NFL Excellence: ‘The Over the Hill Gang’ (1972 Washington Redskins)
When I think back to the 1972 NFL football season, I, like most old-school fans, think about the undefeated Miami Dolphins. It’s only natural. After all, they are the only unbeaten team in NFL history.
But what about the team they defeated in the Super Bowl? You won’t hear many people mention the 1972 Washington Redskins very often.
But they were an outstanding team. Here’s why.
Until Vince Lombardi took over the Redskins in 1969, Washington hadn’t had a winning season since 1955. Under Lombardi, Washington went 7–5–2. Sadly, Lombardi died of cancer shortly before the 1970 season. Many people believe (as do I) that the Redskins would have probably won a Super Bowl had Lombardi remained at the helm. Instead, Bill Austin took over as head coach, and the Redskins went back to their losing ways in 1970, finishing 6–8.
Then the Redskins hired George Allen. Allen, who had coached the LA Rams from 1966 to 1970, turned a team that had suffered through seven consecutive losing seasons into a winner. But after failing to reach the playoffs in 1970, he had a falling out with owner Dan Reeves. Allen left LA and headed to Washington.
In Allen’s first season, the Redskins went 9–4–1–their best record since 1945 when they went 8–2 before losing the NFL Championship by one point to the Cleveland Rams. 1971 brought key injuries. The ‘Skins lost starting quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and star wideout Charley Taylor for most of the season. But despite those personnel losses, the team made the postseason for the first time in decades, losing 24–20 in the divisional playoffs to the 49ers.
Some of the credit goes to Vince Lombardi for rebuilding team confidence and drafting good players, like running back Larry Brown. But Allen had a different approach. He traded away draft picks to obtain more experienced players. His motto was “The Future is Now!”
By the start of the 1972 season, some people were calling the team ‘The Washington Rams’ because so many players had been with Allen in LA. But others called Washington ‘The Over the Hill Gang” because most of the new players were in their 30’s.
Whatever the nickname, this team had high hopes going into 1972. Those expectations were affirmed when the team started at 6–1.
During that stretch, Allen couldn’t settle on his starting QB. The controversy ended–not by Allen’s decision making, but by injury. Sonny Jurgensen tore his Achilles tendon, and Billy Kilmer was named the starter for the remainder of the season. Kilmer didn’t have nearly as good of a throwing arm as Jurgensen, but he had outstanding leadership skills, and the team rallied around him.
With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Redskins stood at 11–1, including a 24–20 victory over the defending Super Bowl champ Cowboys. They lost their next two games but had already clinched the division title by then. When the ‘Skins faced the Packers in the opening round, Larry Brown gained 101 rushing yards, while the ‘D’ held John Brockington and McCarthur Lane to a mere 78 yards on the ground. The Redskins won 16–3 and would now face the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship contest.
Although the Cowboys were the defending champions, they struggled through 1972. Super Bowl MVP Roger Staubach, who had injured his shoulder in pre-season and went through surgery, couldn’t play until season’s end. Another starter, perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Bob Lilly, played most of the season with various injuries. Star running back Duane Thomas was no longer with the team.
The Cowboys wouldn’t have made the NFL Championship at all had it not been for late-game heroics against the 49ers. Trailing by 15 points in the 4th quarter, Staubach came off the bench and rallied the team to a come-from-behind 30–28 victory. But sometimes life is about ‘watch what you wish for.’ The ‘Boys were whipped in the NFL Championship game, 26–3, as the Redskins showed the country just how good they were.
The Redskins were off to the Super Bowl to face the 16–0 Miami Dolphins! The NFC’s leading rusher Larry Brown got his wish–to play in ‘The Big Game.’.
But Miami was able to do what most other teams couldn’t–contain Brown, who gained only 72 yards on 22 carries. The Dolphins also held All-Pro wide receiver, Charley Taylor, to two catches for 20 yards. On the other side of the ball, Dolphins’ running back Larry Csonka gained 112 yards on 15 carries.
Without a potent offense, the Redskins only score came on a botched field goal attempt by Dolphins’ kicker Gar0 Yepremian. Miami won, 14–7, to complete a perfect season.
Many football historians believe the Redskins might have won the game had Jurgensen been able to play. Of course, we’ll never know. Still, it was an excellent season for Washington. The Redskins finished 13–4. Brown gained 1216 yds on the ground and had another 473 yards receiving. For his efforts, he was named NFL MVP. The defense allowed just 15.5 points a game during the regular season, gave up only 6.6 points a game in the post-season, and didn’t allow a TD touchdown in two playoff games.
In my opinion, the ’72 Redskins don’t get the credit they deserve.
And I’m saying that as a lifelong Cowboys fan!
