NFL game summary for 10/01/1972:
Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese passed three yards to tight end Jim Mandich for the decisive touchdown with 88 seconds remaining. Key plays in Miami's final TD drive were a 12-yard run by Mercury Morris and a 17-yard Griese-to-Howard Twilley pass to the 3. Kicker Garo Yepremian kicked field goals of 38, 42 and 51 yards, the last one with 4:15 left.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 235.0 (1) | 130.5 (18) | 365.5 (4) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 98.5 (6) | 151.0 (12) | 249.5 (9) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 156.0 (8) | 178.0 (10) | 334.0 (8) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 117.5 (12) | 90.5 (2) | 208.0 (2) | 6 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (3-0-0) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| Minnesota Vikings (1-2-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) MIN John Gilliam 56 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 3- 7) MIA Garo Yepremian 38 yard field goal
( 6- 7) MIA Garo Yepremian 42 yard field goal
( 6-14) MIN Bill Brown 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 9-14) MIA Garo Yepremian 51 yard field goal
(16-14) MIA Jim Mandich 3 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
MIA MIN
First Downs: 14 12
Rushes-yards: 26-120 35-131
Yards/rush: 4.6 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-34-149-2 10-23-142-3
Sacked-yards: 2-15 5-33
Net pass yards: 134 109
Net yards/pass: 3.7 3.9
Total net yards: 254 240
Total plays: 62 (41% run) 63 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 3.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-1
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 5-55 3-25
Attendance: 47,900
Passing:
MIA: Bob Griese, 16 of 33 for 127 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Marlin Briscoe, 1 of 1 for 22 yards MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 23 for 142 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 66 yards; Mercury Morris, 8 for 28 yards; Jim Kiick, 7 for 21 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 5 yards MIN: Dave Osborn, 14 for 47 yards; Oscar Reed, 9 for 52 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 6 for 16 yards; Bill Brown, 6 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
MIA: Jim Mandich, 3 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 3 for 25 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 3 for 20 yards; Howard Twilley, 2 for 25 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 15 yards; Marv Fleming, 2 for 10 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 9 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 6 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 3 for 91 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 3 for 23 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 12 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 7 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 5 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Mercury Morris, 3 for 76 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Charlie Leigh, 4 for 45 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Tim Foley, 1 for 15 yards; Doug Swift, 1 for 1 yard; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Roy Winston, 1 for 23 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 20 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 6 for 264 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 7 for 320 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/4
MIA: Bob Griese, 16 of 33 for 127 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Marlin Briscoe, 1 of 1 for 22 yards MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 23 for 142 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 66 yards; Mercury Morris, 8 for 28 yards; Jim Kiick, 7 for 21 yards; Bob Griese, 1 for 5 yards MIN: Dave Osborn, 14 for 47 yards; Oscar Reed, 9 for 52 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 6 for 16 yards; Bill Brown, 6 for 16 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
MIA: Jim Mandich, 3 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Jim Kiick, 3 for 25 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 3 for 20 yards; Howard Twilley, 2 for 25 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 15 yards; Marv Fleming, 2 for 10 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 9 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for 6 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 3 for 91 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 3 for 23 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 12 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 7 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 5 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Mercury Morris, 3 for 76 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Charlie Leigh, 4 for 45 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Tim Foley, 1 for 15 yards; Doug Swift, 1 for 1 yard; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Roy Winston, 1 for 23 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 20 yards
Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 6 for 264 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 7 for 320 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/4