1971 DOLPHINS AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

[@dg8994]

Anyone notice the way Warfield reacted on that first touchdown reception? Finds the official hands him that ball and goes to his teammates. This says “Yea I found the endzone, I’ve done it many times before and I will be back soon” so much class. And Curt Gowdy damn what a wonderful commentator. I could listen to him all day.

[@greenbeagle13]

Exactly. Nowadays many of these WR's bust out in some twerking stupidity, or rowing a boat - sickening. Although, I recently watched Amari Cooper and he did none of those ridiculous antics.

[@drbonesshow1]

Csonka could have played in any era of football. RIP Jim Kiick.

[@Slinger43]

He was the toughest S.O.B. to ever lace'um up! Long live the memory of #39 The Zonk! 💪😎👍

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

Two weeks later in New Orleans it was Doomsday for Dolphins as the Cowboys finally broke through and won the Big One by throttling Miami, 24 to 3. In 1972 Miami had the perfect season and capped it off by squashing Washington 14 to 7. In 1973 Miami had it’s best team ever and finished it off by dismantling Minnesota 24 to 7 in SB VIII. In 1974 the Miami dynasty was ended in Oakland in the fabled “Sea of Hands” game. The Raiders won the most exciting football game I have ever seen by a score of 28-26. The Dolphin reign ended and Pittsburgh’s began.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

@Dick Jones Very true. But they WERE intact in 1974 and Oakland still managed to end their dynasty. You may have seen the NFL Greatest Games production about the "Sea of Hands" game between the Dolphins and Raiders. In it, Coach Shula stated that the Dolphins were not the same just by knowing that Csonka, Kiick and Warfield would be leaving at season's end. But some of Shula's own players, such as Bob Kuechenberg strongly, but respectfully, dissgreed. Eventually, most great teams are torn apart by things such as free agency, injuries, age, etc. The Dolphins were no different.

[@herbpetrillo163]

@@yourroyalhighness7662 if they played ten times, the dolphins woulda beaten the raiders 7 of 10 times....a year earlier, it woulda been 9 of 10....in 74 the dolphins simply werent the same yet went 11-3 and lost on a fluke on the road. The potential defections hurt morale, how couldnt it? if the potential defections didnt happen- who knows, at least a three- peat

[@mr.majestic2667]

@@herbpetrillo163 Blame the owner , they were in 3 Super Bowls and wanted bigger contracts .

[@charlesballi1535]

That Dick Anderson interception! One of my favorite plays of all time and made by a really good player and a good man, met him years later. Yes, I was there, 12 years old. The excitement of that game and shutting out Shula’s old team and going to our first Super Bowl was something really really special. And yes the earlier commentator is correct, it was doomsday at the Super Bowl a few weeks later, but this day was really really special. Believe it when people say to you that there was absolutely nothing like the atmosphere of the old Orange Bowl! Such memories!

[@dolphingoosby7195]

48 years ago today! Just listening to curt gowdy and al deRogatis gives me chills. Notice how they just focus on game.

[@bufnyfan1]

none of the announcers of today couldn't stand in Mr. Gowdy's shadow-(especially Joe Buck--I turn off the audio on any football game he covers)--I grew up with Mr. Gowdy and although I loved watching the game I also truly looked forward to just hearing him announce it. It was like having your best friend sitting on the couch watching the game with you

[@gregorypollard5908]

@Jeremiah troll alert!

[@dolphingoosby7195]

Simply put, wow! Been waiting 47 years to see this again. The great Paul Warfield!

[@trevortrent319]

i dont mean to be so offtopic but does any of you know of a way to get back into an instagram account?? I somehow forgot the password. I would appreciate any help you can give me

[@vihaanmaximilian6572]

@Trevor Trent instablaster :)

[@trevortrent319]

@Vihaan Maximilian i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im trying it out atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@trevortrent319]

@Vihaan Maximilian It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D

[@vihaanmaximilian6572]

@Trevor Trent Glad I could help xD

[@geraldchilds4880]

I never get tired of watching this.

[@markclark7178]

The legendary early 70s dolphins . Best ever !

[@lloydkline1518]

Undefeated tesm

[@johnnyirish6414]

And the legendary Curt Gowdy.

[@tonyocch1]

Curt Cowdy !! Wow do I miss this guy

[@hounddog946]

Even though he was doing tv, you could close you eyes or go into the other room and he was doing play by play like a radio man.

[@Mryrhodesian]

Great Broadcaster!

[@kevinblanch]

Wyoming basketball GIANT

[@charliewartelle6720]

He really was the best.

