NFL playoffs, 1971-72
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1971 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl VI
. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road. It was the first time that the NFL scheduled games on Christmas Day, a decision that drew considerable criticism.
AFC
In the longest NFL game played to date at 82 minutes, 40 seconds (and the Chiefs' last-ever game at Municipal Stadium), Miami kicker Garo Yepremian
kicked the winning 37-yard field goal after 7:40 of double-overtime. The Chiefs jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with Jan Stenerud
's 24-yard field goal and quarterback Len Dawson
's 7-yard touchdown pass to Ed Podolak
. But the Dolphins tied the game in the second quarter with Yepremian's 14-yard field goal and running back Larry Csonka
's 1-yard touchdown run. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter before Podolak scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth period. But Miami quarterback Bob Griese
threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marv Fleming
to tie the game. Podolak returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the Dolphins 22-yard line, giving Stenerud a chance to win the game for the Chiefs in the final minute of regulation. But he missed the field goal attempt and the game went into overtime.
Kansas City took the opening kickoff of the first overtime period, but Stenerud 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Yepremian also attempted a 52-yard field goal later in the period, but missed.
Podolak's 349 all-purpose yards (8 receptions for 110 yards, 17 carries for 85 yards, 3 kickoff returns for 154 yards) in this game remain an NFL playoff record, and is still the fourth highest total in NFL history. "I don't think any one player in a big game, a monumental game like that, had a day like Eddie Podolak had," said Chiefs coach Hank Stram
after the game.http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/NFLplayoffperform.html Dolphins receiver Paul Warfield
finished with 7 receptions for a career postseason high 140 yards.
NFC
Although the Vikings outgained the Cowboys 311-183, Dallas converted turnovers into 13 points en route to a 20-12 win. The Cowboys jumped to a 6-3 halftime lead after converting a fumble recovery and an interception into field goals. Then, Cliff Harris
' 30-yard interception return on the second play of the third quarter set up Duane Thomas
' 13-yard touchdown run to give Dallas a 13-3 lead. Quarterback Roger Staubach
then extended the lead with his 9-yard touchdown pass to Bob Hayes
. The Vikings scored 9 unanswered points in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to make up for the deficit.
AFC: Baltimore Colts
Don Nottingham
scored two touchdowns as the Colts limited the Browns to only 3 points. Nottingham's first score, a 1-yard touchdown run, was set up after Bubba Smith
blocked Cleveland kicker Don Cockroft
's 4-yard field goal attempt. Then in the second quarter, Safety Rick Volk
's 37-yard interception return set up Nottingham's 7-yard touchdown run. Colts kicker Jim O'Brien also contributed with 2 field goals.
NFC: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers defense made key plays to lead San Francisco to a 24-20 victory over the Redskins. Washington scored first after Jon Jaqua
blocked a punt to set up quarterback Billy Kilmer
's 5-yard pass. Then after the teams exchanged field goals, the Redskins took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove to the San Francisco 11-yard line. But on fourth down and inches to go, Frank Nunley
tackled Larry Brown
for a 2-yard loss. Three plays later, 49ers quarterback John Brodie
threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gene Washington to tie the game. Then, Roosevelt Taylor
's interception set up Bob Windsor
's 2-yard touchdown reception to give San Francisco a 17-10 lead. The 49ers later put the game away in the fourth quarter after defensive tackle Bob Hoskins
recovered a bad snap on a Washington punt attempt in the end zone.
made only 8 passes, the Dolphins defense shut out the Colts. Defensive back Dick Anderson
intercepted 3 passes, returning one of them 62 yards for a touchdown. Paul Warfield
recorded a 75-yard touchdown reception midway through the first quarter. Then in the fourth quarter, Griese's 50-yard pass to Warfield set up Larry Csonka
's 5-yard touchdown run.
intercepted a screen pass at the San Francisco 8-yard line to set up Calvin Hill
's 1-yard touchdown run. Then in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys marched 80 yards in 14 plays to score on Duane Thomas
' 2-yard touchdown run.
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
following the 1971 NFL season
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
led up to Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road. It was the first time that the NFL scheduled games on Christmas Day, a decision that drew considerable criticism.
Bracket
- Note: Prior to the 1975 season1975 NFL seasonThe 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation of division winners.
AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
: Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
27, Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
24 (2OT)
In the longest NFL game played to date at 82 minutes, 40 seconds (and the Chiefs' last-ever game at Municipal Stadium), Miami kicker Garo YepremianGaro Yepremian
Garabed Sarkis "Garo" Yepremian is an Armenian-American former football placekicker in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a career that spanned from 1966 to 1981. -Career:Yepremian was born in Larnaca, Cyprus to...
kicked the winning 37-yard field goal after 7:40 of double-overtime. The Chiefs jumped to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud
Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...
's 24-yard field goal and quarterback Len Dawson
Len Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
's 7-yard touchdown pass to Ed Podolak
Ed Podolak
Edward Joseph Podolak is a former professional American football player. He played quarterback and halfback at the University of Iowa before being selected by the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 1969 Common Draft.During a nine-year career from 1969 to 1977,...
. But the Dolphins tied the game in the second quarter with Yepremian's 14-yard field goal and running back Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Richard Csonka is a former collegiate and professional American football fullback.-Childhood:One of six children, Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio where he was raised on a farm by his Hungarian family...
