Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII Logo.svg
Miami Dolphins
(AFC) Washington Redskins
(NFC)
14 7
1 2 3 4 Total
MIA 7 7 0 0 14
WAS 0 0 0 7 7
Date January 14, 1973
Stadium Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
MVP Jake Scott, Safety
Favorite Redskins by 1[1][2]
Referee Tom Bell
Attendance 90,182[3]
Future Hall of Famers
Dolphins: Don Shula (coach), Nick Buoniconti, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, Jim Langer, L… Morearry Little, Paul Warfield
Redskins: George Allen (coach), Chris Hanburger, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor
Ceremonies
National anthem Little Angels of Holy Angels Church, Chicago
Coin toss Tom Bell
Halftime show Woody Herman, Andy Williams and the Michigan Marching Band
TV in the United States
Network NBC
Announcers Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
Nielsen ratings 42.7
(est. 53.32 million viewers)[4]
Market share 72
Cost of 30-second commercial $88,000
← VI Super Bowl VIII →
Super Bowl VII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1972 season. The Dolphins defeated the Redskins by the score of 14–7, and became the first and still the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect undefeated season. They also remain the only Super Bowl team to be shut out in the second half and still win. The game was played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, the second time the Super Bowl was played in that city. At kickoff the temperature was 84 °F (29 °C), making the game the warmest Super Bowl ever.[5]

This was the Dolphins' second Super Bowl appearance after losing Super Bowl VI. They posted an undefeated 14–0 regular season record before defeating the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. The Redskins were making their first Super Bowl appearance after posting an 11–3 regular season record and playoff victories over the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. Despite being undefeated, the Dolphins were actually one point underdogs,[1] largely based on the weakness of their regular season schedule.[6]

Super Bowl VII was largely dominated by the Dolphins, and remains the lowest-scoring Super Bowl to date with a total of only 21 points (3 touchdown and 3 extra points). The only drama was during the final minutes of the game, in what was later known as "Garo's Gaffe".[7] Miami attempted to cap off their 17–0 perfect season with a 17–0 perfect score shutout with a 42-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian,[8] but instead the game and the season was jeopardized when his kick was blocked. Instead of falling on the loose ball, the Dolphins kicker picked it up, attempted a forward pass, but batted it in the air, and Redskins' cornerback Mike Bass (who was Garo's former teammate on the Detroit Lions years earlier) caught it and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. This remains the longest period in a Super Bowl for one team to be shut out, as Washington was held scoreless until 2:07 remained in the fourth quarter.[note 1] Because of Garo's Gaffe, in what was a Miami-dominated game became close, and the Dolphins ended up having to stop Washington's final drive for the tying touchdown as time expired.

Dolphins safety Jake Scott was named Most Valuable Player. He recorded two interceptions for 63 return yards, including a 55-yard return from the end zone during the 4th quarter. Scott became the second defensive player in Super Bowl history (after linebacker Chuck Howley in Super Bowl V) to earn a Super Bowl MVP award. Less