VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / 45-Year Phiniversary: Dolphins Hold Off Colts to Clinch AFC East

45-Year Phiniversary: Dolphins Hold Off Colts to Clinch AFC East

45 years ago today, the Miami Dolphins clinched a fourth straight AFC East title
Publish Date: 12/08/2019
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster
Football: Miami Dolphins Jim Langer (62) at line of scrimmage before snap in 1974. (Photo by Neil Leifer /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

The last two decades have not been kind to the Miami Dolphins, but the first decade certainly was.

In their first nine years as a franchise, the Dolphins won two Super Bowls, three AFC titles and four straight AFC East championships. The last of those division titles was clinched on this day 45 years as Miami held off the lowly Baltimore Colts, 17-16.

At 9-3, the Dolphins entered their final road game of the season at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium in a first-place tie with the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 8, 1974. Miami had won both meetings over Buffalo that season. The Colts were a lowly 2-11, but was looking to play spoiler.

Early on, it didn’t look as though Miami would get much resistance as it raced to a 14-0 lead. Howard Twilley got the scoring started with a 4-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Bob Griese for the only points of the first quarter. Larry Csonka added a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but the Dolphins would not find the end zone again.

Baltimore was able to get on the board in the first half on Toni Linhart’s first of three field goals. Miami led 14-3 at halftime and in the third quarter, Garo Yepremian for the Dolphins and Linhart exchanged field goals.

As the Dolphins and Colts were playing in the final quarter, a contest at Shea Stadium had gone final. The New York Jets had upset the Bills, 20-10, meaning that all the Dolphins would have to do to clinch the AFC East was to hold on.

That task ended up being tougher than it would seem. After Linhart’s 20-yard field goal made it an 8-point game, the Colts found the end zone for the first time on Bert Jones’ 2-yard touchdown pass to Bill Olds. Unfortunately for Baltimore, there was no 2-point conversion at the time and the Colts would never threaten again.

Baltimore held the edge in most statistical categories, but settled for too many field goals. Miami’s Benny Malone led all rushers with 104 yards on 17 carries. Jones passed for 180 yards for Baltimore in the loss. Colts’ wide receiver Roger Carr finished with a game-high 99 yards receiving.

With the win and the Buffalo loss, the Dolphins clinched a fourth straight AFC East crown. That remains the longest streak in franchise history. It would be five years later before Miami won another division crown. The 17-16 victory would serve as the closest game the Dolphins would play all year and it happened on this day four and a half decades ago.

Mike Ferguson is a contributor for The Grueling Truth, covering Florida sports and sports history. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. To keep up with all of his work, like his Facebook page.

Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
Top 18 Greatest College Football Coaches of All-time
Current active coaches are not included in this list. That means don't ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
BetMGM Promo
Every NFL team’s best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame- NFC East
The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the greatest players in NFL ...
Top 100 remaining 2021 NFL free agents after Day 1
This is the most up-to-date list of available NFL free agents following ...
Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes
Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason
Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this ...
Creating the NFL 2010s All-Decade Third Team from Snubs
The NFL recently announced the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Teams ...
Notable Pro Football Senior Committee Hall of Fame candidates for 2020
The Pro Football Hall of fame recently announced that it could induct ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Latest News
Top 10 NFL Offenses headed into the 2023 Season
Many questions are being asked headed into the ...
Formula 1 Round 8: The 2023 Spanish Grand Prix
Whilst I’ll be heading to Barcelona to enjoy ...
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: NBA Finals Series Preview and Prediction: Jokic of Playoff Jimmy for the win?
NBA Finals Series Preview and Prediction: Jokic of Playoff Jimmy for the win?
Video: Boxing History 101: Randall
Boxing History 101: Randall "Tex" Cobb the Man who shut up Howard Cosell
Video: 1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
Betting Tips
06/04/2023 - 8:30 pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Nuggets to Cover
-8.50
FanDuel
06/01/2023 - 8:30 pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Nuggets to Cover
Nuggets -8
FanDuel
05/29/2023 - 8:30 pm
TD Garden
Tip:
Heat to Cover
Heat +8
FanDuel
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.6/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into β€œThe Grueling Truth” sports shows, β€œWhere the legends speak”

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site