The Miami Dolphins were in the championship game for an unprecedented third consecutive season when they faced off against the Minnesota Vikings in Houston Texas for Super Bowl VIII. Once again, quarterback Bob Griese commanded an offense with a bruising running game led by Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris. The Dolphins were disturbed by club policy for transporting their womenfolk from Miami to Houston. Single players maintained that if Owner Joe Robbie paid wives' air fare from Miami to Houston, then he also should pay for the mothers of single players. "They suggested a one man, one woman rule," reported Coach Don Shula. "I presented the players' views to Robbie, but he held firm and said he would pay only for wives. "I told the players of Robbie's decision and thought that was the end of it. But, as usual at the Super Bowl, subjects such as this are frequently blown out of proportion. A few of the players discussed the subject with the press." The matter consumed large chunks of time during Shula's early interviews, but policy prevailed.

If mothers or sisters or girl friends were to attend the game, it would not be at the Dolphins' expense. Bud Grant's Minnesota Vikings featured a feared defense called "The Purple People Eaters" and one of the first "scramblers" to play quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) in Fran Tarkenton. Tarkenton was known for running 30 to 40 yards without crossing the line of scrimmage, before throwing the ball to a would be receiver. The week before the Super Bowl was marred by a controversy related to the practice facilities each team was assigned to. The Minnesota Vikings matter was of a more sinister nature, with the usually stoic Bud Grant firing verbal blasts at Commissioner Pete Rozelle and fellow functionaries of the NFL. As related in "Tarkenton", Jim Klobuchar's book: "The first tremors developed on the opening practice day. Grant's team arrived at the prescribed training field quarters at Delmar School to find a locker room apparently designed for the East Dry Gulch Groundhogs. It was the first record-breaking statistic of Super Bowl week, the first locker room in Super Bowl history without a locker. "Of the 15 shower heads in the bathing section, three revealed signs of activity. The others were arid. Two of them atoned for their derelictions by serving as a nesting grounds for a pair of sparrows. 'Men,' declared Jim Marshall, 'consider yourself honored.

It is the first time we have ever showered in an aviary.' Not once, but twice, Grant stepped out of character to express his opinion of those who had reduced the Minnesota Vikings to the class of galley slaves. "This is a Super Bowl game, not a pickup game, Grant grumbled. "The league is responsible and Pete Rozelle runs the league. "I don't think our players have seen something like this since junior high school. "Miami can walk from its hotel to its field, but we have a 20-minute bus ride. And we don't have any blocking sleds, and the Dolphins do." As the home team, the Dolphins were assigned the more pretentious facility, the practice field and dressing quarters of the Houston Oilers. For his unprofessional behavior, Grant was fined $1,500. Super Bowl VIII took place on January 13, 1974 at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas. Attendance was 71,882. The defending NFL champions, Miami 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. The Dolphins took over again at their own 34-yard line and once again methodically marched down the field and scored on a one-yard plunge by Jim Kiick. The first touchdown of the year for Kiick put Miami up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Garo Yepremian added a field goal in the second quarter to move the score to 17-0.

The Minnesota Vikings came back with their best drive of the game, moving the ball into scoring position before Oscar Reed fumbled on the six-yard line on a fourth-down play. When asked later if the Vikings should have gone for the field goal in that situation, Tarkenton said, "No! We had the first down, we just fumbled." The Dolphins came out in the second half and got right back to work with another Csonka touchdown which gave Miami a dominating 24-0 lead. The Vikings were unable to muster enough offense in the second half to threaten the Dolphins, they did manage to put the ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter, but Miami held on for their second consecutive Super Bowl victory, 24-7. Csonka rushed 33 times for a Super Bowl record 145 yards. Bob Griese of Miami completed 6 of 7 passes for 73 yards. Running Back Larry Csonka of Miami was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP). The CBS telecast was viewed by approximately 75 million people. The final result was Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7.