NFL game summary for 12/03/1972:
Larry Csonka topped the 1,000-yard mark rushing for the second straight year and the Dolphins boosted the NFL seasonal first-down-by-rushing record to 151, moving to their 12th straight victory. Mercury Morris topped 100 yards rushing (15 for 113) for the fourth time in 1972.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 207.5 (1) | 145.6 (17) | 353.1 (1) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 107.8 (2) | 117.6 (1) | 225.5 (1) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 108.0 (23) | 155.0 (14) | 263.0 (20) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 198.0 (26) | 159.3 (16) | 357.3 (26) | 17 |
Line: Dolphins by 16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins (12-0-0) | 3 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 37 |
| New England Patriots (2-10-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
( 3- 0) MIA Garo Yepremian 36 yard field goal
( 6- 0) MIA Garo Yepremian 10 yard field goal
(13- 0) MIA Jim Kiick 1 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(13- 7) NE Tom Reynolds 36 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Mike Walker kick)
(20- 7) MIA Jim Mandich 3 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Garo Yepremian kick)
(23- 7) MIA Garo Yepremian 18 yard field goal
(30- 7) MIA Marlin Briscoe 14 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Garo Yepremian kick)
(37- 7) MIA Hubert Ginn 8 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(37-14) NE John Tarver 8 yard pass from Brian Dowling (Mike Walker kick)
(37-21) NE Brian Dowling 1 yard rush (Mike Walker kick)
MIA NE
First Downs: 29 14
Rushes-yards: 51-304 15-110
Yards/rush: 6.0 7.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-21-201-2 15-29-155-2
Sacked-yards: 1-4 4-48
Net pass yards: 197 107
Net yards/pass: 9.0 3.2
Total net yards: 501 217
Total plays: 73 (69% run) 48 (31% run)
Yards/play: 6.9 4.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 3 2
Penalties-yards: 11-115 6-63
Attendance: 60,999
Passing:
MIA: Earl Morrall, 11 of 19 for 201 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Jim Del Gaizo, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 18 for 95 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Brian Dowling, 6 of 11 for 60 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIA: Mercury Morris, 15 for 113 yards; Larry Csonka, 15 for 91 yards; Hubert Ginn, 8 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Leigh, 7 for 30 yards; Jim Kiick, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD NE: Josh Ashton, 7 for 60 yards; John Tarver, 5 for 26 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 23 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
MIA: Paul Warfield, 3 for 89 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 2 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Mercury Morris, 1 for 25 yards; Howard Twilley, 1 for 21 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 14 yards; Marv Fleming, 1 for 11 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 5 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD NE: Bob Windsor, 6 for 54 yards; Josh Ashton, 4 for 21 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 28 yards; Tom Reynolds, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Jack Maitland, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 0 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 2 for 59 yards; Henry Matthews, 2 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 20 yards NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for -5 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Vern Den Herder, 1 for 24 yards; Doug Swift, 1 for 4 yards NE: Honor Jackson, 2 for 40 yards
Punting:
MIA: Billy Lothridge, 1 for 40 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 227 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3 NE: Mike Walker, 0/2
MIA: Earl Morrall, 11 of 19 for 201 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Jim Del Gaizo, 0 of 2 for 0 yards (1 int) NE: Jim Plunkett, 9 of 18 for 95 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Brian Dowling, 6 of 11 for 60 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIA: Mercury Morris, 15 for 113 yards; Larry Csonka, 15 for 91 yards; Hubert Ginn, 8 for 47 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Leigh, 7 for 30 yards; Jim Kiick, 6 for 23 yards and 1 TD NE: Josh Ashton, 7 for 60 yards; John Tarver, 5 for 26 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 23 yards; Brian Dowling, 1 for 1 yard and 1 TD
Receiving:
MIA: Paul Warfield, 3 for 89 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 2 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Mercury Morris, 1 for 25 yards; Howard Twilley, 1 for 21 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 14 yards; Marv Fleming, 1 for 11 yards; Jim Kiick, 1 for 5 yards; Jim Mandich, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD NE: Bob Windsor, 6 for 54 yards; Josh Ashton, 4 for 21 yards; Reggie Rucker, 2 for 28 yards; Tom Reynolds, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 1 for 8 yards and 1 TD; Jack Maitland, 1 for 8 yards
Kick returns:
MIA: Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 0 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 2 for 59 yards; Henry Matthews, 2 for 51 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 20 yards NE: Larry Carwell, 1 for -5 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Vern Den Herder, 1 for 24 yards; Doug Swift, 1 for 4 yards NE: Honor Jackson, 2 for 40 yards
Punting:
MIA: Billy Lothridge, 1 for 40 yards NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 227 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 3/3 NE: Mike Walker, 0/2