[@bufnyfan1]

Roone Arledge who helped create ABC's Monday Night Football in 1970 was very good friends with Mr. Gowdy--he wanted him to be the announcer for Monday Night Football--however NBC would not let Mr. Gowdy out of his contract with them-so it never happened

[@depaola63]

I’m 59 now and these days were absolutely wonderful ⭐️

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

I agree, I'm 58 and when I started following the NFL in the early 70s Miami was it, 4 out of 5 kids in school during this time were Dolphins fans, I liked Miami but leaned more towards Oakland, Dallas and Minnesota because I loved Stabler, Staubach and Tarkenton.

[@haillemartin5586]

And people today want to know why I'm a Dolphin fan. I tell them I have been a fan for 51 years go Miami.

[@gavriilnick4225]

the good old days....

[@196078614teal]

That interception return for a touchdown was the first score I ever saw my Miami Dolphins score, and the only play I remember from that game. This was the first Dolphin game I ever saw, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

[@TBaroody1]

Was at this game with my dad and three brothers. NEVER heard the old OB louder after DICK ANDERSON pick sixed JOHNNY U. Thanks so much for posting this fantastic clip. Such great memories

[@garycraig6506]

I watched that game from my aunt’s house in Glen Burnie, Maryland.. At the time I was 13-1/2 y/o.. I wasn’t wild about that particular game... Miami would get theirs the next game, SBVI.. Bob Griese took one helluva sack in that game, losing boo coo yards.... Wow, 49 years ago... Holy crap!

[@Daisyno2]

is the interception on this tape?

[@pep590]

@@Daisyno2 Yes at the very beginning.

[@Slinger43]

@@garycraig6506 Yeah, my fish got squished by The Man in the funny little hat & his Cowboys that next game, but my phins got just what they deserved & Shula got'um ALL back in 72! 💪😏👉 17-0 baby!

[@mm-gl7sz]

@@garycraig6506 Patrick Mahomes did the same thing TWICE this year, against the Dolphins and then again against Tampa in the Super Bowl

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

Where did this come from?! This is the most brilliant footage I've ever seen, Curt Gowdy was the best ever!

[@dennissaunders5247]

How Miami had ENERGY for this game was remarkable, after the 6 quarter MARATHON in KANSAS CITY. LOVED THAT ERA OF FOOTBALLERS. LOVED CURT GOWDY THE AMERICAN SPORTSMEN.

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Fins fed off the energy of the home crowd at the Orange Bowl. Miami was in the midst of a 31 game home winning streak (incl postseason) which is still an NFL record.

[@bena.3955]

Irving Fryer said in a podcast a few weeks ago that Shula had the team going full tilt outdoors in the Florida heat all season which might be why they had energy. He said it was a detriment to the early 90’s teams near the end of the season when teams around the country took the gas off the pedal in practice as the season wore on.

[@Outrageousconduct]

SHULAS TEAMS were the best conditioned teams in sports history

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

@@Outrageousconduct Absolutely, Shula believed in proper conditioning. It was his trademark.

[@jacktheripoff1888]

Never saw any actual broadcast footage of this game. Thanks for posting.

[@thomasjimenez5479]

I remember watching this game live on a black and white television 🤣

[@chrishall6419]

I was eleven when this game was played and I remember it like yesterday....loved to listen to Curt Gowdy in any sport...

[@Slinger43]

Absolutely loved the Ol' Cowboy Curt Gowdy! He was on the mic for so many great sporting events of the past, the 75 World Series always sticks out in my mind & I'm a Dodgers fan! 😳? LOL!

[@spryfolII]

NBC canera position was always different from CBS. For instance, CBS main camera shot was always angled behind the formation, while NBC was more in front and a wider view. Most times, with NBC you could see the closest reciever, while CBS at times it was obstructed. Still you had ABC with their 10 plus cameras on Monday Night that really elevated the broadcast. Since they only had 1 game, it was economically smart to give the Monday Night Game a Super Bowl look. All 3 gave us the game with their own brand and philosophy and it made the game much better on television.

[@jasonmorris2875]

That's why I almost always watched the NFL on NBC in the 70s & 80s. The games always looked better on NBC.

[@ebf1957]

@@jasonmorris2875 And NBC had cooler graphics towards the end of the 70's.

[@ebf1957]

Also the same camera positions for the Orange Bowl.

[@Jessica_Roth]

Nice! The Dick Anderson pick-6 has been seen many times, but the rest is fresh. (And even the Anderson footage is usually with the radio call, not the NBC audio.) Thank you.

[@Daisyno2]

where can I find it on this video?

[@ronaldoarcher4522]

I have been looking for this game for 10 years. I am so thankful. I appreciate you posting this film

[@jrdurr2]

Fantastic post! Thanks very much!!!!!

[@Cowboy1959]

What an amazing find! A truly historic and rare gem.

