Washington football archive · The 1972 season
1972 Washington Football Statistics
The numbers behind Washington’s NFC championship season, the defense that drove it, and Mike Bass’s place in the run. Washington went 11-3, won the NFC East and reached the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
11-3
First in the NFC East
An .786 winning percentage.
Regular season · 14 games
Washington, 1972
The record, line by line.
- Regular-season record11-3
Source: NFL, 1972 NFC East standings. First in the NFC East, an .786 winning percentage.
- Points scored336
Source: NFL, 1972 NFC East standings. Across 14 regular-season games.
- Points allowed218
Source: NFL, 1972 NFC East standings. Across 14 regular-season games.
- Scoring defense rank3rd of 26
Source: Pro Football Reference, 1972 Washington team statistics.
- Team interceptions17
Source: Pro Football Reference, 1972 Washington team statistics. Regular season.
Point differential
+118
Washington scored 336 points and allowed 218 across 14 regular-season games.
Source: NFL, 1972 NFC East standings.
24.0
Points scored per game
Source: NFL standings, calculated from 336 points in 14 games.
15.6
Points allowed per game
Source: Pro Football Reference, 1972 Washington team statistics.
The playoff path
Three games that closed the run.
Washington beat Green Bay 16-3 and Dallas 26-3 before advancing to Super Bowl VII, where Miami won 14-7.
Divisional playoff
16-3
Green Bay
NFC Championship
26-3
Dallas
Super Bowl VII · January 14, 1973
7-14
Miami
Washington’s only touchdown was Mike Bass’s 49-yard return.
Source: Pro Football Reference, 1972 Washington season results.
Number 41
More than one memorable play.
Mike was part of Washington’s secondary throughout the era, then scored the franchise’s only touchdown in Super Bowl VII. His interceptions and his streak of starts make that return part of a much larger body of work.
104
Consecutive starts
Postseason games included.
Source: Washington Commanders Ring of Fame announcement, September 1, 2022.
- Interceptions in Washington30
Source: Washington Commanders Ring of Fame announcement, September 1, 2022.
- Super Bowl VII return49 yards
Source: Washington Commanders Ring of Fame announcement, September 1, 2022. A fourth-quarter fumble return for Washington’s only touchdown.
Methodology and sources
This page reports historical totals as published by the sources below. Per-game figures are calculated only where the math is shown: 336 points in 14 games is 24.0 per game. Historical team names stay in source titles where that is how the original record is presented.
- NFL, 1972 NFC East standings
- Regular-season record, points for, points against and division finish.
- Pro Football Reference, 1972 Washington team page
- Season totals, league rankings, interceptions and postseason results.
- Washington Commanders Ring of Fame announcement, September 1, 2022
- Mike Bass’s Washington career totals, consecutive starts and Super Bowl VII return.