On This Date in Sports October 7, 1973: On the Move (50 Years of Following Up Perfection Week 4)
The Miami Dolphins host the New York Jets in Week 4. The Jets have been forced to start the season on the road, causing several games to be moved due to the Mets' surprise trip to the World Series. This included their expected home opener in Week 4 against the Dolphins. The game could have been played on Mars, as the Dolphins slaughtered the Jets 31-3. Already playing without Joe Namath, the Jets had third-string quarterback Bill Demory playing in the second half after backup Al Woodall went down in the second half. Miami forced five turnovers, with Tim Foley picking off a pair of passes.
It was a tale of two cities. For Miami, it was the best of times, as the Dolphins were defending Super Bowl champions and sitting 2-1 for coach Don Shula. For the Jets led by Weeb Ewbank, it was a season of discontent. The Jets lost two of their first three games and lost their quarterback as Joe Namath suffered a shoulder injury that would sideline him for two months. The Jets entered the game at 1-2 and were angry that they could not go home. A memorandum of understanding forced the Jets to start each season on the road until the Mets' home season was over. With the Mets making a run to Game 7 of the World Series, the Jets would play their first six games on the road in 1973, leading to a lawsuit that would torch the relationship between the co-tenants at Shea Stadium.
The Dolphins jumped out quickly, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. This included a three-yard run by Mercury Morris and a 12-yard reception by Marlin Briscoe on a perfect pass from Bob Griese. Morris and Larry Csonka shared the ball perfectly, each getting a dozen carries, with Morris rushing for 61 yards with a touchdown and Csonka rushing for 60. Bob Griese had his best game of the season, passing for 173 yards with three touchdowns, before resting in the second half.
The Dolphins held a 24-0 lead at halftime, with Garo Yepremian hitting a 19-yard field goal and Paul Warfield making a three-yard catch. The Dolphins lead would reach 31-0 in the third quarter as Warfield caught a 42-yard pass from Bob Griese. Paul Warfield had 98 yards on six catches, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Things went from bad to worse for the Jets in the third quarter, as Al Woodall, who struggled all day, limped off the field with a knee injury. Bill Demory, an undrafted rookie from Arizona, ended the game at quarterback for the Jets, completing two of five passes for 14 yards while throwing two interceptions. The Jets got a field goal from Bobby Howfield to avoid the shutout as the Dolphins won 31-3 and had their best effort of the season.