Remembering Don Shula and the ’72 Miami Dolphins
Don Shula’s passing brings back memories of the ’72 Dolphins.
For those still not convinced that the 17–0 record wasn’t merely the result of a weak schedule, let’s compare their performance to some other great teams that also had an easy schedule.
Let’s start by comparing the ’72 Dolphins to the ’75 Vikings. Some analysts feel this was the Vikings’ best team ever. After ten games, Minnesota’s record was 10–0. Some were beginning to compare them to the 72 Dolphins. Could this team go undefeated? It was starting to look like a good possibility.
Let’s look at the numbers. The combined record of the 72 Dolphins’ first ten opponents was 50–87–3. Granted that is a weak schedule but not nearly as weak as the 75 Vikings schedule. The Vikings’ first ten opponents had a dismal, combined record of 38–102. Their last five opponents (including one playoff game) had a combined 37–33 record, but the Vikings lost three of those final five games, including a first-round playoff game. The Dolphins, on the other hand, won all five of their last games against teams with a combined record (including playoffs) of 48–25. You can see the point I’m trying to make. Once the 75 Vikings had to start playing good teams, they folded, where the 1972 Dolphins didn’t.
Just so Viking fans don’t think I hate their team, let’s turn to the ’75 LA Rams. (Fellow football historian Stephen Lewellen provided these stats).The Rams finished the season with a 13–3 record (including post-season), but they faced only five teams with winning records. The Rams feasted on weak opponents by going 11–1 against teams with a combined 43–111 record. But they were only 3–2 against teams with winning records, including a humiliating 37–7 loss to the Cowboys in the NFC Championship.
There’s something else about that 72 Miami team that doesn’t get mentioned much. The team clinched the division title with a Week Ten win against the NY Jets. Let’s face it: the Dolphins could have coasted the rest of the way. They didn’t. They kept playing hard, outscoring the last four opponents, 107–44. And, oh, by the way, what was their reward for finishing the regular season 14–0? They had to play the AFC Championship game on the road!
Try as you might, you can’t diminish the Dolphins 17–0 record by saying the team had a weak schedule. I’ve given you just two examples of outstanding teams that had an even easier schedule than the 72 Dolphins. Many others have had similarly weak schedules. None of them were able to do what that 1972 Miami team did.
Still, there are those who will persist. Some will say their Super Bowl victory was tainted. Their opponents, the Redskins were without their starting quarterback Sonny Jurgensen. But Miami also played most of the season without their starting QB, Bob Griese. As I see it, it’s a testament to how good both teams backup QB’s were. Miami had Earl Morral and Washington had Billy Kilmer. If not for them it’s likely neither team would have made it to the Super Bowl.
But still, they persist. Their Super Bowl win is tainted because they were playing the oldest team in the league. Washington was tagged with the nickname “the over-the-hill gang”. But the Redskins were an outstanding team. They had a 13–3 record going into that Super Bowl and had just soundly defeated the defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game. They allowed a mere six points in the playoffs. Most fans would agree that the only team in the NFL that was better than those Redskins were the Dolphins.
Still, some are going to argue that the ’72 Dolphins are overrated no matter what. They’re entitled to their opinion, but one thing can’t be disputed: in the century-long existence of the NFL, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to have a perfect season.
