The 1972 season marked the return of former Bills coach Lou Saban,[a] who had previously led the team to two AFL Championships.
Saban rushed Simpson 292 times in 1972,[1] the second-most in the league behind the Giants' Ron Johnson.
[2] Despite losing two starting offensive lineman – center Bruce Jarvis and guard Jim Reilly—in the season opener,[3] O. J. Simpson still led the league in rushing with 1,251 yards.
Rookies in italics In his fourth NFL season, running back O. J. Simpson gained over 1,000 yards rushing for the first time.
The 23–24 loss on October 22 was the closest margin of victory for the Dolphins in the NFL’s only perfect season.