1972 NFL season

1972 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration September 17 – December 17, 1972
Playoffs
Start date December 23, 1972
AFC Champions Miami Dolphins
NFC Champions Washington Redskins
Super Bowl VII
Date January 14, 1973
Site L.A. Coliseum,
Los Angeles, California
Champions Miami Dolphins
Pro Bowl
Date January 21, 1973
Site Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first (and to date the only) NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Pro Bowl took place on January 21, 1973 at Texas Stadium. The AFC beat the NFC 33-28.

The Kansas City Chiefs moved their home games to Arrowhead Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex and became the twelfth team (of 26) to play its home games on artificial turf.

Major rule changes

Division races

Starting in 1970, and until 2002, there were three divisions (Eastern, Central and Western) in each conference. The winners of each division, and a fourth "wild card" team based on the best non-division winner, qualified for the playoffs. The tiebreaker rules were changed to start with head-to-head competition, followed by division records, common opponents records, and conference play.

National Football Conference

Week Eastern Central Western Wild Card
1 Dallas, St. Louis, Washington 1–0–0 Detroit, Green Bay 1–0–0 Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles 1–0–0 St.L, Wash., Atl., San Fran., Green Bay 1–0–0
2 Dallas, Washington 2–0–0 Minnesota 1–1–0 Los Angeles 1–0–1 Dallas, Washington 2–0–0
3 Washington 2–1–0 Detroit, Green Bay 2–1–0 Atlanta, San Francisco 2–1–0 3 teams 2–1–0
4 Washington 3–1–0 Detroit* 3–1–0 Los Angeles 2–1–1 2 teams 3–1–0
5 Washington 4–1–0 Green Bay 4–1–0 Los Angeles 3–1–1 Dallas 4–1–0
6 Washington 5–1–0 Green Bay* 4–2–0 Los Angeles 4–1–1 4 teams 4–2–0
7 Washington 6–1–0 Green Bay* 4–3–0 Los Angeles 4–2–1 Dallas 5–2–0
8 Washington 7–1–0 Green Bay* 5–3–0 Los Angeles 5–2–1 Dallas 6–2–0
9 Washington 8–1–0 Green Bay 6–3–0 Los Angeles 5–3–1 Dallas 7–2–0
10 Washington 9–1–0 Green Bay 7–3–0 Los Angeles* 5–4–1 Dallas 8–2–0
11 Washington 10–1–0 Green Bay* 7–4–0 San Francisco 6–4–1 Dallas 8–3–0
12 Washington 11–1–0 Green Bay 8–4–0 Atlanta 7–5–0 Dallas 9–3–0
13 Washington 11–2–0 Green Bay 9–4–0 San Francisco 7–5–1 Dallas 10–3–0
14 Washington 11–3–0 Green Bay 10–4–0 San Francisco 8–5–1 Dallas 10–4–0

American Football Conference

Week Eastern Central Western Wild Card
1 Miami, NY Jets 1–0–0 Cincinnati, Pittsburgh 1–0–0 Denver 1–0–0 Miami, NY Jets 1–0–0
2 Miami, NY Jets 2–0–0 Cincinnati 2–0–0 Oakland, Denver, Kansas City, San Diego 1–1–0 Miami, NY Jets 2–0–0
3 Miami 3–0–0 Cleveland 2–1–0 Kansas City 2–1–0 Pittsburgh, San Diego, Cincinnati, NY Jets 2–1–0
4 Miami 4–0–0 Cincinnati 3–1–0 Kansas City 3–1–0 San Diego* 2–1–1
5 Miami 5–0–0 Cincinnati 4–1–0 Oakland 3–1–1 NY Jets* 3–2–0
6 Miami 6–0–0 Cincinnati* 4–2–0 Oakland 3–2–1 Pittsburgh* 4–2–0
7 Miami 7–0–0 Cincinnati* 5–2–0 Oakland 4–2–1 Pittsburgh* 5–2–0
8 Miami 8–0–0 Pittsburgh 6–2–0 Kansas City 5–3–0 Cleveland* 5–3–0
9 Miami 9–0–0 Pittsburgh 7–2–0 Oakland 5–3–1 Cleveland* 6–3–0
10 Miami 10–0–0 Cleveland 7–3–0 Oakland 6–3–1 Pittsburgh 7–3–0
11 Miami 11–0–0 Cleveland 8–3–0 Oakland 7–3–1 Pittsburgh 8–3–0
12 Miami 12–0–0 Pittsburgh 9–3–0 Oakland 8–3–1 Cleveland 8–4–0
13 Miami 13–0–0 Pittsburgh 10–3–0 Oakland 9–3–1 Cleveland 9–4–0
14 Miami 14–0–0 Pittsburgh 11–3–0 Oakland 10–3–1 Cleveland 10–4–0

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 x  – clinched wild card berth,  y  – clinched division title

Note: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings

AFC East
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-Miami Dolphins 14001.000385171
New York Jets 770.500367324
Baltimore Colts 590.357235252
Buffalo Bills 491.321257377
New England Patriots 3110.214192446
AFC Central
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-Pittsburgh Steelers 1130.786343175
x-Cleveland Browns 1040.714268249
Cincinnati Bengals 860.571299229
Houston Oilers 1130.071164380
AFC West
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-Oakland Raiders 1031.750365248
Kansas City Chiefs 860.571287254
Denver Broncos 590.357325350
San Diego Chargers 491.321264344
NFC East
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-Washington Redskins 1130.786336218
x-Dallas Cowboys 1040.714319240
New York Giants 860.571331247
St. Louis Cardinals 491.321193303
Philadelphia Eagles 2111.179145352
NFC Central
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-Green Bay Packers 1040.714304226
Detroit Lions 851.607339290
Minnesota Vikings 770.500301252
Chicago Bears 491.321225275
NFC West
TeamWLTPCTPFPA
y-San Francisco 49ers 851.607353249
Atlanta Falcons 770.500269274
Los Angeles Rams 671.464291286
New Orleans Saints 2111.179215361


Playoffs

Note: Prior to the 1975 season, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation.
Divisional Playoffs Conf. Championship Games Super Bowl VII
December 24 – Miami Orange Bowl        
 Cleveland  14
December 31 – Three Rivers Stadium
 Miami  20  
 Miami  21
December 23 – Three Rivers Stadium
     Pittsburgh  17  
 Oakland  7
January 14 – L.A. Coliseum
 Pittsburgh  13  
 Miami  14
December 23 – Candlestick Park    
   Washington  7
 Dallas  30
December 31 – RFK Stadium
 San Francisco  28  
 Dallas  3
December 24 – RFK Stadium
     Washington  26  
 Green Bay  3
 Washington  16  
 

Awards

Most Valuable PlayerLarry Brown, Running Back, Washington
Coach of the YearDon Shula, Miami
Offensive Player of the YearLarry Brown, Running Back, Washington
Defensive Player of the YearJoe Greene, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Offensive Rookie of the YearFranco Harris, Running Back, Pittsburgh
Defensive Rookie of the YearWillie Buchanon, Cornerback, Green Bay

References

  1. "Owners give offense big seven-yard boost". Rome News-Tribune (Georgia). Associated Press. March 24, 1972. p. 6A.

External links

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