Super Bowl VIII (8) Miami VS Minnesota Recap

Super Bowl VIII Miami 24, Minnesota 7 Recap

Miami Defeats Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII. Larry Csonka named MVP

The defending NFL champion Dolphins, representing the AFC for the third straight year, scored the first two times they had possession on marches of 62 and 56 yards while the Miami defense limited the Vikings to only seven plays in the first period.

Larry Csonka climaxed the initial 10-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown bolt through right guard after 5:27 had elapsed. Four plays later, Miami began another 10-play scoring drive, which ended with Jim Kiick bursting one yard through the middle for another touchdown after 13:38 of the period.

Garo Yepremian added a 28-yard field goal midway in the second period for a 17-0 Miami lead. After building the 17-0 lead, the Dolphins forced a Minnesota fumble on a fourth-and-one play at the Miami 6-yard-line at the end of the first half. MVP Larry Csonka was magnificent, rushing for 145 yards on 33 carries as Miami easily handled the Vikings. The Miami rushing game was so dominant that Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese threw only seven passes, completing six in the entire game. Minnesota's quarterback Fran Tarkenton said after Superbowl VIII, "Miami played as nearly perfect a game as a team can play."

Minnesota then drove from its 20 to a second-and-2 situation on the Miami seven yard line with 1:18 left in the half. But on two plays, Miami limited Oscar Reed to 1 yard.

On fourth-and-1 from the 6, Reed went over right tackle, but Dolphins middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti jarred the ball loose and Jake Scott recovered for Miami to halt the Minnesota threat.

The Vikings were unable to muster enough offense in the second half to threaten the Dolphins.

Csonka rushed 33 times for a new Super Bowl-record 145 yards.

Bob Griese of Miami completed 6 of 7 passes for 73 yards.

Scoring Information

                       1  2  3  4  Final
                       _________________
Minnesota              0  0  0  7      7
Miami                 14  3  7  0     24

Miami     - Csonka 5 run  (Yepremian kick)
5:27 into the 1st

Miami     - Kiick 1 run  (Yepremian kick)
13:38 into the 1st

Miami     - FG Yepremian 28 
8:58 into the 2nd

Miami     - Csonka 2 run  (Yepremian kick)
6:16 into the 3rd

Minnesota - Tarkenton 4 run  (Cox kick)
1:35 into the 4th

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Quick Facts

Score:

Super Bowl VIII

Miami 24
Minnesota 7

Location:
Rice Stadium
Houston, Texas
January 13, 1974
Attendance: 71,882

MVP:
Larry Csonka, Runningback
of the Miami Dolphins

Coaches
MIA Don Shula
MIN Bud Grant

Super Bowl VIII Ring, Miami 24 vs Minnesota 7, Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas, MVP Larry Csonka, Runningback of the Miami Dolphins

Super Bowl VIII Ring