs. Never noted as a pass receiver, he added 15 catches for 132 yards and no scores. It was far less than had been anticipated when the big fullback joined the team.

Csonka returned to Miami for one last year in 1979, and had a solid performance with 837 yards on 220 carries for a 3.8-yard average and 12 touchdowns. It capped a career in which he gained 8081 yards in the NFL and he ultimately was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. But it was the great performances with winning Miami teams that sealed his reputation – the brief WFL sojourn and three seasons with the Giants were mere footnotes.