[@scottreed244]

I was 7 when I watched this game and the Cowboys-49ers NFC Championship game earlier that day. The Warfield touchdown was one of the first vivid memories I have of watching the NFL. P.S. - The bowl games the day before weren't half bad with Stanford defeating Michigan in the Rose Bowl 13-12 on a last second field goal; another great memory.

[@ebf1957]

And ended with Nebraska beating Alabama in the Orange Bowl for their second National Championship.

[@geraldchilds9274]

One of the greatest plays and players in Dolphins history.

[@daveeklund6277]

Thank you for posting-an absolutely outstanding clip!!

[@19Dolphins84]

LOVE IT!!! Greatly appreciated!!!

[@frankj.2638]

thank you for posting this gem, much appreciated

[@darkkhaki3]

The players in that era sure could BLOCK!

[@HyperInflation2020]

That 2nd block on the return was brutal, today it's illegal and notice how it's not even mentioned other then "that's 2". I wonder who it was that went down? Whoever it was, life was never the same after he took that hit. His helmet bounced off the turf.

[@zyrrhos]

@@HyperInflation2020 That was WR Ray Perkins. Interestingly, this was his last NFL game after a 5 season career, all with the Colts. Can't find the reason for his early retirement. He went on to coach afterwards.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@HyperInflation2020, Yes, an obvious clip which the frantic gesticulations from the Colts' bench weren't expressions of wishful thinking. Mitchell looked to have gotten tripped on the first block. There's no question it's an ironically classic play, though, even if it should have been called back to give possession to Miami on their end of the field.

[@Arrowhead1972]

Oh my gosh! I have waiting to see any live shots of this game forever! I actually have the souvenir program from this game. Now if you can find the previous weeks game vs Kansas City, that would be great!!!!. Thanks for posting!

[@klozerulz]

1971 Afc Divisonal KC vs.Mia

[@radar0412]

Dolphins vs Chiefs Christmas Day 1971 is lost forever.

[@davemckinney3479]

@@klozerulz 1971 AFC divisional kc vs miami

[@willdrucker4291]

Want to see a lot more of these old NBC games....there’s just gotta be some live NETWORK footage of that historic CHIEFS/FINS 6 OT Classic the week before this contest...

[@Slinger43]

I watched that game on TV as a 10yr old kid, all I remember really is how intense OT was, knowing next score ends the game! 😬 Then Garo (I think it was Garo 🤷) finally kicked the winning field goal to end it 😃!! I'd LOVE to watch it again, it would be like seeing again for the first time 😎👍

[@kevinthb498]

It's frustrating there was not consistency in saving broadcasts. I've found 1968 (Colts Browns) & 1969 (Browns Vikes) NFL Championship Games. Also 1970 Dal SF NFC Champ Game. Super Bowls except for I & II. But can't find any AFC or NFC playoff broadcasts from 1971 or 1972. Not only Mia/KC. But 1972 had 3 Division Round Classics (Oak Pitt Dal SF & Cleve Mia), all 3 decided dramatically in last minute

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

@@Slinger43 yes it was Garo Yepremian who kicked the winning FG in overtime.

[@Slinger43]

@@andrewpadaetz5549 Cool, Thank you! 👍

[@bufnyfan1]

I absolutely miss Curt Gowdy---there was nothing I looked forward more to each spring then the NBC MLB game of the week--Mr Gowdy was teamed with Tony Kubek and they would cover whatever team may be on a winning streak/whatever team may have been a surprise that season--a team that had a player who was on a hot streak--and as the season went on--whatever teams were in a pennant race and cover a relevant game--

[@herbpetrillo163]

So good, so good, watching the colts with mr. Perfect himself.....GET SHUT OUT

[@bullock4211]

Super sky point to Nick Buoniconti👆👆 RIP

[@mikeraulerson4375]

I was four years old when this game was played I barely remember but I fell in love with the Dolphins what a great team and as I got older 72-74 I remember More and more Paul Warfield what a great player and the offense line my God they were the best in the league csonka was my favorite but I liked Jim kiick and Mercury Morris great player's and the noname defense Dick Anderson and Jake Scott the the best safety tandom in the league I met Bob greise and csonka and kiick I was five years old great memories of that team I remember when they lost to Oakland in playoffs in 74 I cried because Warfield csonka and kiick were leaving I knew the dynasty was over but that in my opinion was one greatest teams ever bar none even though the Steelers dynasty started that's the very same year Miami lostand I put them right there with mine is one of the greatest teams ever as well

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Mike Raulerson, Uh, have you ever heard of something called a punctuation mark? It definitely can come in handy, from time to time. 🙄 🙄 🙄

[@dolphingoosby7195]

Happy birthday PAUL WARFIELD! born November 28th 1942.

