It started with the Kansas City Chiefs on a hot, steamy day in Arrowhead Stadium with the Miami Dolphins posting a 20-10 victory to open the 1972 National Football League season. It ended with the Washington Redskins in the hoopla of Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Coliseum with Miami winning again, this time by a 14-7 score. In between there had been a remarkable string of victories. Week after week, Miami won its games and when the Dolphins were done, they had produced pro football's finest single season record, 17-0.

Miami's remarkable 1972 season had its foundations in Super Bowl VI when Dallas destroyed the Dolphins 24-3. The Miami players vowed they would be back.

Miami's 1972 season was dedicated to fulfilling that vow. And week by week, the Dolphins went about their task. The names were familiar. Quarterback Bob Griese directing an offense that depended on the punishing runs of fullback Larry Csonka and the slick, darting moves of halfback Mercury Morris. The no-name defense was built around middle linebacker Nick Buroniconti. In the fifth game, Griese suffered a fractured ankle, forcing the Dolphins to depend on their 38-year-old backup quarterback, journeyman Earl Morrall.

Griese's injury came just two games after he had beaten Minnesota 16-14, with a TD pass with 88 seconds to play. It was as close as Miami would come to losing all year. Miami barely survived in Morall's first game, barely beating Buffalo 24-23. The victory held little promise for the rest of the season, but somehow Morrall and Miami survived. The streak continued as Miami whipped Baltimore, the Bills again, New England, the New York Jets, St. Louis, the New York Giants and then Baltimore and New England again.

After 14 straight regular season wins, the Dolphins advanced to the playoffs. First they eliminated Cleveland and then they won the AFC crown in a 21-17 decision over Pittsburgh as Griese returned to action in the second half. That left only the Super Bowl.

"If we had lost, everything we worked for would have been destroyed," said Coach Don Shula. "Sixteen and one—you have critics. Seventeen and zero—there's no doubt." And the Dolphins left no doubt, beating Washington for their perfect season.

Photo: Bob Griese hands off to Larry Csonka in Super Bowl VII