MEMORABLE FINISHES

The Miami Dolphins beat the Baltimore Colts 16-0 at the Orange Bowl on Dec. 16, 1972 to complete a 14-0 season. Don Shula’s team then defeated Cleveland and Pittsburgh before finishing a perfect 17-0 season with a 14-7 win over Washington in the Super Bowl.

PERFECT SEASON II

Trying to clinch a 16-0 record in 2007, the Patriots overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half and rallied to beat the Giants 38-35 on the road. Both teams already were locked into playoff seeds, so it was one of the most meaningful games with no playoff ramifications in league history. New England won two playoff games, while the Giants went 3-0 on the road in the playoffs to set up a rematch in the Super Bowl. New York beat the Patriots to ruin their historic season.

SILENT GAME

The Jets beat the Dolphins 24-17 in 1980, but the score and teams were irrelevant. It was the first NFL game broadcast with no announcers. Host Bryant Gumbel introduced the game and returned several times to provide updates, but there were no play-byplay calls or analysis. NBC’s stunt was met with wide-ranging negative fan reaction and it’s never been done again.

LAMBEAU SHOOTOUT

Matt Flynn threw six touchdown passes and Matthew Stafford tossed five TDs in Green Bay’s 45-41 win over Detroit to cap the 2011 season. Flynn started for Aaron Rodgers because the Packers were 14-1 and had already secured the No. 1 NFC seed. Despite the loss, the Lions ended a long playoff drought. It was the first time in NFL history opposing quarterbacks each threw for 400-plus yards and fiveplus touchdowns in a game.

MILE HIGH SALUTE

Denver Broncos fans gave Jerry Rice a standing ovation when he played his final game with the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 23, 2000. The Broncos beat the 49ers 38-9 and Rice caught a 9-yard pass from Jeff Garcia for his final reception with the team he helped win three Super Bowls. Broncos fans chanted “Jerry! Jerry!” as he went to the locker room. Rice played four more seasons in NFL with Oakland and Seattle.

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