This is an interactive exploration based on the Wikipedia article about the 1974 Miami Dolphins season. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

The Unstoppable '74 Dolphins

A deep dive into the 1974 season of the Miami Dolphins, a team striving to maintain its dynasty status amidst fierce competition.

Season Overview ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Playoff Drama ๐Ÿˆ

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
๐ŸŽฎ Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game๐ŸŽฎ

Offseason: Building the Roster

1974 NFL Draft

The Miami Dolphins strategically bolstered their roster through the 1974 NFL Draft. Key acquisitions aimed to complement the existing championship core, ensuring continued competitiveness in the demanding AFC East.

The Dolphins made several selections, with notable players like Don Reese and Nat Moore making significant contributions. The draft process is crucial for identifying talent that can adapt to the team's rigorous system and contribute to sustained success.

Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 26 Don Reese Defensive tackle Jackson State
2 38 Andre Tillman Tight end Texas Tech
2 47 Benny Malone Running back Arizona State
2 52 Jeris White Defensive back Hawaii
3 78 Nat Moore* Wide receiver Florida Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

* Indicates player made at least one Pro Bowl during their career.

Regular Season: A Season of Resilience

Game-by-Game Performance

The 1974 season saw the Dolphins navigate a challenging schedule, demonstrating resilience despite a slight dip from their previous undefeated campaign. The team secured the AFC East title for the fourth consecutive year.

The Dolphins' regular season was marked by a mix of dominant victories and close contests. Their ability to secure crucial wins, particularly within the division, underscored their championship pedigree.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 15 at New England Patriots L 24โ€“34 0โ€“1 Schaefer Stadium Recap
2 September 22 at Buffalo Bills W 24โ€“16 1โ€“1 Rich Stadium Recap
3 September 29 at San Diego Chargers W 28โ€“21 2โ€“1 San Diego Stadium Recap
4 October 7 New York Jets W 21โ€“17 3โ€“1 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
5 October 13 at Washington Redskins L 17โ€“20 3โ€“2 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap
6 October 20 Kansas City Chiefs W 9โ€“3 4โ€“2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
7 October 27 Baltimore Colts W 17โ€“7 5โ€“2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
8 November 3 Atlanta Falcons W 42โ€“7 6โ€“2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
9 November 10 at New Orleans Saints W 21โ€“0 7โ€“2 Tulane Stadium Recap
10 November 17 Buffalo Bills W 35โ€“28 8โ€“2 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
11 November 24 at New York Jets L 14โ€“17 8โ€“3 Shea Stadium Recap
12 December 2 Cincinnati Bengals W 24โ€“3 9โ€“3 Miami Orange Bowl Recap
13 December 8 at Baltimore Colts W 17โ€“16 10โ€“3 Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) Recap
14 December 15 New England Patriots W 34โ€“27 11โ€“3 Miami Orange Bowl Recap

AFC East Dominance

Divisional Performance

The Dolphins concluded the regular season with an 11-3 record, securing first place in the AFC East for the fourth consecutive season. This consistent performance highlights the team's sustained excellence during this era.

The AFC East standings reflect the Dolphins' superior performance within their division, setting them up for a favorable playoff position.

AFC East
Team W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Miami Dolphins 11 3 0 .786 6โ€“2 9โ€“2 327 216 W3
Buffalo Bills 9 5 0 .643 5โ€“3 7โ€“4 264 244 L2
New York Jets 7 7 0 .500 4โ€“4 5โ€“6 279 300 W6
New England Patriots 7 7 0 .500 4โ€“4 4โ€“7 348 289 L3
Baltimore Colts 2 12 0 .143 1โ€“7 1โ€“10 190 329 L4

Playoffs: The Infamous "Sea of Hands"

AFC Divisional Playoff vs. Raiders

The Dolphins' quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl title was dramatically halted in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. This contest is etched in NFL lore due to a controversial final play.

The game, played on December 21, 1974, at Oakland Coliseum, was a tightly contested affair. The Dolphins held a late lead, but a controversial fourth-down pass interference call against the Dolphins' Mike Kolen, followed by a touchdown pass from Ken Stabler to Dave Casper, gave the Raiders a 28-26 victory. This play, often referred to as the "Sea of Hands," remains one of the most debated moments in NFL history.