's 1-yard touchdown run. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter before Podolak scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth period. But Miami quarterback Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marv Fleming
Marv Fleming
Marvin Fleming is a former professional American football tight end with the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins...
to tie the game. Podolak returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the Dolphins 22-yard line, giving Stenerud a chance to win the game for the Chiefs in the final minute of regulation. But he missed the field goal attempt and the game went into overtime.
Kansas City took the opening kickoff of the first overtime period, but Stenerud 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Yepremian also attempted a 52-yard field goal later in the period, but missed.
Podolak's 349 all-purpose yards (8 receptions for 110 yards, 17 carries for 85 yards, 3 kickoff returns for 154 yards) in this game remain an NFL playoff record, and is still the fourth highest total in NFL history. "I don't think any one player in a big game, a monumental game like that, had a day like Eddie Podolak had," said Chiefs coach Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
after the game.http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/NFLplayoffperform.html Dolphins receiver Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
finished with 7 receptions for a career postseason high 140 yards.
NFCNational Football ConferenceThe National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
: Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
20, Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
12
Although the Vikings outgained the Cowboys 311-183, Dallas converted turnovers into 13 points en route to a 20-12 win. The Cowboys jumped to a 6-3 halftime lead after converting a fumble recovery and an interception into field goals. Then, Cliff HarrisCliff Harris
Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
' 30-yard interception return on the second play of the third quarter set up Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas
Duane Julius Thomas is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1974....
' 13-yard touchdown run to give Dallas a 13-3 lead. Quarterback Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
then extended the lead with his 9-yard touchdown pass to Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes
Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University...
. The Vikings scored 9 unanswered points in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to make up for the deficit.
AFC: Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
20, Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
3
Don NottinghamDon Nottingham
Don Nottingham was an American football running back who played for the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League...
scored two touchdowns as the Colts limited the Browns to only 3 points. Nottingham's first score, a 1-yard touchdown run, was set up after Bubba Smith
Bubba Smith
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football player who became an actor after his retirement from the sport. He first came into prominence at Michigan State University, where he twice earned All-American honors as a defensive end on the Spartans football team...
blocked Cleveland kicker Don Cockroft
Don Cockroft
Donald Lee Cockroft is a former American football punter and placekicker who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns...
's 4-yard field goal attempt. Then in the second quarter, Safety Rick Volk
Rick Volk
Richard Robert Volk is a former American football player.Volk played college football for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and was a member of the 1964 team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl...
's 37-yard interception return set up Nottingham's 7-yard touchdown run. Colts kicker Jim O'Brien also contributed with 2 field goals.
NFC: San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
24, Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
20
The 49ers defense made key plays to lead San Francisco to a 24-20 victory over the Redskins. Washington scored first after Jon JaquaJon Jaqua
Jon V. Jaqua is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Lewis & Clark College....
blocked a punt to set up quarterback Billy Kilmer
Billy Kilmer
William Orland Kilmer, Jr. was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins...
's 5-yard pass. Then after the teams exchanged field goals, the Redskins took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove to the San Francisco 11-yard line. But on fourth down and inches to go, Frank Nunley
Frank Nunley
Frank Hembre Nunley is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan and spent ten seasons in the National Football League , all with the San Francisco 49ers...
tackled Larry Brown
Larry Brown (running back)
Lawrence "Larry" Brown, Jr. is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played running back for the Washington Redskins from 1969 to 1976....
for a 2-yard loss. Three plays later, 49ers quarterback John Brodie
John Brodie
John Riley Brodie is a former professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer.-Early years and education:...
threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gene Washington to tie the game. Then, Roosevelt Taylor
Roosevelt Taylor
Roosevelt "Rosey" Taylor is a former American football safety who played for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at Grambling State University.Taylor was a key defensive player on the 1963 Bears NFL...
's interception set up Bob Windsor
Bob Windsor
Robert Edward Windsor is a former tight end in the National Football League.Windsor played a total of nine seasons in the NFL, five with the San Francisco 49ers and four with the New England Patriots...
's 2-yard touchdown reception to give San Francisco a 17-10 lead. The 49ers later put the game away in the fourth quarter after defensive tackle Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins (American football)
Robert Juan Hoskins is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 16th round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wichita State....
recovered a bad snap on a Washington punt attempt in the end zone.
AFC Championship: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
Although Miami quarterback Bob GrieseBob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
made only 8 passes, the Dolphins defense shut out the Colts. Defensive back Dick Anderson
Dick Anderson
Richard Paul Anderson is a former American football safety for the AFL's and NFL's Miami Dolphins, where he played for his entire ten year career from 1968 to 1977 missing one of those seasons with a knee injury....
intercepted 3 passes, returning one of them 62 yards for a touchdown. Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
recorded a 75-yard touchdown reception midway through the first quarter. Then in the fourth quarter, Griese's 50-yard pass to Warfield set up Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka
Larry Richard Csonka is a former collegiate and professional American football fullback.-Childhood:One of six children, Csonka was born in Stow, Ohio where he was raised on a farm by his Hungarian family...
's 5-yard touchdown run.
NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
In the first playoff game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys defense dominated the 49ers offense by only allowing 61 rushing yards, 9 first downs, and forcing 3 interceptions. In the second quarter, Dallas defensive end George AndrieGeorge Andrie
George Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...
intercepted a screen pass at the San Francisco 8-yard line to set up Calvin Hill
Calvin Hill
Calvin G. Hill is a retired American football running back who had a 12-year NFL career from 1969 to 1981. He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns...
's 1-yard touchdown run. Then in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys marched 80 yards in 14 plays to score on Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas
Duane Julius Thomas is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1974....
' 2-yard touchdown run.