In the early 1970s the Miami Dolphins were world beaters. They made three straight Super Bowls from 1971 to 1973 winning two. In 1972 they famously went undefeated 17-0 including the playoffs, the only team in history to accomplish this feat.
The next season the Fins opened the season 1-0 and if you went back to the 1971 season the fins had won 16 straight regular season games and 18 straight total games going back to the 1972 season and playoffs.
The Raiders had lost their first game and were a bit desperate as despite them being a dominant team starting 0-2 would severely hurt their playoff chances.
This game was a rugged affair with a lot of defence and hard hitting.
It would also be the last game Darryle Lamonica would win as the Raiders starter. Lamonica had been struggling with the advent of Zone Defences; his Mad Bombing style was no longer effective in the NFL. Ken Stabler’s more intermediate throwing and style was a better fit for the 1973 NFL and Stabler would take over as the starter that season.
Lamonica did not have to do much on this day; he was just 7 for 10 for 63 yards and an INT. The Raiders did not even score a TD, with all their points coming from 4 George Blanda Field Goals.
The Raiders pounded Miami on the ground with 46 carries for 187 yards with 20 carries for 88 yards coming from Marv Hubbard, 20 carries for 80 yards from Charlie Smith and Clarence Davis chipping in 5 carries for 22 yards and a 17 yard reception.
The Raiders defence shut down Bob Griese who went 12 for 25 for 90 yards and a TD in front of a record 74,000 fans in the Colosseum. In addition, the Fins three headed monster of Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka would only run for 105 yards on 24 carries (which was a small number as the Fins averaged nearly 180 yards on the ground per game in 1973). The Fins turned over the ball twice on fumbles.
The Raiders dominated the game with those 4 field goals giving them a 12-0 lead before the fins scored a late garbage time TD.
After this the Fins would reel off 10 straight wins . Meaning that from the start of the 1972 season till week 13 of the 1973 season Miami would have an incredible record of 28-1 with that lone loss being this Week 2 loss to the Raiders!!
Below are the highlights of the Game: