Early in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl VII between the Redskins vs Dolphins….Washington threatened to score by mounting its most impressive drive of the game….while driving 79 yards from its own 11 to Miami’s 10-yard line in twelve plays. On second down at the Miami 10-yard line, Skins QB Billy Kilmer threw to tight end Jerry Smith in the end zone. Smith was wide open, but the ball hit the crossbar of the goalpost and fell incomplete. Then on third down, Dolphins DB Jake Scott intercepted Kilmer’s pass to Taylor in the end zone….and returned it 55 yards to the Redskins 48-yard line…..as Miami moved the ball to the 34-yard line on their ensuing drive…..with the Dolphins leading 14–0 on 4th down with 4 yards to go….Coach Shula could have tried for a conversion, but thought “What a hell of a way to remember this game” if they could end a perfect 17 – 0 season with a 17 – 0 Super Bowl final score…..so, he called on kicker Garo Yepremian to attempt a 42-yard field goal in what is now remembered as one of the most famous blunders in NFL lore…..which is called “Garo’s Gaffe“…..for as had been the case all day, Yepremian’s kick was too low….and it was blocked by Washington defensive tackle Bill Brundige…..when the ball bounced to Yepremian’s right….and he reached it before holder Earl Morrall…..but instead of falling on the ball….Yepremian picked it up and with Brundige bearing down on him…..he made a frantic attempt to pass the ball to Csonka, who blocked on field goals. Unfortunately for Miami, the ball slipped out of his hands and went straight up in the air….and as Yepremian attempted to bat the ball out of bounds….but instead batted it back up into the air…..and it went right into the arms of Redskins CB Mike Bass….who returned the fumble 49 yards for a touchdown….which was the first fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history, to make the score 14–7 with 2:07 left in the game. Any way you cut the pie….Garo’s Gaffe was one of the all time worst plays in NFL history.
