NFL game summary for 01/14/1973:

On the NFC side was coach George Allen's "Over-the-Hill-Gang," sometimes known as the Washington Redskins. Allen had collected a roster of gray-bearded veterans with an aggregate age that looked like a phone number. Despite their proximity to thanks-and-here's-a-gold-watch time, the Gang played with an enthusiasm that would have put an acned teenager to shame, thanks to Allen's weekly fire-and-brimstone harangues. They'd lost a mere three games through the 1972 season, but a glance at the calendar suggested that this would be their last chance to write their names in history. They went into Super Bowl VII carrying the hearts and hopes of every football fan old enough to remember Wendell Wilkie.

The AFC presented the cool, collected, precise, workmanlike, and -- dammit! -- young (at least by comparison) Miami Dolphins of Don Shula. Their winning persona (again by comparison with the Redskins' frenzy) showed all the fire of an accountant adding up a day's receipts. Starting quarterback Bob Griese even wore glasses on the field! Still, there was no arguing with success, and the Dolphins had been totally successful all season. Sixteen straight wins, counting two in the playoffs. No NFL team had ever gone a whole perfect season. The Fish were one win away.

The Dolphins built up a 14-0 lead at the half. Griese hit Howard Twilley for a 28-yard touchdown just before the first quarter ended. Then in the second period, Jim Kiick went over from a yard out to cap a long Miami drive. Meanwhile, the Miami defense, led by tackle Manny Fernandez, held the Redskins' runners in check and treated quarterback Billy Kilmer shabbily. On the day, Billy would throw three interceptions, be sacked twice, and be harried continuously. Miami defensive back Jake Scott who had two of the interceptions was named game MVP.

Although the Dolphins had dominated the first half, Washington was only a break or two away. They started to come on in the second half as Larry Brown began running for consistent gains and Kilmer connected on several passes. Curt Knight didn't help the cause by missing a 32-yard field goal wide right, but hope sprang eternal in pacemakered hearts as the final quarter began. Surely Washington's geriatric Gang would produce one last ounce of what used-to-be and send those upstart kids back to Miami saddened but wiser?

But the kids hung in, and the geezers couldn't quite get into the end zone. Then with barely more than two minutes left, Miami's Cypriot tie-maker and kicker, Garo Yepremian, trotted onto the field to kick a 42-yard field goal that would ice the game once and for all. Except the kick was blocked. Except Yepremian picked up the rolling ball. Except he decided to throw a pass. Except he hurled the spheroid six inches up and two feet out. Except Redskins' defensive back Mike Bass gathered in the gift and raced 49 yards for a Washington touchdown. Perhaps a worse pass will someday be thrown in a football game, but odds are the thrower will still have his baby teeth. Officially, Garo's "thing" was ruled a fumble.

Down by only a touchdown, the 'Skins had two minutes to produce a whirlwind comeback against what would obviously be a flustered school of Dolphins. Except the Dolphins didn't fluster. They just went back to work like good C.P.A.'s and closed out the first -- and so far only -- 17-0 season in NFL history.

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

Team		Rush Yds/Gm	Pass Yds/Gm	Tot Yds/Gm	Turnovers
	OFFENSE	148.7  (10)	163.8  (11)	312.5  (7)	26
	DEFENSE	123.8  (7)	133.0  (6)	256.8  (4)	32
	OFFENSE	211.4  (1)	148.3  (17)	359.7  (1)	28
	DEFENSE	110.6  (3)	124.9  (4)	235.5  (1)	47

Line: Dolphins by 1

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Washington Redskins (13-4-0)	0	0	0	7	7
Miami Dolphins (17-0-0)	7	7	0	0	14

                     WAS             MIA
First Downs:         16              12
Rushes-yards:        36-141          37-184
Yards/rush:          3.9             5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     14-28-104-3     8-11-88-1
Sacked-yards:        2-17            2-19
Net pass yards:      87              69
Net yards/pass:      2.9             5.3
Total net yards:     228             253
Total plays:         66 (54% run)    50 (74% run)  
Yards/play:          3.5             5.1
Fumbles-lost:        1-0             2-1
Turnovers:           3               2
Penalties-yards:     3-25            3-35

Attendance: 90,182