On This Date in Sports December 30, 1973: Three Times Super (50 Years of Following Up Perfection AFC Championship)
The Miami Dolphins became the first team to reach the Super Bowl in three consecutive seasons, defeating the Oakland Raiders 27-10. The Dolphins' 18-game winning streak ended in Week 2 against the same Raiders team. This time, the Dolphins steamrolled the Raiders behind Larry Csonka. Csonka rushed for 117 yards on 29 carries, with three touchdowns. The Dolphins run game accounted for 266, 30 yards more than the Raiders' total offense. Bob Griese attempted just six passes as the Miami ground down Oakland all afternoon at the Orange Bowl.
The 1973 AFC Championship was a clash of the Titans, as the Miami Dolphins hosted the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, coached by John Madden, posted a record of 9-4-1 to win the AFC West. The Raiders appeared in Super Bowl II but lost in the AFL and AFC Championship Game in the next three seasons. They failed to make the playoffs in 1971 and regained the AFC West in 1972, losing to the Pittsburg Steelers on the Immaculate Reception in the AFC Divisional Round. The Raiders avenged that loss in 1973, beating Pittsburgh 33-14 to reach the AFC Championship.
In their Week 2 meeting in Berkley, the Raiders beat the Dolphins 12-7, as George Blanda hit four field goals, while Miami did not score until the fourth quarter. This time around, the Dolphins scored on the game's first possession. Miami went down the field quickly, as Bob Griese had a 27-yard run. The Dolphins would score on an 11-yard run by Larry Csonka. As the Dolphins were shutting down the Raiders in the first half, they added a second score, with Csonka scoring from the two to build a 14-0 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Oakland got on the scoreboard with a 21-yard field goal by George Blanda. However, Miami quickly answered as a 53-yard kick return by Charlie Leigh helped set up a 42-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian. The Raiders would not go down easily as Miki Siani pulled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ken Stabler.
The Dolphins got a 26-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the fourth quarter. Looking to answer but needing a fourth down conversion, the Raiders saw a fumble by Marv Hubbard recovered by Dick Anderson to close out the win for the Dolphins. Miami would get a third touchdown from Larry Csonka, who scored on a two-yard run.
The Dolphins would repeat as Super Bowl champions. Their quest for a third straight Lombardi Trophy ended in the 1974 AFC Divisional Round when they were beaten by the Raiders 28-26 in the "sea of hands,' play. The loss in the 1973 AFC Championship would be the start of three straight Championship Game losses for the Raiders.
