16. 1976 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at 16. 1977 MIAMI DOLPHINS
16. 1977 MIAMI DOLPHINS
Record: 10-4
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 3rd
Def: 5th
2nd AFC East
Did not make playoffs
HC Don Shula, OC Howard Schnellenberger DC John Sandusky
Rick Weaver/Hank Goldberg
Orange Bowl: 75 degrees
Offense
QB Bob Griese (32 Purdue) All Pro
RB Benny Malone (25)
FB Norm Bulach (31)
WR Nat Moore (26) All Pro
WR Duriel Harris (23)
TE Andre Tillman (25)
LT Wayne Moore (32)
LG Bob Kuechenberg (30)
C Jim Langer (29) All Pro
RG Larry Little (32)
RT Mike Current (32)
Defense
LDE Vern Den Herder (29)
NT Bob Baumhower (22)
RDE AJ Duhe (23-R)
LOLB Kim Bokamper (23-R)
LILB Steve Towle (24)
RILB Bob Matheson (33)
ROLB Larry Gordon (23)
LCB Norris Thomas (23-R)
RCB Curtis Johnson (29)
SS Tim Foley (29)
FS Vern Robinson (25-R)
K Garo Yepremian (33)
P Mike Michel (23)
KR Gary Davis (23)
PR Freddie Solomon (24)
Region 7 Play In Game - the '77 Dolphins missed the playoffs, but they were 3rd in offense and 5th in defense which is a pretty good resume for the Play in Game. Bob Griese is 32, All Pro, 22 scores and 13 picks. Nat Moore's 26, also an All Pro, scored 13 times in a 14 game season. 29 year old Jim Langer is also an All Pro. 5 rookie starters on that fifth best defense in football. They split their two games with the Patriots. The '75 Dolphins and '82 Dolphins are already into the next round.
16. 1976 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 11-3
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 2nd
Def: 11th
2nd AFC East
Lost Div Rnd Raiders 24-21
HC: Chuck Fairbanks
Offense
QB Steve Grogan (23)
RB Andy Johnson (24)
FB Sam Cunningham (26)
WR Darryl Stingley (25)
WR Randy Vataha (28)
TE Russ Francis (23)
LT Leon Gray (25)
LG John Hannah (25) All Pro
C Bill Lenkaitis (30)
RG Sam Adams (28)
RT Bob McKay (29)
Defense
LDE Tony McGee (27)
NT Ray Hamilton (25)
RDE Julius Adams (28)
LOLB Steve Zabel (28)
LILB Steve Nelson (25)
RILB Sam Hunt (25)
ROLB Steve King (25)
LCB Bob Howard (32)
RCB Mike Haynes (23-R)
SS Prentice McCray (25)
FS Tim Fox (23-R)
K John Smith (27)
P Mike Patrick (24)
KR Jess Phillips (29)
PR Mike Haynes (23)
Battle of division rivals in the region 7 play in game. The Pats had the 2nd best offense in 1976, 23 year old Steve Grogan had 30 scores -- 30 TDs, 12 of those rushing. We just saw Russ Francis as a 49er playing the Patriots -- here he is as a 23 year old Patriot in the Pro Bowl. 25 year old John Hannah is an All Pro. The defense is not particularly good, but Mike Haynes is a 23 year old rookie with 8 picks and 2 punt returns for scores.
Another 70s team - the '75 Steelers, is the top seed in the region and waits the winner, lets go to Miami for the kick.
1st Qtr
Patriots start at the 34.
3 and out.
Dolphins at the 31.
1/10 - Benny Malone blows through the Patriot defense - 50 huge yards on Miami's first play from scrimmage.
1/10 - Bob Griese checks down to Gary Davis, 4 yds.
2/6 - Give to Malone. 1 yd.
3/5 - Give to Davis, running left - Davis through the hole - Davis bouncing off a Patriot defender and is into the endzone. TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS it takes just plays for Miami to get into the endzone as the play in game for region 7 is underway.
Patriots at the 27.
1/10 - Steve Grogan's first completion is to Sam Cunningham, he gets 7.
2/3 - Grogan passing again - Darryl Stingley - 15 yards out to the 49.
1/10 - Cunningham gets 3.
2/7 - Cunningham gets 3.
3/4 - Grogan to Don Calhoun, 7 yard gain at the Pats are at the 38.
1/10 - Grogan over the middle - Picked Off - by Bob Matheson - Matheson down at the 28, Miami turns NE over a little more than halway through the quarter.
Miami gets one first down on a Griese 9 yard pass to Nat Moore, they punt from their own 42.
Pats at the 28.
1/10 - Andy Johnson gets 18.
1/10 - Johnson stopped at the line.
1/10 - Grogan's flushed - Grogan's across the line - big gain for Grogan, 15 yards for Steve Grogan to the Miami 39.
It stops there - 3 plays net 8 yards and the Patriots miss the 48 yard FG.
Miami at the 38.
1/10- Gary Davis stacked up. Offsides makes it 2nd and 5.
2/5 - Griese hits Nat Moore for 29 yards, the quarter ends.
2nd Qtr
Miami up 7-0, that huge Malone run leading to the Davis score. And they've got a first down at the Patriot 37.
The next 3 plays net 7 yards -- Yepremian hits the FG and it's 10-0 Fins.
