This Thursday night, on this week’s NFL schedule, the Miami Dolphins take on the New England Patriots. We will feature a game from the past between these 2 franchises as this week’s Throwback Thursday game. It was played in 1972 – week nine of what was then a 14 game league season. The Dolphins didn’t know it yet, but they were more than halfway to their undefeated regular season at that point, entering the game with an 8-0 record. Veteran Earl Morrall had taken over for the injured Bob Griese at quarterback for the Fish, and despite being without a loss, Miami wasn’t necessarily dominating opponents in their wins. On this particular day, however, they certainly did, as they crushed the Pats, 52-0. It was the second of what would be three shutouts posted by their “No Name” defense on their way to a perfect 14-0 record for the year. They would then go on to win the Super Bowl to cap a perfect 17-0 mark.
The Dolphins normally played a grind-it-out style featuring their stifling defense and a pounding running game that would control the ball for long stretches of time, with fullback Larry Csonka and halfback Jim Kiick churning up yardage. On this particular day, however, it was Mercury Morris’ turn to shine. Morris was the third option of the three-headed monster that was Miami’s rushing attack of that era. He was the speed back, and in this game he sped for 90 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns. Miami’s top pass receiver at the time (the few times they threw the ball) was future Hall of Famer Paul Warfield, but on this day it was Marlin Briscoe, a converted quarterback who was the number two pass catcher, who had the big day. He put up numbers that are routine in today’s Madden video game style of play, catching 4 passes for 128 yards and a pair of scores. The game got so far out of hand that the Dolphins’ backup QB, a little known entity named Jim Del Gaizo, got some action, throwing a pair of TD passes himself.
Miami’s tough defense forced the Patriots’ young signal caller, Jim Plunkett, into a frustrating day that saw him throw for only 66 yards, and two interceptions, before being yanked in favor of backup Brian Dowling, who didn’t fare much better. It was not a good time in Plunkett’s career. He had been a top overall draft pick and was on his way to becoming a major bust. Eventually he landed in San Francisco and didn’t have any success there either, but his story, unlike a lot of disappointing top draft choices, had a happy ending. He found a home with Al Davis’ Oakland Raiders and his career was rejuvenated, as he engineered a pair of Super Bowl titles for the Silver and Black in the 1980s, even winning the game’s MVP award in Super Bowl XV.
Dolphins’ QB Earl Morrall