NFL playoffs, 1972-73
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1972 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl VII
. 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.
AFC
Steelers running back
Franco Harris
scored the winning touchdown on what became known as the Immaculate Reception
. In a game that was mostly dominated by defense, the contest remained scoreless until Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela
kicked an 18-yard field goal in the third quarter. He added a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to increase Pittsburgh's lead, 6-0. But then Raiders backup quarterback
Ken Stabler
, who had replaced starter Daryle Lamonica
, ran for a 30-yard touchdown to give Oakland a 7-6 lead with 1:13 left in the game.
Facing fourth and ten on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw
threw the ball toward fullback John "Frenchy" Fuqua. But the pass bounced off Raiders safety Jack Tatum
and was caught by Harris, who then ran the rest of the way downfield to score a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 12-7 lead with five seconds remaining in the game.
NFC
Backup quarterback Roger Staubach
led the Cowboys to score 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 28-13 San Francisco lead. The 49ers jumped to a 7-0 early lead when Vic Washington
returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Dallas cut the deficit to 7-3 with kicker Toni Fritsch's 37-yard field goal, but a fumble by Cowboys starting quarterback Craig Morton
set up Larry Schreiber's 1-yard run. Schreiber scored another touchdown after a Morton interception, making it a 21-3 deficit. The Cowboys cut the deficit to 21-13 at halftime with Fritsch's 45-yard field goal and Lance Alworth
's 28-yard touchdown reception.
However, Schreiber scored his third touchdown of the game to increase San Francisco's lead, 28-13, in the third period. Staubach replaced Morton and led the Cowboys to Fritsch's 27-yard field goal. Then with less than two minutes remaining in the game, Staubach threw a 20-yard touchdown to Billy Parks
. Mel Renfro
recovered the ensuing onside kick
, and Ron Sellers
scored the winning touchdown on a 10-yard reception with 52 seconds left.
AFC: Miami Dolphins
An 8-yard rushing touchdown by Jim Kiick
in the fourth quarter kept the Dolphins' hopes alive for an undefeated season. Miami scored first in the opening quarter when Charlie Babb
blocked a Cleveland punt, picked it up, and returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins then increased their lead to 10-0 with kicker Garo Yepremian
's 40-yard field goal. But in the third quarter, Cleveland's Mike Phipps
scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. Then after Yepremian added another field goal, Phipps threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Fair Hooker
to give the Browns the lead, 14-13. The Dolphins then marched 80 yards to set up Kiick's winning touchdown, aided by a Paul Warfield
's 15- and 15-yard receptions, and a pass interference penalty. Miami intercepted 5 of Phipps' passes.
NFC: Washington Redskins
Using a five-man defensive line, the Redskins limited the Packers to only a field goal and held Green Bay running back John Brockington
(who rushed for 1,027 yards during the season) to just 9 yards on 13 carries. Meanwhile, Washington kicker Curt Knight
scored 3 field goals, while running back Larry Brown
rushed for 101 yards.
The Packers scored first on Chester Marcol
's 17-yard field goal in the second quarter. But then Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer
threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Roy Jefferson
. With 33 seconds left in the first half, Knight kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Washington a 10-3 halftime lead. The Redskins then dominated the second half, with Knight adding two more field goals.
. Unfortunately for the Steelers, Bradshaw was injured on play and did not return until the fourth quarter. The Dolphins tied the game after punter Larry Seiple
37-yard run on a fake punt set up Larry Csonka
's 9-yard touchdown catch. In the third quarter, kicker Roy Gerela
's 14-yard field goal gave Pittsburgh a 10-7 lead. Quarterback Bob Griese
, who had been sidelined with a broken leg for 10 weeks, replaced starter Earl Morrall
, and threw a 52-yard pass to Paul Warfield
to set up a Jim Kiick
2-yard touchdown run. Griese led the Dolphins on a 49-yard drive to score on a Jim Kiick
3-yard touchdown run. While Bradshaw returned with about 7 minutes left the game and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass, he also threw two interceptions to Miami linebackers Nick Buoniconti
and Mike Kolen
.
led the Redskins to the victory by recording 7 receptions for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Washington limited Dallas to only a field goal, and prevented the Cowboys from crossing midfield during the entire second half. However, the game seemed close before the final period. After the first quarter was scoreless, the Redskins jumped to a 10-0 lead with kicker Curt Knight
's 18-yard field goal and Taylor's 15-yard touchdown. However, the halftime score was 10-3 and neither team scored in the third quarter. But Taylor's 45-yard touchdown and Knight's three field goals in the fourth period broke the game open.
