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At the heart of that historic run was quarterback Bob Griese. As a backup during much of the 1972 season, Griese watched from the sidelines as Earl Moral stepped in after Week Five when Deacon Jones and Ron East inflicted a severe injury, breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle. Moral's performance kept the Dolphins afloat, guiding them through nine straight wins.
In the AFC Championship against Pittsburgh, Griese's return was a pivotal moment. After a halftime pep talk from Coach Don Shula—"Are you ready?"—Griese responded with a solid performance, completing three of five passes for 70 yards, securing Miami's spot in Super Bowl VII. He finished the season with an 8 of 11 passing for 88 yards in the Super Bowl victory over Washington.