1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The league decided to change the formula of computing the winning percentage of each team in the standings: Tie games, previously not counted, were made equal to a half-game won and a half-game loss.
The Miami Dolphins completed the first ever undefeated regular season and postseason record in NFL history when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.
[edit] Major rule changes
- The inbounds lines or hashmarks were moved closer to the center of the field, 23 yards, 1 foot, 9 inches from the sidelines. The hashmarks were now 18 feet, 6 inches apart (the same width as the goalposts), cutting down on severe angles for short field goal attempts.
- If a legal receiver goes out of bounds, either accidentally or forced out, and returns to touch or catch the pass in bounds, the penalty is a loss of down (but no penalty yardage will be assessed).
- If a punt or missed field goal crosses the receivers' goal line, a member of the receiving team may advance the ball into the field of play.
- All fouls committed by the offensive team behind the line of scrimmage will be assessed from the previous spot.
[edit] Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
[edit] Playoffs
- Main article: NFL playoffs, 1972-73
- Home team in capitals
- Divisional playoffs: PITTSBURGH 13, Oakland 7; MIAMI 20, Cleveland 14
- AFC Championship: Miami 21, PITTSBURGH 17
- Divisional playoffs: Dallas 30, SAN FRANCISCO 28; WASHINGTON 16, Green Bay 3
- NFC Championship: WASHINGTON 26, Dallas 3
Miami (AFC) 14, Washington (NFC) 7, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
[edit] References