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 1972 NFL season
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
led up to Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 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.
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.
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....
: Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
13, Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
7
Steelers running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
scored the winning touchdown on what became known as the Immaculate Reception
Immaculate Reception
The Immaculate Reception is the nickname given to one of the most famous plays in the history of American football. It occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1972...
. In a game that was mostly dominated by defense, the contest remained scoreless until Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela
Roy Gerela
Roy Gerela is a former American football placekicker best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he won three Super Bowl rings....
kicked an 18-yard field goal in the third quarter. He added a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to increase Pittsburgh's lead, 6-0. But then Raiders backup quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
, who had replaced starter Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....
, ran for a 30-yard touchdown to give Oakland a 7-6 lead with 1:13 left in the game.
Facing fourth and ten on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
threw the ball toward fullback John "Frenchy" Fuqua. But the pass bounced off Raiders safety Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
and was caught by Harris, who then ran the rest of the way downfield to score a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 12-7 lead with five seconds remaining in the game.
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...
30, 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...
28
Backup quarterback Roger StaubachRoger 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'...
led the Cowboys to score 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 28-13 San Francisco lead. The 49ers jumped to a 7-0 early lead when Vic Washington
Vic Washington
Victor Arnold Washington is a former American football running back/safety...
returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Dallas cut the deficit to 7-3 with kicker Toni Fritsch's 37-yard field goal, but a fumble by Cowboys starting quarterback Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
set up Larry Schreiber's 1-yard run. Schreiber scored another touchdown after a Morton interception, making it a 21-3 deficit. The Cowboys cut the deficit to 21-13 at halftime with Fritsch's 45-yard field goal and Lance Alworth
Lance Alworth
Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
's 28-yard touchdown reception.
However, Schreiber scored his third touchdown of the game to increase San Francisco's lead, 28-13, in the third period. Staubach replaced Morton and led the Cowboys to Fritsch's 27-yard field goal. Then with less than two minutes remaining in the game, Staubach threw a 20-yard touchdown to Billy Parks
Billy Parks
William James "Billy" Parks was a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League...
. Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro
Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...
recovered the ensuing onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
, and Ron Sellers
Ron Sellers
Ron "Jingle Joints" Sellers was an American college and professional football player. He played college football for Florida State University, where he was a two-time All-American...
scored the winning touchdown on a 10-yard reception with 52 seconds left.
AFC: 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...
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...
14
An 8-yard rushing touchdown by Jim KiickJim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
in the fourth quarter kept the Dolphins' hopes alive for an undefeated season. Miami scored first in the opening quarter when Charlie Babb
Charlie Babb
For the baseball player, see Charlie Babb Charles David Babb was a safety for the Miami Dolphins . He is a graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri. Both of Charlie's parents are deaf, making for an interesting home life for Charlie as a child....
blocked a Cleveland punt, picked it up, and returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins then increased their lead to 10-0 with kicker Garo Yepremian
Garo 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...
's 40-yard field goal. But in the third quarter, Cleveland's Mike Phipps
Mike Phipps
Michael Elston Phipps is a former professional American football quarterback who played collegiately for the Purdue University Boilermakers , and professionally for both the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears .-College career:After playing high school for Columbus High School in Columbus,...
scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. Then after Yepremian added another field goal, Phipps threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Fair Hooker
Fair Hooker
Fair Hooker is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
to give the Browns the lead, 14-13. The Dolphins then marched 80 yards to set up Kiick's winning touchdown, aided by a 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 :...
's 15- and 15-yard receptions, and a pass interference penalty. Miami intercepted 5 of Phipps' passes.