Patriots at the 31.
1/10 - Bam Cunningham pounds for 11.
1/10 - Johnson loses 2
2/12 - Johnson gains 19 and the Pats are at the 41.
1/10 - Calhoun gets 5.
2/5 - Calhoun again, breaks one, 28 yards down the sideline and it's a Patruot first and goal at the 8.
But that's all, NE has to kick the short FG and it's 10-3.
Miami at the 36.
1/10 - Malone for 8.
2/2 - Norm Bulaich's first carry, he gets 11 and Miami's in NE territory.
1/10 - Griese dropped by the Steve Nelson sack.
2/18 - Malone loses 1, third and forver.
3/19 - Griese picks it up - a screen to Malone, convoy down the left side for 33 yards and a first down at the 21.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Griese - over the middle - Andre Tillman - he fights his way - into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - 21 yards from Griese to Tillman and it's 17-3 Miami with a little more than 2:30 left in the half.
Patriots at the 28.
1/10 - Grogan short to Cunningham -- and Bam breaks it -- Cunningham open field -- Cunningham rumbles for 43 yards all the way to the Miami 29 at the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Cunningham dump off reception, steps out after getting 2.
3/8 - Grogan tries to squeeze one in -- and it's Picked Off by Norris Thomas -- Miami with their second interception in their own end - Miami takes over with 1:42 left at their own 19.
They get a first down on a 13 yard Malone run - but 3 incomplete pases follow and with just over a minute left, Patriots ball in excellent field position at the Dolphin 49.
1/10 - Grogan to Stingley, 13 yards.
That's it - the next 3 plays net 6 yards - Smith hits the FG as time expires.
Third Qtr
Miami moving the ball effectively and picking up a couple of turnovers gives them the 17-6 lead.
Miami starts at the 45 after the nice return.
1/10 - Julius Adams sacks Griese.
2/19 - Incomplete
3/19 - Griese picks up another 3rd and really long - 30 yards to Duriel Harris, Bob Griese tremendous today and the Dolphins are at the 34.
1/10 - Malone gets 7.
2/3 - Malone gets 6.
1/10 - Davis gets 3.
2/7 - Davis gets 11, that's a first and goal.
1/goal - Incomplete
2/goal - Griese - back of the endzone -- Nat Moore -- TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - everything working for Miami in the play in game, it's 24-6.
Pats at the 24.
1/10 - Cunningham gets 4,
2/7 - Cunningham gets 3.
3/3 - Grogan to Stingley, 11 yards to the Pats 42.
1/10 - 7 yards for Johnson.
2/3 - 8 for Cunningham Miami content with giving up some yards on the ground with an 18 pt lead.
1/10 - Grogan - over the middle -- Picked Off by Matheson - it's Matheson's second interception of the day - Grogan picked off for the 3rd time, Miami is at their own 47.
1/10 - Bulaich big gain, 18 yards, this is all Miami right now.
1/10 - Davis gets 1.
2/9 - Bulaich stopped.
3/9 - Grese - going deep - going endzone -- Nat Moore -- TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - 34 yard ball from Griese to Moore - it is all Miami, it is all Miami - Dolphins cruising 31-6.
Pats at the 38.
1/10 - Grogan to Cunningham. 14.
1/10 - Grogan to Johnson. 17.
1/10 - Johnson stacked up, that's the end of the quarter. Pats at the 31.
4th qtr
Miami's got the easy win today, it's 31-6, only thing left is the final score, 3 Grogan picks today. 2nd and 10 for NE from the Miami 31.
2/10 - Grogan finds Randy Vataha for 22 - that's a first and goal.
1/goal - Andy Johnson runs into the endzone -- easy score, TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS NE will fail in an attempt at a 2 pt conversion and it's 31-12 Miami.
Miami at the 36.
They run the ball right down the field - running on almost every play - a 6 and a half minute drive ending in a 7 yard Norm Bulaich TD run - TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - halfway through the 4th it's now 38-12 Miami -- just a really impressive performance from the Dolphins, they'll move into the field and go to Pittsburgh to face the 7th overall seed in the tournament, the '75 Steelers.
Patriots at their own 27. 4 and out, they turn it over on downs, Miami takes over.
They run the ball three times -- and then Yepremian misses a FG. Little more than 4 minutes left, it's 38-12, Patriots regain at their own 37.
Grogan throwing the ball - hits Ricky Feacher for a 40 yard strike on the second plat and a couple plays later throws to the endzone to Randy Vataha - TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - a 28 yard pass from Grogan to Vataha -- NE scores in under a minute - it's 38-19.
That's going to be the final -- Miami goes 3 and out and punts - NE has a drive that takes essentially the remainder of the game, but it dies in Dolphin territory - victory formation for Griese and it's over.
Final: Dolphins 38 Patriots 19
Never a contest, Miami dominates on both sides of the ball and they roll into Region 7.
Griese: 11 for 18, 182 yds, 3 TD
Grogan: 15 for 26, 253 yds, 1 TD, 3 TD
Malone: 13 carries, 98 yds
Johnson: 12 carries, 65 yds, 1 TD
Moore: 4 catches, 70 yds, 2 TD
Vataha: 2 catches, 56 yds, 1 TD
Matheson: 2 INT
Player of the Game: Nat Moore
