All NFL game summaries for 12/15/1973:
Bob Griese threw four touchdown passes to Paul Warfield in the first half and then both men sat out the second half as Miami prepared for postseason play. Detroit didn't threaten until the final quarter when Steve Owens capped a 113-yard day with a five-yard TD run.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 152.8 (8) | 139.6 (15) | 292.5 (11) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 150.2 (17) | 125.5 (9) | 275.6 (11) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 181.2 (3) | 109.6 (21) | 290.8 (12) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 141.9 (10) | 91.7 (1) | 233.6 (3) | 26 |
Line: Dolphins by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (6-7-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Miami Dolphins (12-2-0) | 14 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
( 0- 7) MIA Paul Warfield 21 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-14) MIA Paul Warfield 7 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-17) MIA Garo Yepremian 27 yard field goal
( 0-24) MIA Paul Warfield 16 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-31) MIA Paul Warfield 4 yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick)
( 0-34) MIA Garo Yepremian 28 yard field goal
( 7-34) DET Steve Owens 5 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
DET MIA
First Downs: 17 18
Rushes-yards: 38-146 29-165
Yards/rush: 3.8 5.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-22-121-2 12-19-157-0
Sacked-yards: 2-23 0-0
Net pass yards: 98 157
Net yards/pass: 4.1 8.3
Total net yards: 244 322
Total plays: 62 (61% run) 48 (60% run)
Yards/play: 3.9 6.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 4-34 4-40
Attendance: 53,375
Passing:
DET: Bill Munson, 8 of 17 for 73 yards (1 int); Bill Cappleman, 2 of 4 for 13 yards (1 int); Mickey Zofko, 1 of 1 for 35 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 15 for 141 yards and 4 TDs; Earl Morrall, 1 of 4 for 16 yards
Rushing:
DET: Steve Owens, 27 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 6 for 11 yards; Leon Crosswhite, 2 for 4 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Mickey Zofko, 1 for 3 yards; Bill Cappleman, 1 for -2 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 51 yards; Jim Kiick, 8 for 50 yards; Charlie Leigh, 6 for 48 yards; Don Nottingham, 5 for 16 yards
Receiving:
DET: Steve Owens, 6 for 56 yards; Mickey Zofko, 2 for 16 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 35 yards; Mel Farr, 1 for 8 yards; John Hilton, 1 for 6 yards MIA: Paul Warfield, 6 for 103 yards and 4 TDs; Jim Kiick, 2 for 16 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 15 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 16 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Levi Johnson, 3 for 51 yards; Jim Thrower, 2 for 31 yards; Dick Jauron, 1 for 24 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 24 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 19 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Henry Stuckey, 1 for 4 yards; Larry Ball, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 3 for 142 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2
DET: Bill Munson, 8 of 17 for 73 yards (1 int); Bill Cappleman, 2 of 4 for 13 yards (1 int); Mickey Zofko, 1 of 1 for 35 yards MIA: Bob Griese, 11 of 15 for 141 yards and 4 TDs; Earl Morrall, 1 of 4 for 16 yards
Rushing:
DET: Steve Owens, 27 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 6 for 11 yards; Leon Crosswhite, 2 for 4 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Mickey Zofko, 1 for 3 yards; Bill Cappleman, 1 for -2 yards MIA: Larry Csonka, 10 for 51 yards; Jim Kiick, 8 for 50 yards; Charlie Leigh, 6 for 48 yards; Don Nottingham, 5 for 16 yards
Receiving:
DET: Steve Owens, 6 for 56 yards; Mickey Zofko, 2 for 16 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 35 yards; Mel Farr, 1 for 8 yards; John Hilton, 1 for 6 yards MIA: Paul Warfield, 6 for 103 yards and 4 TDs; Jim Kiick, 2 for 16 yards; Jim Mandich, 2 for 15 yards; Don Nottingham, 1 for 16 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Levi Johnson, 3 for 51 yards; Jim Thrower, 2 for 31 yards; Dick Jauron, 1 for 24 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 24 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIA: Jake Scott, 2 for 19 yards; Dick Anderson, 1 for 12 yards
Interceptions:
MIA: Henry Stuckey, 1 for 4 yards; Larry Ball, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 3 for 142 yards MIA: Larry Seiple, 2 for 76 yards
Field Goals:
MIA: Garo Yepremian, 2/2
Pittsburgh clinched a berth in the AFC playoffs with a 37-14 victory over San Francisco. John Brodie, making his final appearance, was forced to retire in the second quarter with a sore arm. Terry Bradshaw threw one touchdown pass before he was shaken up and left the game in the third quarter. Roy Gerela's three field goals helped him clinch the AFC scoring title with 123 points.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.6 (9) | 137.8 (16) | 289.4 (13) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 117.3 (4) | 120.0 (5) | 237.3 (4) | 49 | |
 | OFFENSE | 124.3 (21) | 182.2 (5) | 306.5 (7) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 137.8 (9) | 171.5 (22) | 309.3 (20) | 32 |
Line: Steelers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 37 |
| San Francisco 49ers (5-9-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) PIT John Rowser 71 yard interception return (Roy Gerela kick)
( 7- 7) SF Windlan Hall 0 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick)
(14- 7) PIT Preston Pearson 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(17- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
(20- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
(27- 7) PIT Frank Lewis 50 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(30- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 35 yard field goal
(37- 7) PIT Steve Davis 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(37-14) SF Dave Atkins 3 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
PIT SF
First Downs: 18 16
Rushes-yards: 41-172 28-127
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-24-168-0 13-33-131-5
Sacked-yards: 5-32 4-19
Net pass yards: 136 112
Net yards/pass: 4.7 3.0
Total net yards: 308 239
Total plays: 70 (58% run) 65 (43% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-1
Turnovers: 0 6
Penalties-yards: 7-79 6-52
Attendance: 52,252
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 16 for 135 yards and 1 TD; Joe Gilliam, 3 of 8 for 33 yards SF: John Brodie, 6 of 12 for 79 yards (2 int); Joe Reed, 6 of 12 for 49 yards (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 9 for 3 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 10 for 54 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 34 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 10 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 65 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 26 yards; Dave Atkins, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 28 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -3 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frank Lewis, 5 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 1 for 36 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 14 yards; Dave Davis, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Pearson, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 5 yards SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 42 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 28 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 21 yards; Ray Mansfield, 1 for 0 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 4 for 118 yards; Dave Atkins, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 4 for 25 yards; Dennis Meyer, 2 for 7 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 3 for 62 yards; Ralph McGill, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
PIT: John Rowser, 2 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Henry Davis, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 374 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 16 for 135 yards and 1 TD; Joe Gilliam, 3 of 8 for 33 yards SF: John Brodie, 6 of 12 for 79 yards (2 int); Joe Reed, 6 of 12 for 49 yards (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 9 for 3 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 10 for 54 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 34 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 10 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 65 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 26 yards; Dave Atkins, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 28 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -3 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frank Lewis, 5 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 1 for 36 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 14 yards; Dave Davis, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Pearson, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 5 yards SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 42 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 28 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 21 yards; Ray Mansfield, 1 for 0 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 4 for 118 yards; Dave Atkins, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 4 for 25 yards; Dennis Meyer, 2 for 7 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 3 for 62 yards; Ralph McGill, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
PIT: John Rowser, 2 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Henry Davis, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 374 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3