AFC Divisional Playoff: Miami Dolphins at Oakland Raiders โ€“ Game Summary
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins 7 3 6 10 26
Raiders 0 7 7 14 28

at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Date: December 21, 1974
Game attendance: 53,023
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis and Don Meredith

Game Information
  • Scoring Summary:
  • MIA โ€“ N. Moore 89 kickoff return (Yepremian kick)
  • OAK โ€“ C. Smith 31 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick)
  • MIA โ€“ Yepremian 33 field goal
  • OAK โ€“ Biletnikoff 13 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick)
  • MIA โ€“ Warfield 16 pass from Griese (kick failed)
  • MIA โ€“ Yepremian 46 field goal
  • OAK โ€“ Branch 72 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick)
  • MIA โ€“ Malone 23 run (Yepremian kick)
  • OAK โ€“ Davis 8 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick)

Key Personnel

Coaching Staff

Under the leadership of Head Coach Don Shula, the Dolphins maintained a consistent coaching philosophy that emphasized discipline and execution. The staff was instrumental in preparing the team for the rigors of the NFL season.

The coaching hierarchy was crucial for strategy development and player management. Key figures included Monte Clark and Vince Costello, who led the offensive and defensive units, respectively.

1974 Miami Dolphins Staff

Front office

  • Owner โ€“ Joe Robbie
  • Vice President โ€“ Don Shula
  • Director of Player Personnel โ€“ Bobby Beathard

Head coaches

  • Head Coach โ€“ Don Shula

Offensive coaches

  • Offense โ€“ Monte Clark
  • Offense โ€“ Bill McPeak
  • Offensive Backs โ€“ Carl Taseff
  • Receivers โ€“ Bob Schnelker

Defensive coaches

  • Defense โ€“ Vince Costello
  • Defensive Line โ€“ Mike Scarry
  • Defensive Backs โ€“ Tom Keane

Special teams coaches

  • None - N/A

Strength and conditioning

  • None - N/A

The Roster

The 1974 Dolphins roster featured a blend of established stars and emerging talent. Core players like Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, and Paul Warfield provided leadership and exceptional performance on the field.

The team's depth was evident across all positions, from the offensive line anchored by Larry Little and Jim Langer, to the formidable defensive unit featuring Nick Buoniconti and Bill Stanfill. The presence of 12 Pro Bowlers highlights the caliber of talent on this squad.

1974 Miami Dolphins Roster
Quarterbacks (QB)
  • 12 Bob Griese
  • 15 Earl Morrall
  • 10 Don Strock

Running backs (RB)

  • 39 Larry Csonka
  • 32 Hubert Ginn
  • 21 Jim Kiick
  • 32 Benny Malone
  • 22 Mercury Morris
  • 36 Don Nottingham

Wide receivers (WR)

  • 82 Melvin Baker
  • 89 Nat Moore
  • 81 Howard Twilley
  • 42 Paul Warfield

Tight ends (TE)

  • 80 Marv Fleming
  • 88 Jim Mandich
Offensive linemen (OL)
  • 73 Norm Evans T
  • 70 Tom Funchess T
  • 55 Irv Goode C/G
  • 67 Bob Kuechenberg G
  • 62 Jim Langer C
  • 66 Larry Little G
  • 79 Wayne Moore T
  • 64 Ed Newman G
  • 60 Tom Wickert T

Defensive linemen (DL)

  • 74 Randy Crowder DT
  • 83 Vern Den Herder DE
  • 75 Manny Fernandez DT
  • 72 Bob Heinz DT
  • 65 Maulty Moore DT
  • 76 Don Reese DE
  • 84 Bill Stanfill DE
Linebackers (LB)
  • 51 Larry Ball OLB
  • 58 Bruce Bannon MLB
  • 85 Nick Buoniconti MLB
  • 57 Mike Kolen OLB
  • 53 Bob Matheson OLB
  • 59 Doug Swift OLB

Defensive backs (DB)

  • 40 Dick Anderson SS
  • 49 Charlie Babb SS
  • 25 Tim Foley CB
  • 45 Curtis Johnson CB
  • 26 Lloyd Mumphord CB
  • 13 Jake Scott FS
  • 48 Henry Stuckey CB
  • 41 Jeris White CB

Special teams (ST)

  • 20 Larry Seiple P
  • 1 Garo Yepremian K

Rookies in italics

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "1974 Miami Dolphins Season" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about 1974_miami_dolphins_season while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 1974 Miami Dolphins season Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting official NFL records, historical archives, or seeking expert commentary on sports history. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified sports historians or analysts for definitive insights.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.