Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Dolphins RB Larry Csonka
Super Bowl VIII: Dolphins 24 Vikings 7 - MVP Dolphins RB Larry Csonka

Racking up over 100 yards rushing for two Super Bowls in a row, Csonka's 33 carries wore down the Vikings. The bruising back finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns in Miami's second consecutive Super Bowl victory (24-7). Miami quarterback Bob Griese attempted only seven passes. Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton scampered in for a score in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins lead was insurmountable because of its steady rushing attack.

The defending NFL champion 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.

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.

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 Super Bowl-record 145 yards.

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

Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton scampered in for a score in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins lead was insurmountable because of its steady rushing attack.

Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Dolphins RB Larry Csonka
Super Bowl VIII Logo

Super Bowl VIII MVP: Dolphins RB Larry Csonka

Super Bowl VIII MVP: Dolphins RB Larry Csonka
Super Bowl VIII MVP: Dolphins RB Larry Csonka

Powerful running back Larry Csonka powered the Miami Dolphins to their second consecutive Super Bowl championship, a 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Csonka carried the ball 33 times for 145 yards, a Super Bowl record at the time. The Dolphins' rushing attack so controlled the game that quarterback Bob Griese attempted only 7 passes.

Csonka's 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter capped off a 62-yard drive and opened the scoring for the Dolphins. Ahead 17-0 in the third quarter, Miami put the game away on Csonka's 2-yard touchdown run.

Super Bowl VIII Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Minnesota Vikings00077
Miami Dolphins1437024

 

1st Quarter

Dolphins: Csonka 5-yard TD run (Yepremian PAT), 5:27

Dolphins: Kiick 1-yard TD run (Yepremian PAT), 13:38

2nd Quarter

Dolphins: Yepremian 28-yard Field Goal, 8:58

3rd Quarter

Dolphins: Csonka 2-yard TD run (Yepremian PAT), 6:16

4th Quarter

Vikings: Tarkenton 4-yard TD run (Cox PAT), 1:35

Super Bowl VIII: Vikings Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs14
Rushing First Downs5
Passing First Downs8
Penalty First Downs1
Total Net Yardage238
Total Offensive Plays54
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play4.4
Rushes24
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)72
Average Yards per Rush3.0
Passes Attempted28
Passes Completed18
Had Intercepted1
Tackled Attempting to Pass2
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass16
Yards Gained Passing (Net)166
Punts5
Average Distance42.2
Punt Returns0
Punt Return Yardage0
Kickoff Returns4
Kickoff Return Yardage69
Interception Return Yardage0
Fumbles2
Own Fumbles Recovered1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered0
Penalties7
Yards Penalized65
Total Points Scored7
Touchdowns1
Rushing1
Passing0
Returns0
Extra Points1
Field Goals0
Fields Goals Attempted0
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency8/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency0/1
Time of Possession26:15

Super Bowl VIII: Dolphins Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs21
Rushing13
Passing4
Penalty4
Total Net Yardage259
Total Offensive Plays61
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play4.2
Rushes53
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)196
Average Yards per Rush3.7
Passes Attempted7
Passes Completed6
Had Intercepted0
Tackled Attempting to Pass1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass10
Yards Gained Passing (Net)63
Punts3
Average Distance39.7
Punt Returns3
Punt Return Yardage20
Kickoff Returns2
Kickoff Return Yardage47
Interception Return Yardage10
Fumbles1
Own Fumbles Recovered1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered1
Penalties1
Yards Penalized4
Total Points Scored 24
Touchdowns3
Rushing3
Passing0
Returns0
Extra Points3
Field Goals1
Fields Goals Attempted1
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency4/11
Fourth-Down Efficiency1/1
Time of Possession33:45

Super Bowl VIII: Minnesota Vikings Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Tarkenton18/2818201
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Reed113209
Foreman 71805
Tarkenton 41718
Marinaro1303
B.Brown1202
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Foreman527010
Gilliam444030
Voigt 346017
Marinaro239027
B.Brown1909
Kingsriter1909
Lash1909
Reed1-101
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
None
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Eischeid542.2480
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Bryant0/10**0
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Gilliam241210
West228150

 

Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Griese6/77300
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Csonka33145216
Morris1134014
Kiick71015
Griese 2705
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Warfield233027
Mandich221013
Briscoe219013
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Johnson110100
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Seiple339.7570
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Scott3/120120
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Scott247310

January 13, 1974

Rice Stadium (Houston, Texas)

Attendance: 71,882

National Anthem: Charley Pride

Coin Toss: Ben Dreith

Halftime Show: The University of Texas Longhorn Band, The Westchester Wranglerettes

Network: CBS

Announcers: Ray Scott, Pat Summerall and Bart Starr

Nielsen ratings: 41.6 (est. 51.7 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $103,000

Super Bowl VIII Dolphins & Vikings Highlights

Super Bowl VIII: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl VIII Championship Ring and Game Ticket Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Dolphins RB Larry Csonka

NFL Football: "Super Bowl VIII | Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 | MVP Dolphins RB Larry Csonka"

 

 

 

Super Bowl History