Super Bowl VII

Background

Although the Dolphins were undefeated, the team still had a bit of a quarterback controversy coming into Super Bowl VII. In the fifth game of the regular season, starter Bob Griese suffered a fractured ankle. In his place, Earl Morrall led Miami to win the remaining nine regular season games and the 20-14 playoff win over the Cleveland Browns. Morrall had previously played for Dolphins head coach Don Shula when they were both with the Baltimore Colts; Morrall had backed up quarterback Johnny Unitas and started Super Bowl III. However, Griese returned late in the AFC Championship Game to help rally the Dolphins to a 21-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Shula eventually picked Griese to start the Super Bowl. Shula felt more comfortable with Morrall as the backup just in case Griese was ineffective due to his recent inactivity.

Related Topics:
Bob Griese - Earl Morrall - Cleveland Browns - Don Shula - Baltimore Colts - Johnny Unitas - Super Bowl III - Pittsburgh Steelers

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But Miami also had the same core group of players who helped the team advance to the previous year's Super Bowl VI. The Dolphins still had a powerful running attack, spearheaded by Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Eugene "Mercury" Morris, who combined for a total of 2,638 yards in 540 attempts during the regular season. Receiver Paul Warfield once again provided the run-based Dolphins with an effective deep threat option, catching 29 passes for 606 yards, an average of 20.9 yards per catch. And Miami's "No-Name Defense" (a nickname first used by Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry when he could not recall the names of any Dolphins defenders just before Super Bowl VI) allowed the fewest points in the league during the regular season (171).

Related Topics:
Super Bowl VI - Larry Csonka - Jim Kiick - Eugene "Mercury" Morris - Paul Warfield - Dallas Cowboys - Tom Landry

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Still, the Redskins were slight favorites to win the game. Washington was led by 34-year old quarterback Billy Kilmer, who completed 120 out of 225 passes for 1,648 yards and 19 touchdowns during the regular season. The team was built around a core group of veterans nicknamed the "Over the Hill Gang". And they had a powerful running attack featuring running backs Larry Brown, who gained 1,286 yards in 285 carries during the regular season, and Charlie Harraway, who had 567 yards in 148 carries.

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The Redskins entered the game without allowing a touchdown in either their 16-3 playoff win over the Green Bay Packers or their 26-3 NFC Championship Game victory over the Cowboys.

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