[@brianwolf6166]

#42

[@1thepner]

WOW!!!!!!!! Thank you for the upload!!

[@spryfolII]

This was the official end of a era. The first great Colts from 1958 - 1971. Connected through Unitas, Matte, Orr, Bubba Smith, etc. Fitting it was a Don Shula led team that ended it as it was the Colts with Shula at the helm who while he never had a losing season, could never put it all together and win a Championship. A Championship Game loss to Cleveland followed by a playoff loss to Green Bay, 2 tough years of not making the playoffs due to the rise of the Rams, and the ultimate loss to the Jets was Shulas legacy, but he left and started a new one in Miami. The Colts would rebound in the mid 70's, but all of the old Colts were long gone. So this game is typical of how sports works. To be a champion, you gotta defeat one. The Colts were defending Super Bowl Champs, winning it right there on the Orange Bowl floor, so it was only fitting that they lose it there. btw...the Colts franchise has been to 4 Super Bowls. All played in Miami with the Colts going 2-2. Winning both in their white uniforms and losing both with rhe blue tops on. How 'bout that!

[@larrymelman]

Most of the "old Colts" were already gone by 1971. Matte and Unitas had last gasps in 71. Actually Unitas had been on borrowed time for several years, it was Earl Morrall who had been keeping the ship afloat during Unitas's frequent down time. Morrall may have been the most notable loss in 72 - perhaps they could have gotten one more competitive season (without Morrall in Miami to run Shula's offense, the Dolphins certainly would not have been 14-0), and then he could have helped make a faster transition to Bert Jones starting in 73. But instead, they staggered through 73-74 with the forgettable Domres, before Jones found his way in the Marchibroda years. Must also remember that the ownership change to Irsay right before the 72 season, with Joe Thomas coming in and blowing up everything, greatly contributed to the mess of 72-74. Although had that not been done, perhaps the rebound of 75-77 would not have happened and the rest of the decade after 71 would have been bumbling along in the mid-to-lower part of the standings the entire time.

[@robertdougherty4410]

@@larrymelman MLK m.p

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

colts were at best,the 3rd best team in the afc

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

screw the olts...

[@richd3044]

Well said. As a nine year old Colt fan, this was the beginning of my hate for the Dolphins, only to be exceeded by the Steelers in a few years as my younger brother was a Raiders fan. I remember the Anderson interception, watching practically every Colt getting wiped out on the return. Can't believe it's so long ago now.

[@randyware9645]

man there was no mistaking curt gowdys voice , what a great voice of 70s football

[@amusement420]

Warfield starts in a three point stance. My Dad played American Legion baseball against him. Said it seemed like he took two strides and was on first base.

[@RRaquello]

We were at our Uncle's house for New Years and this game was on the TV and everyone was watching and I remember on the Dick Anderson interception return, everyone was hooting and hollering, and since we lived in NY, nobody was either a Colts or Dolphins fan. Unless somebody had a bet on the game, we were all neutral observers. But it was a great play. I was a very young kid at the time (about 9 years old) and was already a big football fan, but that's been over for a long time. Stopped watching in the early 90s because I just got very bored with it. Now it's become a lesson in civics (or, really, un-civics) and a complete joke. Who needs it? But there are some good memories left of when it was something you wanted to watch.

[@RobTheNotary]

Those of us who remember the good old days are spoiled by them

[@coreylevine3856]

The Warfield TD were on NBC Great game,great moments in the 1980's ...

[@dolphingoosby7195]

And in color!

[@coreylevine3856]

yes

[@jckyhn7329]

Wow, broadcast footage from Unitas' last championship game. Thank you!

[@ellisacklin514]

Thanks for the great post historic post. I never knew that Miami bested the Unitas-led Colts to reach their first SB. Good to milk to glory years until the current Dolphins iteration can overcome nearly two decades of mediocrity

[@27vaquayit]

Great stuff! Had season tickets at Texas Stadium that year but was sick and missed the NFC title game earlier that day. Couldn't watch it on TV because of the blackout rules in Dallas. Would love to see a broadcast portion of that game...

[@davidtrueslayor7474]

Its really amazing looking back, as a kid I loved Lloyd Mumford ,well I loved every single Dolphin, but Mumford was a specialist a nickle corner special teams standout yet if you were a fan you couldn't help notice how many -big- huge plays he was in on. Now though it boggles my mind not only how good he was but how dumb Miami was to not resign him ????. They let him go I think San Diego Robbie was cheap. But I loved that man.

