The Miami Dolphins have been a team to watch since their inception in 1966. Since then, they’ve posted an astounding 198 regular season wins, which is the most of any NFL franchise other than the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.
The “dolphins undefeated season qb” is a question that many people outside of the Miami Dolphins’ organization have been asking. The question has no clear answer, and there are number of different theories about the answer.
Several teams have gone unbeaten in the regular season since professional football started in 1920. Only a few of them players made it to the final game without a single loss. Only one team has ever gone undefeated with no ties and won the Super Bowl.
Let’s take a look at the teams who came close to perfection, as well as the one NFL club that ended the season with a perfect record.
According to 99 Yards, four teams ended as champions with no defeats before 1933, when the NFL was still known as the American Professional Football Association. The Akron Pros (1920), Canton Bulldogs (1922 and 1923), and Green Bay Packers were these teams (1929). Despite their unbeaten records, all of these teams had at least one tie, preventing them from being deemed “perfect.”
The Chicago Bears have twice reached the championship game with a perfect record, only to be beaten. This occurred against a weak 8-5 New York Giants squad in 1934, and again against the Washington Redskins in 1942. Only the 2007 New England Patriots have ever reached the title game with a perfect record before losing.
Surprisingly, every club that has entered the postseason with a perfect record has gone on to win the league title and has never lost in the first round of the playoffs.
The undefeated season of the Miami Dolphins
During a 1972 game, Dolphins coach Don Shula (L) discusses with quarterbacks Bob Griese and Earl Morrall | Getty Images/Ross Lewis
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Miami Dolphins were the first team in NFL history to go through the regular and playoffs without losing or tying. The club played 17 games that season, culminating in a 14-7 victory against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.
Earl Morrall, the team’s quarterback, was in charge. After spending the previous 16 seasons with five different clubs, he was in his debut season with the Dolphins. Morrall was set to open the season as the backup to longstanding Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, despite having started 90 games for prior teams. However, Griese’s season was cut short by a fractured ankle in Week 5, paving the way for Morrall to take over as quarterback for the remainder of the season, leading the team to a 17-0 record.
The 1972 Dolphins had a strong defense, allowing just 12.2 points per game. The squad took satisfaction in being a well-oiled machine with no bright lights shining above the others. Despite not being frequently listed among the top defenses in history, the defense is statistically ranked as one of the all-time great units, dubbed the “No-Name Defense” owing to the units’ relative obscurity.
The 1972 Dolphins, led by Don Shula, who owns the record for most victories in NFL history with 328, have seven players in the Hall of Fame. They are still the only team in NFL history to have completed a flawless season. When the previous unbeaten squad loses each season, Miami continues the custom of holding a toast among members of the 1972 club.
Other memorable Miami Dolphin campaigns
The year 1972 ranks first among noteworthy Dolphins seasons. Others, on the other hand, were successful while never reaching perfection. The 1973 Dolphins finished 12-2 in the regular season after a flawless season. They won Super Bowl VIII, marking the second of the Dolphins’ two victories. The 1971 season was on the verge of being a championship season. After a 10-3-1 regular season, Miami was defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI.
The Dolphins had a series of strong seasons in the early 1980s, albeit no titles were won. The Dolphins were defeated by the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII in 1982. The lackluster offensive output was attributed to a lack of passing presence by disgruntled supporters.
With the introduction of Dan Marino to the Dolphins the following year, this subpar quarterback performance changed. This was the start of a 17-year run as the team’s signal-caller. Despite having a future Hall of Famer on their roster, the Dolphins never won a Super Bowl during his tenure. The closest call came against the San Francisco 49ers in the 1984 Super Bowl.
The Dolphins have only won the division twice since Marinos’ retirement in 1999. (2000 and 2008). Miami is still looking for a means to recapture the glory of their 1970s squads.
RELATED: Dolphins Legend Bob Griese’s Reputation Was Nearly Destroyed By A NASCAR Remark
The “1972 miami dolphins schedule” was the year that the Miami Dolphins went undefeated. The team finished with a record of 14-0.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the last time the Miami Dolphins went undefeated?
A: The Miami Dolphins went undefeated in 1972.
What teams have went 16 0?
A: In the NFL, only three teams have gone undefeated in their league up to this point which are The New England Patriots from 1970-1471, The Miami Dolphins from 1972-1974 and the San Francisco 49ers from 1982-1984.
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