NFC: 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,...
16, Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
3
Using a five-man defensive line, the Redskins limited the Packers to only a field goal and held Green Bay running back John BrockingtonJohn Brockington
John Stanley Brockington is a former American football running back. He was the National Football League's Green Bay Packers' 1st round draft choice out of the Ohio State University, and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1971.-College career:Brockington played halfback and fullback for...
(who rushed for 1,027 yards during the season) to just 9 yards on 13 carries. Meanwhile, Washington kicker Curt Knight
Curt Knight
Luther Curtis Knight, Jr. is a former American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Texas. He is the only kicker in NFL history to have attempted more than one fair-catch kick....
scored 3 field goals, while running back 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....
rushed for 101 yards.
The Packers scored first on Chester Marcol
Chester Marcol
Czesław "Chester" Marcol is a former American Football Placekicker for the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1987.-Early years:...
's 17-yard field goal in the second quarter. But then Redskins 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...
threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Roy Jefferson
Roy Jefferson
Roy Lee Jefferson is a former American football wide receiver who played twelve seasons in the National Football League...
. With 33 seconds left in the first half, Knight kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Washington a 10-3 halftime lead. The Redskins then dominated the second half, with Knight adding two more field goals.
AFC Championship: Miami Dolphins 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
The Dolphins continued their unbeaten streak by scoring two touchdowns in the second half. The Steelers scored first after Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw's fumble rolled into the Miami end zone, and was recovered by offensive lineman Gerry MullinsGerry Mullins
-High school and college:Gerry Blaine Mullins was raised in Anaheim, California where he began his football career at Fremont Junior High School, and was mentored at Anaheim High School by the city's beloved head football coach Clare Van Hoorebeke . While playing at Anaheim High, he played against...
. Unfortunately for the Steelers, Bradshaw was injured on play and did not return until the fourth quarter. The Dolphins tied the game after punter Larry Seiple
Larry Seiple
Larry Robert Seiple is a football coach and previously was a punter for the Miami Dolphins of the American Football League from 1967 through 1969, and the NFL's Dolphins from 1970 through 1977....
37-yard run on a fake punt 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 9-yard touchdown catch. In the third quarter, kicker Roy Gerela
Roy Gerela
Roy Gerela is a former American football placekicker best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he won three Super Bowl rings....
's 14-yard field goal gave Pittsburgh a 10-7 lead. 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...
, who had been sidelined with a broken leg for 10 weeks, replaced starter Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall
Earl Edwin Morrall is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Morrall, who also occasionally punted, played 21 seasons in the National Football League as both a starter and reserve. In the latter capacity, he became known as the greatest backup quarterback in NFL...
, and threw a 52-yard pass to 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 :...
to set up a Jim Kiick
Jim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
2-yard touchdown run. Griese led the Dolphins on a 49-yard drive to score on a Jim Kiick
Jim Kiick
James Forrest Kiick is a former professional American football running back, who is best known for playing halfback for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League from 1970 through 1974...
3-yard touchdown run. While Bradshaw returned with about 7 minutes left the game and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass, he also threw two interceptions to Miami linebackers Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti
Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
and Mike Kolen
Mike Kolen
'John Michael Kolen' is a former American football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins...
.
NFC Championship: Washington Redskins 26, Dallas Cowboys 3
Charley TaylorCharley Taylor
Charles Robert Taylor is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984....
led the Redskins to the victory by recording 7 receptions for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Washington limited Dallas to only a field goal, and prevented the Cowboys from crossing midfield during the entire second half. However, the game seemed close before the final period. After the first quarter was scoreless, the Redskins jumped to a 10-0 lead with kicker Curt Knight
Curt Knight
Luther Curtis Knight, Jr. is a former American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Texas. He is the only kicker in NFL history to have attempted more than one fair-catch kick....
's 18-yard field goal and Taylor's 15-yard touchdown. However, the halftime score was 10-3 and neither team scored in the third quarter. But Taylor's 45-yard touchdown and Knight's three field goals in the fourth period broke the game open.