[@johnconnell4503]

Colts

[@mm-gl7sz]

@@johnconnell4503 Baltimore fans now love the Ravens and hate the colts. Indy fans love the colts

[@mm-gl7sz]

Look how bad the dolphins are now inept ownership and management. In Robbie's last days of owning the Dolphins and Hunzingas first days neither got Marino the running game he needed (Ricky Williams before retiring to be a pothead anyone?)so they could never get to the Super Bowl after Montana beat Marino in the one Super Bowl he was in. That was why Kelly always beat Marino in the playoffs. Kelly had Thurman Thomas Marino had no one to run the ball

[@davidpridham3741]

Mumford haunted Shula and the Dolphins many times in mid 70s as a colt. The 75- 78 era was a three team scramble in afc east with Dolphins colts and pats all fielding good teams. Dolphins missed playoffs twice in that era when they posted excellent 10-4 records...amazing...considering Washington making playoffs n 2020 with losing record.

[@Slinger43]

@@mm-gl7sz Truer words have never been spoken 🙏 Absolutely the biggest waste of a professional sports athlete, was The GREATEST QB that EVER LIVED= DAN MARINO! 😞

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Nick Buoniconti had this funny line on the Dick Anderson pick six: "You're so slow I went out for a hot dog, came back and you were still running,." Anderson's response? "You're the only one who didn't throw a block."

[@robparadise6099]

Excellent job finalcutz!

[@8harlem1]

I use to LOVE Curt Gowdy he was the goat for football announcers at that time back when the game was real. Outdoor stadiums, snow, grass fields, mud. dirty jerseys the Raiders vs steeler, raiders vs KC, raiders vs Denver etc.................I miss those great days.

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

That's some snowy, muddy, grass field the dolphins and colts are playing on

[@michaelfabian3036]

"Luck is the residue of DESIGN", wisely insists the incomparable Curt Gowdy>>GOTTA LOVE it!!!!!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@michaelfabian3036, Uh, as even Gowdy stated, it was a quote of Branch Rickey's, not his own.

[@rogergoins9404]

I WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN I SEEN THIS LIVE

[@calvinbealer7264]

Legendary Curt Gowdy at his Best PERIOD.

[@dolphingoosby7195]

This was the first of 4 consecutive shutouts over the Baltimore Colts, remember, they played in the same division.

[@RK-um9tu]

1971 Dolphins ended two eras on the way to their first Super Bowl. First was the great Chiefs teams of the mid-60s to early 70s. Second was the Johnny Unitas Colts from the late-50s to the early 70s.

[@dolphingoosby7195]

It's been 50 years! As of today. I remember this day like if it happened yesterday!!

[@kevinpayton2664]

Great pass to Warfield on the TD.

[@stevemelendez]

NBC won an Emmy for this game.

[@edlawn5481]

Some of the best blocking you'll ever see on that Anderson interception, from defensive players, no less.

[@870Rem12gauge]

Back in '70 and '71, most people and sports media thought the Dolphins were just another 'pretty good team'. They caught everyone off guard when they ran the table 2 years straight.

[@edlawn5481]

Coaching matters.

[@herbpetrillo163]

Then they were perfect.and i think in 73 they were even better.i think the 73 dolphins were the greatest team ever in pro football. That playoff run.in every game, they got the opening kickoff, and scored a touchdown...every game was not in doubt.the super bowl vs minnesota was over before the first quarter ended...

[@Biggdoom344]

The dolphins were a bitch in that orange bowl. Probably the best home advantage in the league during the 70s. This was the end of the colts run, the week before the end of the KC run and the beginning of the Miami run.

[@joetrapp9187]

8 years old, I watched the Dolphins-Chiefs game on the sofa, sick with pneumonia, clutching my Miami Dolphins football helmet Christmas present. Two days later, I was hospitalized, and watched this game from an oxygen tent. I missed most of the first half, and was totally pleased they won, thinking they'd get beat bad by the Colts like they had been a few weeks before. I got out of the hospital just before the Super Bowl, and looked like a skeleton for almost 2 years. I got a lot of cards from my classmates while in the hospital. That was great, but one thing that annoyed me were the cards saying how happy I should be that the Cowboys were going to the Super Bowl. I think I started hating the Cowboys right then.

[@drbonesshow1]

This was the year of Roger Staubach. No one had a chance against the Cowboys when Staubach took over a 4-3 team. Won 10 games in a row. The next year, the Dolphins would go 17-0. Maybe some Staubach rubbed off on them during the 24-3 SB VI loss in 1972.

[@alpacka7956]

Thanks! Noticed that the score show Baltimore 7 Miami 0 after the Warfield touchdown.

[@clintscroggs65]

hope that didn't cost them the Emmy

[@alpacka7956]

@@clintscroggs65 Looks like they won, defeating Wide World of Sports, the World Series, the Rose Bowl, and Monday Night Football. www.emmys.com/shows/afc-championship-game

[@finalcutz]

No....They got the Emmy for this.

