Phin Phanatic
FanSided

A Miami Dolphins fan’s favorite Tom Brady memories

By Mike Ferguson

122411 Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake (91) drops New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after a one yard gain in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)Miami Dolphins Vs New England Patriots
122411 Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake (91) drops New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after a one yard gain in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)Miami Dolphins Vs New England Patriots /
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Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants goes into the endzone against Randall Gay of the New England Patriots to score the winning touchdown during Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, 03 February 2008. The Giants won 17-14. AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants goes into the endzone against Randall Gay of the New England Patriots to score the winning touchdown during Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, 03 February 2008. The Giants won 17-14. AFP PHOTO/Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) /

This is the only part of this piece that doesn’t directly involve the Dolphins, but Miami fans know full well the implications of this one. Fifty years later, the 1972 Dolphins remain the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season. The 2007 New England Patriots, however, are the closest that anyone has come since.

In 1972, the Dolphins finished a perfect 17-0. After going 14-0 during the regular season, Miami defeated the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl VII, the Dolphins capped the perfect campaign with a 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins.

The Patriots were one win away from perfection when they arrived in Glendale for Super Bowl LXII. Against the New York Giants, New England took a 7-3 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth, the lead changed three times.

For this one, let’s get weird.

Brady’s touchdown pass to Randy Moss with 2:42 left gave the Patriots a 14-10 lead, but the Giants answered with a scoring drive of their own. The drive began at the New York 17-(there’s that number again)-yard-line. The most memorable play from the drive was Eli Manning’s 32-yard connection with David Tyree, who used his helmet to make the grab.

With 35 seconds left — 35 is the number of years in between Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl XLII — Manning hit Plaxico Burress for the game-winning 13-yard touchdown.

Burress’ jersey number? 17.

The winning score came from 13 yards out. The MVP of Super Bowl VII to complete the perfect season? Safety Jake Scott, who wore No. 13.

The final score was the Giants 17 — the number of total wins for the 1972 Dolphins — and the Patriots 14 — the number of regular-season wins for the 1972 Dolphins. In the fourth quarter, the Giants outscored New England 14-7 — the final score from Super Bowl VII.

Is this some sign from the cosmos or a Dolphins fans reaching to fit a narrative?

Probably the latter.

Either way, the 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the lone team to complete a perfect season.

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