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SuperBowlConcierge.com > Super Bowls > SB 8 Champion Miami Dolphins |
Super Bowl History |
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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. |
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SB 8 Champion Miami Dolphins |
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. |
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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. |
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The defending NFL champion Dolphins, representing the AFC for the third straight
year, scored the first two times they had possession on marches of 62 and 56 yards
while the Miami defense limited the Vikings to only seven plays in the first
period. Larry Csonka climaxed the initial 10-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown bolt through right guard after 5:27 had elapsed. Four plays later, Miami began another 10-play scoring drive, which ended with Jim Kiick bursting one yard through the middle for another touchdown after 13:38 of the period. Garo Yepremian added a 28-yard field goal midway in the second period for a 17-0 Miami lead. Minnesota then drove from its 20 to a second-and-2 situation on the Miami seven yard line with 1:18 left in the half. But on two plays, Miami limited Oscar Reed to 1 yard. On fourth-and-1 from the 6, Reed went over right tackle, but Dolphins middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti jarred the ball loose and Jake Scott recovered for Miami to halt the Minnesota threat. The Vikings were unable to muster enough offense in the second half to threaten the Dolphins. Csonka rushed 33 times for a Super Bowl-record 145 yards. Bob Griese of Miami completed 6 of 7 passes for 73 yards. |
GAME RECAP |
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Vikings 0
0 0 7
7 Dolphins 14 3 7 0 24 |
BOX SCORE |
1 2 3
4 Total |
Date January 13, 1974 Stadium Rice Stadium City Houston, Texas MVP Larry Csonka, Running back Favorite Dolphins by 7 National anthem Charley Pride Coin toss Game referee Referee Ben Dreith Halftime show University of Texas at Austin Band Attendance 71,882 TV in the United States Network CBS Announcers Ray Scott, Pat Summerall and Bart Starr Nielsen Ratings 41.6 Market share 73 Cost of 30-second commercial US$103,000 |
Super Bowl 8 Information |
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Super Bowl Champs |
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Future Super Bowl Locations |
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Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz. Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1, 2009 Super Bowl XLIV, South Florida TBA, 2010 Super Bowl XLV, North Texas TBA, 2011 |
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