[@georgetoplenszky7062]

If anyone noticed, All 5 of those blocks on Anderson's int. touchdown would have been illegal chop blocks in today's N.F.L.

[@Biggdoom344]

True, but myself having played in that era, you were coached on how to do it and not injure the other guy. Those blocks on the run back were textbook.

[@Slinger43]

Aw hell man, practically every damn thing from that era is illegal in today's NFL, that's why today's NFL SUCKS! 👎🤮

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@Biggdoom344, The block on Perkins was a no-doubter clip, before then, at that time, and today. Whether the player on the receiving end was artfully allowed not to be injured, as you suggest, is irrelevant.

[@edwardcain4433]

Used to love listening to gowdy and derogotis.

[@aknationnews]

A shit ton of cut blocks on that interception return. Yikes.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Ak Nation News, How about a trip, debatedly, on the first one, and then a clip on Perkins. If you watch the NFL Films presentation of the game, you'll see the Colts sideline frantically pointing at that one, as well they should have. It's an iconic play, but one that appeared to have been errantly let count by the refs. On the other hand, one could argue that it was karmic payback, given the bogus fumble recovery in the previous season's Super Bowl, an egregious call, that likely cost the better team, Dallas, the title. Still, the Dolphins would have prevailed anyway. The Colts were hanging on, versus age, to being a relevant team (also having themselves to blame for not playing this game at home, by losing the season finale, hosting the Patriots), and the following year, proved that point, though it didn't take the organization very long to reload.

[@balrog322]

Mitchell Melkin Official has to see the infraction before it can be called. IMO the trip wasn’t either deliberate or blatant, and that definitely was not a clip on Perkins; the block wasn’t initiated by a player approaching from behind, as defined by NFL rules.

[@larrymelman]

@@mitchellmelkin4078 Where is the NFL Films film of this game? I can't find it.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@balrog322, Well, I've watched it many many times over the years (including several more just now) and that's not my view on the angle of approach by the blocker. At the same time, the means you chose in constructing your first sentence, seems to imply the official simply missed seeing the infraction, which you then refute took place. Additionally, if the play as executed, was so clearly within the bounds that players and coaches understood it back then, why did the Colts' bench immediately react so vociferously, in frantically pointing it out, as it took place right in front of them? One can more readily see their reaction in the NFL Films production of the Dolphins' season, a very abbreviated version of which is linked below. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4WYqYpmiJeLfLc

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@larrymelman, Here's a snippet of their review of Miami's "71 season, which shows the three scoring plays. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4WYqYpmiJeLfLc

[@robertbishop5357]

Before there was Montana to Rice, there was Griese to Warfield.

[@oldredbarnman]

RIP Jake Scott.

[@nyterpfan]

That play action deep ball to Warfield for the first TD was perfectly executed--beautiful play!!

[@spryfolII]

That was really the only way to defeat the Colts legendary Zone coverage. Throw over the top on early downs when the distance for a 1st down favored the offense. That ball Gresie threw was as good as it gets, and Warfield (the critical piece that made the Dolphins a serious contender) was smooth as butter. Just 30 at the time, he was Jerry Rice before Rice even knew what chop sticks were. The route was perfectly ran and when he got pass Stukes, it was a wrap. As true to the statement "pass the baton" as it gets. The Colts dynasty - knew it was officially done after that. Only fitting that it was passed in the Orange Bowl by the former coach Shula, who would eventually take the Dolphins to 4 Super Bowls including 3 in a row. Back to Warfield, he was better than his stats and there's no argument there.

[@dolphingoosby7195]

@@spryfolII I could not agree with you more! In my opinion Paul Warfield was the greatest COMPLETE wide receiver I've ever seen. My all time favorite player.

[@drobson8004]

@@dolphingoosby7195 The greatest ever? Hmm. Maybe not. Great and horrendously underrated? Absolutely!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@spryfolII, I believe you meant to refer to Kern, not Stukes, as the defender that Warfield got past.

[@bufnyfan1]

I love how Paul Warfield #42 (8:19) conducted himself after scoring a TD--no "spikng" the ball, no "high fives"-no over exuberance-just calm professionism-nothing but a "class act"

[@dolphingoosby7195]

Exactly! The most complete receiver ever to play pro football, I still can remember my dad telling his friends back in 1970 when miami traded for him that they would win a championship soon. And Mr. Warfield has been my favorite player of all time!

[@bufnyfan1]

@@dolphingoosby7195 Interestingly Mr. Warfield was bitter about being traded to Miami--he was born and raised in Ohio and loved playing for the Browns.--Don Shula had to spend a lot of time convincing him of what he was trying to build in Miami (Miami up to the time Mr. Shula was hired as coach was a losing team)

[@gavriilnick4225]

not like the clowns of today!!!!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@dolphingoosby7195, Another stunningly astute trade by the Browns that year, though giving up Ron Johnson for clearly damaged goods, was far more egregious.

