The Miami Dolphins were making an appearance for the second consecutive year, after losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the previous year. They were also the first undefeated team to play in the Super Bowl, and the Washington Redskins were making their first appearance in the big game ever. The Miami Dolphins were led by head coach Don Shula, who had never been faced with a more difficult decision. Who should be the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins? Should it be Bob Griese, who suffered a fractured ankle in the fifth game of the season, or Earl Morrall, who led the Dolphins to nine consecutive victories and into the playoffs until Griese returned late in the AFC title game and pulled out a 21-17 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers? Favoring the direct approach, Shula summoned Bob Griese to his office in Miami and inquired, "How do you feel, how's the ankle?" "I feel fine," Griese replied. "The ankle feels the best it's felt since I hurt it." "I'm thinking of starting you in the Super Bowl," Shula explained. Revealing his decision to Earl Morrall was just as tough as making it. When a quarterback figures in 11 straight victories, he has every right to expect the starting assignment in the game that decides the championship of professional football. "I explained to Earl that I thought the team would be stronger if we started a healthy Griese," said Shula.

"We had been having some trouble scoring lately and I wanted Morrall ready to come in in case something should happen to Griese. Morrall seemed to take the decision in stride saying, "Of course, I don't agree with the decision, but I'll abide by it. I thought I had a good year and should get the starting spot. Coach Shula told me the staff had a meeting and agreed we'd be stronger with Bob starting. I'll be ready. I'll watch the Redskins' defense and try to figure out what they're doing. And how they're reacting to our offense. It generally takes a period or two to get the feel of the defense." One of the factors weighing in the Washington Redskins' favor, many thought, was a superiority at quarterback, manned by free-spirited Billy Kilmer. A former All America at UCLA, Billy Kilmer was drafted No. 1 by the San Francisco 49ers, for whom he labored as backup to John Brodie. In an expansion draft, Kilmer was selected by the New Orleans Saints, but was acquired by George Allen for the Redskins before the start of the next season. Kilmer violated most of the accepted rules of proper training, but somehow he got the job done, leading the Skins to an 11-3 regular-season record and playoff victories over Green Bay, 16-3, and Dallas, 26-3.

During the season he had thrown the football 225 times and completed 120 passes for 1,648 yards and 19 touchdowns. On or off the field, Billy Kilmer was highly visible. He numbered among his acquaintances President Richard M. Nixon, a friendship attested to by a pin bearing the presidential seal and a letter presented by the Chief Executive to Billy's 13-year-old daughter, a cerebral palsy victim in California. Super Bowl VII took place on January 14, 1973 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Attendance was 90,182. The Miami Dolphins played virtually perfect football in the first half as their defense permitted the Redskins to cross midfield only once and their offense turned good field position into two touchdowns. The Dolphins drew first blood on their third possession. Starting from their own 37-yard line, they drove to the Washington 28, where Griese hit wide receiver Howard Twilley at the five-yard line, which Twilly took in for a touchdown. On its third possession, Miami opened its first scoring drive from the Dolphins' 37 yard line. An 18-yard pass from Bob Griese to Paul Warfield preceded by three plays Griese's 28-yard touchdown pass to Howard Twilley. After Washington moved from its 17 to the Miami 48 with two minutes remaining in the first half, Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti intercepted Billy Kilmer's pass at the Miami 41 and returned it to the Washington 27. Jim Kiick ran for three yards, Larry Csonka for three, Griese passed to Jim Mandich for 19, and Kiick gained one to the 1-yard line. With 18 seconds left until intermission, Kiick scored from the one.

The dolphins led 14-0 heading into half time. The Redskins opened the second half with a drive to the Dolphins' 17, but after Kilmer was sacked for an eight-yard loss, Curt Knight missed the 32-yard field goal attempt. Later a 79-yard drive by the Skins came up empty when Kilmer was picked off in the end zone by Jake Scott, who returned the ball to the Washington 48. The interception set up one of the strangest plays in Super Bowl history. After moving into field goal range, Garo Yepremian's attempted kick was blocked and instead of just covering the ball, he tried to pick it up and throw it. Instead the ball slipped out of his hand and was batted right into the arms of Redskin's cornerback Mike Bass who ran the ball back 49 yards to cut the lead in half. Fortunately for Yepremian the Dolphins were able to hold on to win the game 14-7 and finish off their undefeated season with a Super Bowl championship. The score indicates a much closer game than it actually was. Washington's offense was held completely in check by Miami's "No-Name Defense". The Miami Dolphins who had posted a 14-0 regular-season record, had no trouble putting the capstone on the first and so far only perfect season in National Football League (NFL) history. Miami Dolphins safety Jake Scott, who had two interceptions, including one in the end zone to kill a Washington Redskins' drive, was voted the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP). The NBC telecast was viewed by approximately 75 million people.