1973 Dolphins at Raiders

[BD Sullivan]

I've pointed out before that prior to the start of the 1972 season, the Dolphins appeared to have at least four tough games ahead. Two of their first three games were on the road at KC and Minnesota, with the KC game a rematch of their classic OT game and the Vikings coming off an incredible defensive season and getting Tarkenton back. Baltimore had been a perennial playoff contender, had faced the Dolphins in the AFC title game and were just one year removed from a Super Bowl title.

KC slipped, Minnesota had their only non-playoff season from 1968-79 and Baltimore collapsed. The Minnesota game was the only tight contest, with the Dolphins winning in the final two minutes..

[74_75_78_79_]

I've pointed out before that prior to the start of the 1972 season, the Dolphins appeared to have at least four tough games ahead. Two of their first three games were on the road at KC and Minnesota, with the KC game a rematch of their classic OT game and the Vikings coming off an incredible defensive season and getting Tarkenton back. Baltimore had been a perennial playoff contender, had faced the Dolphins in the AFC title game and were just one year removed from a Super Bowl title.

KC slipped, Minnesota had their only non-playoff season from 1968-79 and Baltimore collapsed. The Minnesota game was the only tight contest, with the Dolphins winning in the final two minutes..

Back to '73, Miami's Week #1 date with the Forty Niners had to be seen with enough anticipation being that SF was a playoff team the past three years.

[BD Sullivan]

I've pointed out before that prior to the start of the 1972 season, the Dolphins appeared to have at least four tough games ahead. Two of their first three games were on the road at KC and Minnesota, with the KC game a rematch of their classic OT game and the Vikings coming off an incredible defensive season and getting Tarkenton back. Baltimore had been a perennial playoff contender, had faced the Dolphins in the AFC title game and were just one year removed from a Super Bowl title.

KC slipped, Minnesota had their only non-playoff season from 1968-79 and Baltimore collapsed. The Minnesota game was the only tight contest, with the Dolphins winning in the final two minutes..

Back to '73, Miami's Week #1 date with the Forty Niners had to be seen with enough anticipation being that SF was a playoff team the past three years.

Played on an incredibly hot day in Miami--on the carpet--making it even hotter. Presumably, it was that heat that got to the Niners, since they led 13-6 entering the fourth and fell, 21-13.

[74_75_78_79_]

I've pointed out before that prior to the start of the 1972 season, the Dolphins appeared to have at least four tough games ahead. Two of their first three games were on the road at KC and Minnesota, with the KC game a rematch of their classic OT game and the Vikings coming off an incredible defensive season and getting Tarkenton back. Baltimore had been a perennial playoff contender, had faced the Dolphins in the AFC title game and were just one year removed from a Super Bowl title.

KC slipped, Minnesota had their only non-playoff season from 1968-79 and Baltimore collapsed. The Minnesota game was the only tight contest, with the Dolphins winning in the final two minutes..

Back to '73, Miami's Week #1 date with the Forty Niners had to be seen with enough anticipation being that SF was a playoff team the past three years.

Played on an incredibly hot day in Miami--on the carpet--making it even hotter. Presumably, it was that heat that got to the Niners, since they led 13-6 entering the fourth and fell, 21-13.

Question - why did Spurrier get some significant playing time that game? Did Brodie get injured (I see he played the following week)? Were the Forty Niners expected to make the playoffs again in '73? Thanks!

[BD Sullivan]

Question - why did Spurrier get some significant playing time that game? Did Brodie get injured (I see he played the following week)? Were the Forty Niners expected to make the playoffs again in '73? Thanks!

The heat got to him; he played the first two quarters, but was dehydrated at the half. He did make a brief fourth quarter comeback.

[74_75_78_79_]

Question - why did Spurrier get some significant playing time that game? Did Brodie get injured (I see he played the following week)? Were the Forty Niners expected to make the playoffs again in '73? Thanks!

The heat got to him; he played the first two quarters, but was dehydrated at the half. He did make a brief fourth quarter comeback.

Thanks for the knowledge-drop! I always thought Spurrier didn't get a chance at all to start for SF until '73. I also didn't know he was with SF from his rookie year all the way up thru '75. And wasn't aware that Nolan starting Brodie in the '72 divisional vs Dallas was deemed somewhat controversial in that Steve played well as a backup much of that campaign including a 31-10 win vs Big D on Turkey Day. I always, wrongfully, thought he didn't really start seeing action until '73 (where I think of highlights from that campaign of the Steel Curtain really pounding the hell out of him) and then missed out on their '76 almost-playoff year because he instead was at a new destination where he went...0-14!

[BD Sullivan]

Question - why did Spurrier get some significant playing time that game? Did Brodie get injured (I see he played the following week)? Were the Forty Niners expected to make the playoffs again in '73? Thanks!

The heat got to him; he played the first two quarters, but was dehydrated at the half. He did make a brief fourth quarter comeback.

Thanks for the knowledge-drop! I always thought Spurrier didn't get a chance at all to start for SF until '73. I also didn't know he was with SF from his rookie year all the way up thru '75. And wasn't aware that Nolan starting Brodie in the '72 divisional vs Dallas was deemed somewhat controversial in that Steve played well as a backup much of that campaign including a 31-10 win vs Big D on Turkey Day. I always, wrongfully, thought he didn't really start seeing action until '73 (where I think of highlights from that campaign of the Steel Curtain really pounding the hell out of him) and then missed out on their '76 almost-playoff year because he instead was at a new destination where he went...0-14!

The controversy over Brodie starting the playoff pretty much mirrored what the Dolphins would deal with in that year's Super Bowl, i.e. starting Griese or Morrall. Brodie hadn't played since October 15, the same day Griese got hurt, with Brodie injuring ligaments in his ankle in the final minute, with Jack Gregory hitting him. The Niners trailed the Vikings, 17-6, in the regular season finale, when Nolan sent in Brodie after Spurrier had been picked off three times. Brodie threw for the game-winner in the final minute, which saved the Niners season and sent them to the playoffs--where they choked against the Boys a week later.