[@lsmftymf]

17:27-17:44 "Yeah.Well, the writers got mad at me for calling it 'sudden victory.' I still think you should accent the winner instead of the loser. Give the winner the credit." Curt Gowdy was so correct!

[@theredbaronlives9889]

Thank you for posting this I've never seen it before but 1971 color television has been around since 1965 why is this in a black and white?

[@ronflatter1235]

Black and white videotape recorders of that era were much cheaper.

[@robparadise6099]

When Pro Football was entertaining, fun and exciting!

[@barbaradarnell.3802]

This must have been recorded before the immaculate reception.

[@miamimartin2195]

That play was in 1972 season the week before the Undefeated Dolphins Beat Pittsburgh to go to the Super Bowl.

[@mikelombardi8172]

A year later

[@randyware9645]

its a shame that miami never had a super bowl contenting team like the early 70s, i know they went to the super bowl twice in the early 80s, losing in 82 to the redskins or should i say the washington football team, witch is totally rediculous, then there was the marino loss to joe cool and the 49ers, who would have thought that marino would never return to the super bowl after reaching the game in only his 2nd year in the league, the nfc owned the afc in the 80s Super Bowls, i think the only afc team that won a superbowl in the 80s were the radiers in 80 and 83

[@herbpetrillo163]

Greatest interception in history.incredible blocking..anderson was one of the all time great safeties

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

herb petrillo, Yeah sure, if you want to discount what appeared to be a trip, and what was definitely a clip on Perkins. Other than that, I'll grant there were a few quite effective blocks.

[@bluetickfreddy101]

That type of FB hasn’t existed for a long time The basics of blocking and tackling are long gone Very hard to watch any current games

[@timfremstad3434]

I saw this game in color....as a (former) Colts fan , it was depressing 21-0

[@InfinitelinkRecords]

NBC gets the score backwards going to commercial at 10:00. Early east coast bias? Curt Gowdy was the best. Note how Johnny Unitas picks up the towel from center Bill Curry's behind before every snap, which is really old-school. This was the Baltimore Colts final game that mattered, as Don Shula's Dolphins, then Chuck Noll's Steelers, became the AFC's dominant teams. The Colts weren't good again until Bert Jones (for a few years), and then finally Payton Manning.

[@scottsands1634]

Anderson's return was great, but several of those blocks could have been flagged!

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Scott Sands, Should have been, especially the clip on Perkins!!!

[@larrymelman]

@@mitchellmelkin4078 No illegal blocks on the play. Then or now. Look up the definitions of clipping and chop blocks, they just don't apply here.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

@@larrymelman, Perhaps, you're a Dolphins partisan, but he was clearly blocked from behind, in the back of his knees. I don't know what rule book you're referring to, but that's a clip, then or now. I hardly think such an example if textbook technique, as you seem to be implying, would've elicited the obvious ire that's so evident from the Colts' bench, would it?

[@jeffking887]

How many of those blocks on the pick six would have been flagged today?

[@ronflatter1235]

If I were on the Emmy committee I would have lowered the grade for the wrong score being keyed in at 9:49 in.

[@markkomperda4692]

Love this game. I as happy when Dick stole the brick.

[@radar0412]

Let Johnny Unite us!

[@jln55]

Great resolution on an almost 50 year old video.

[@russelljohnson7067]

Check out the while handkerchiefs.

[@clintscroggs65]

OMG

[@charlesmak534]

I'd love to see the NFL Films cut of it.

[@Mryrhodesian]

I don't think I have ever seen better blocking on an interception return ....Ever. But then again you would expect nothing less from a Shula coached team. I wish that the folks who made up the NFL's 100 greatest plays had this one. I didn't see it.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Mryrhodesian, Yes if you factor in trips and clips, most egregiously taking out Perkins. Even with the rules in place at the time, the touchdown should have been called back, way back. It's doubtful that would have changed the outcome, though.

[@sharksbreath7]

That blocking tho and from defensive players. Practicing fundamentals actually works.

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Shark's Breath, Yeah, executing a fundamentally sound clip (and most likely a trip, too) is something to be truly admired. More like getting away with at least one blatant penalty, actually works. 🙄 🙄 🙄

[@kencummings953]

A week earlier Miami ended another era. The former champion Chiefs aged quickly after that Christmas double OT instant classic, opening the door once and for all for the Raiders. The Dolphins would appear in the next three super bowls, winning two of them.

[@mr.majestic2667]

Oakland ended Dolphins in 1974 , they never won a title since .

