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Sunday December 31, 1972
. . . where the 1970s live forever!

NFL game summary for 12/31/1972:



Miami gained its second straight AFC crown in a second-half victory over the Steelers, extending its winning streak to 16 games. The Dolphins evened a 7-0 deficit with a nine-yard TD pass from Earl Morrall to Larry Csonka, set up by a 37-yard run from punt formation by Larry Seiple. Jim Kiick tallied twice on short runs. Pittsburgh QB Terry Bradshaw was injured in the first half on a running play in which he fumbled into the end zone where Gerry Mullins fell on the ball for the opening score.

Bradshaw came back in the fourth quarter and directed the Steelers to their other TD on four successive passes, climaxed by a sensational catch by Al Young. Roy Gerela kicked a 14-yard FG but had another blocked. Miami intercepted twice in the fourth quarter. Nick Buoniconti had one and Mike Kolen's ended the Steelers' hope in the final minute. Morrall directed the Miami attack in the first half, Bob Griese in the second.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

TeamRush Yds/GmPass Yds/GmTot Yds/GmTurnovers
Miami DolphinsOFFENSE211.4  (1)148.3  (17)359.7  (1)28
DEFENSE110.6  (3)124.9  (4)235.5  (1)47
Pittsburgh SteelersOFFENSE180.0  (2)122.2  (22)302.2  (13)26
DEFENSE122.5  (6)146.9  (10)269.4  (7)48

Line: Dolphins by 2½

Team1234F
Miami Dolphins (16-0-0)077721
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4-0)703717

( 0- 7) PIT Gerry Mullins 0 yard fumble return (Roy Gerela kick)
( 7- 7) MIA Larry Csonka 9 yard pass from Earl Morrall (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 7-10) PIT Roy Gerela 14 yard field goal
(14-10) MIA Jim Kiick 2 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(21-10) MIA Jim Kiick 3 yard rush (Garo Yepremian kick)
(21-17) PIT Al Young 12 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
                     MIA             PIT
First Downs:         19              13
Rushes-yards:        49-193          26-128
Yards/rush:          3.9             4.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     10-16-121-1     10-20-137-2
Sacked-yards:        0-0             2-15
Net pass yards:      121             122
Net yards/pass:      7.6             5.5
Total net yards:     314             250
Total plays:         65 (75% run)    48 (54% run)  
Yards/play:          4.8             5.2
Fumbles-lost:        0-0             2-0
Turnovers:           1               2
Penalties-yards:     2-19            4-30

Attendance: 50,350
Passing:
MIA: Earl Morrall, 7 of 11 for 51 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bob Griese, 3 of 5 for 70 yards
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 5 of 10 for 80 yards and 1 TD (2 int); Terry Hanratty, 5 of 10 for 57 yards

Rushing:
MIA: Larry Csonka, 24 for 68 yards; Mercury Morris, 16 for 76 yards; Jim Kiick, 8 for 12 yards and 2 TDs; Larry Seiple, 1 for 37 yards
PIT: Franco Harris, 16 for 76 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 8 for 47 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 5 yards

Receiving:
MIA: Marv Fleming, 5 for 50 yards; Paul Warfield, 2 for 63 yards; Larry Csonka, 1 for 9 yards and 1 TD; Jim Mandich, 1 for 5 yards; Mercury Morris, 1 for -6 yards
PIT: Al Young, 4 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Ron Shanklin, 2 for 49 yards; Franco Harris, 2 for 3 yards; John McMakin, 1 for 22 yards; Larry Brown, 1 for 9 yards

Kick returns:
MIA: Mercury Morris, 1 for 23 yards
PIT: Preston Pearson, 2 for 63 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 22 yards

Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 5 yards

Interceptions:
MIA: Nick Buoniconti, 1 for 6 yards; Mike Kolen, 1 for 5 yards
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 28 yards

Punting:
MIA: Larry Seiple, 4 for 142 yards
PIT: Bobby Walden, 4 for 205 yards

Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/2




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