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Ken Cummings, It actually took a couple more years for the Chiefs to markedly unravel, the exclamation mark being the rout they suffered at Oakland in the penultimate game in '73. If they had won, they would've had a last playoff hurrah, taking the division crown from the Raiders by virtue of beating them in both regular season meetings.

[@drbonesshow1]

The Colts had as much chance to win this game (21 -0) as the Dolphins had in beating the Cowboys in SB VI (24 - 3).

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Don R. Mueller, Ph.D., I don't agree with that opinion. The Cowboys dominated the Dolphins, who were totally outclassed. However, such wasn't the case in this game. Perhaps, your recollection is better than mine, but Miami had the one quick strike and a sustained scoring march, driven by Warfield's great catch and run. But we're they continually on the cusp of adding points otherwise, only to be frustrated by failing inside Baltimore's 20, or missing makeable field goals? I don't believe so. As for the interception return, I find it interesting that more comments aren't offered that characterize it as a play that should have been called back, due to two pretty obvious illegal blocks, especially the clip on Perkins. It's an iconic looking effort though, no question.

[@drbonesshow1]

@@mitchellmelkin4078 This game was the Dick Anderson show: 3 INTs including the TD, which were all the points the Dolphins needed. Not being a Dolphins fan and listening to Dolphins lag-dog Curt Gowdy; it was a pleasure to hear Ray Scott and Pat Summerall call the Super Bowl where the Cowboys finally won the big one as easy as pie - Dolphins pie.

[@davanmani556]

Center DeMarco would get traded to the Browns next season. Jim Langer would take his place.

[@ronbowlingjr6122]

Miami hosted because Kansas City and Cleveland lost in the Divisional round

[@ericcollins8794]

Actually it was a rotated schedule in who had the conference title game.in 1975 it went to a seeded format which is still used to this day

[@robertlehman1337]

Plus Baltimore is a wild card team and couldn’t host a post season game

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

ron bowling jr, The Colts would have hosted this game, if they hadn't blown the season finale to the Patriots, at home, yet. The Dolphins were the better team, so they may have prevailed on the road, regardless. The two teams were headed in diametrically opposed directions.

[@dkupy100]

What a video. I was in the last row of the temp stands in the endzone under the scoreboard. Me and my buddies stayed in line at Gate 14 overnite the previous Wednesday to get a ticket from the remaining 500 available to the public.

[@johncianciarulo6848]

I was there! Still have my ticket stub and program

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Typo on the graphic after the Warfield TD..score shows Balt 7 Miami 0 when it should be the other way around.

[@radar0412]

I'm not a historian but I do remember that the Championship game was played the week before when the Dolphins beat the Chiefs in an Epic double overtime game. Back then everyone knew the outcome of this game was a foregone conclusion.

[@herbpetrillo163]

Right.the winner of chiefs vs dolphins was the best of the afc

[@radar0412]

@@herbpetrillo163 Had Stenerud made the game winner, the Chiefs would've hosted the defending Superbowl Champion Colts. At 13 years old the 1971 Chiefs were my first favorite team because I liked the way Lenny Dawson and Otis Taylor Torched the Steelers on MNF. The Chiefs Dynasty fell Completely into oblivion the following year. I never swore allegiance to any particular team again. Lol..

[@miamimartin2195]

This was your year if you had stayed a Chiefs fan!!! I have been waiting for the Dolphins since 1973!!

[@radar0412]

@@miamimartin2195 You got that right. But no way could I be a believer 50 years Without a good product! LOL!! All the Best to the current Chiefs Fans.

[@radar0412]

@@miamimartin2195 At least you had the Marino era to keep you entertained for awhile. Btw.. My favorite all time Running Back is Larry Powerbacker Csonka.

[@eddiekulp1241]

Unitas in his last playoff game

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

so fitting....1/12/69.....jets16-colts 7.....and this...a great way to frame the orange bowl, and to wipe out the STAIN of the cowboys losing to a much inferior team....

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

graciemaemarie11 jones, Yes, I definitely agree the Cowboys were demonstrably better in that game, but the Colts being a "much inferior team"? That seems a bit excessive.

[@StellarFella]

That pass was a little under thrown. If it had been thrown long enough, it would have been a touchdown for the Colts.

[@theprofessor8589]

The Colts trading Roy Jefferson before the '71 season hurt them. He was the key to them winning the Super Bowl the year before. They would have easily beaten the Dolphins in this game if he were there.

[@herbpetrillo163]

Bullshit

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

the professor, His presence certainly would have helped, but allowing the Colts to "have easily beaten the Dolphins in this game", is quite a stretch, IMO. Baltimore would have been in a much more advantageous position, if they hadn't badly stumbled, by losing to the Patriots in the regular season finale, at home, no less.