Super Bowl XIII
In what was widely regarded the most anticipated Super Bowl at the time, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys delivered what was, at the time, the most exciting and explosive Super Bowl played.
Each team battled it out in the opening period, with the Steelers opening the scoring on a 28-yard scoring strike from Terry Bradshaw before the Cowboys answered with a 39-yard scoring connection between Roger Staubach and Tony Hill.
In the second quarter, the tit-for-tat scoring continued. This time, Dallas pulled ahead first when linebacker Mike Hegman scooped up a fumble and returned it 37 yards to put the Cowboys ahead 14-7. However, eventual MVP, Terry Bradshaw would launch a 75-yard bomb to wide receiver, John Stallworth (his second touchdown catch of the game) to level the score at 14.
Pittsburgh would pull ahead before halftime when veteran running back, Rocky Bleier, leaped high in the corner of the end zone to complete a 7-yard scoring pass from Bradshaw, making the score 21-14 at the break.
Although the Cowboys would net the only points in the third period with a 27-yard boot from Rafael Septein, soon after the final period began, the Steelers began to pull away.
Franco Harris would widen the scoring gap first, 28-17, as he rumbled over the goal line from 22 yards out, before receiver, Lynn Swann, snared Bradshaw's fourth touchdown pass of the game, putting Pittsburgh in a commanding 35-17 position on the scoreboard.
The Cowboys would grab two late touchdowns to make the final score 35-31 - by far the highest scoring Super Bowl at the time - but it will be the score that was dropped when the Cowboys were still in the contest that will haunt Cowboys' fans forever, when Roger Staubach hit a wide open tight end, Jackie Smith, in the end zone, only to have the sure-handed veteran let the pigskin slip through his fingers, and with it, the Cowboys' last realistic chance to defend their title.
Each team battled it out in the opening period, with the Steelers opening the scoring on a 28-yard scoring strike from Terry Bradshaw before the Cowboys answered with a 39-yard scoring connection between Roger Staubach and Tony Hill.
In the second quarter, the tit-for-tat scoring continued. This time, Dallas pulled ahead first when linebacker Mike Hegman scooped up a fumble and returned it 37 yards to put the Cowboys ahead 14-7. However, eventual MVP, Terry Bradshaw would launch a 75-yard bomb to wide receiver, John Stallworth (his second touchdown catch of the game) to level the score at 14.
Pittsburgh would pull ahead before halftime when veteran running back, Rocky Bleier, leaped high in the corner of the end zone to complete a 7-yard scoring pass from Bradshaw, making the score 21-14 at the break.
Although the Cowboys would net the only points in the third period with a 27-yard boot from Rafael Septein, soon after the final period began, the Steelers began to pull away.
Franco Harris would widen the scoring gap first, 28-17, as he rumbled over the goal line from 22 yards out, before receiver, Lynn Swann, snared Bradshaw's fourth touchdown pass of the game, putting Pittsburgh in a commanding 35-17 position on the scoreboard.
The Cowboys would grab two late touchdowns to make the final score 35-31 - by far the highest scoring Super Bowl at the time - but it will be the score that was dropped when the Cowboys were still in the contest that will haunt Cowboys' fans forever, when Roger Staubach hit a wide open tight end, Jackie Smith, in the end zone, only to have the sure-handed veteran let the pigskin slip through his fingers, and with it, the Cowboys' last realistic chance to defend their title.
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Total |
|
Steelers |
7 |
14 |
0 |
14 |
35 |
Cowboys |
7 |
7 |
3 |
14 |
31 |
Scoring Record
First Quarter
Steelers 7, Cowboys 0
TD: John Stallworth 28-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 7, Cowboys 7
TD: Tony Hill 39-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
Second Quarter
Steelers 7, Cowboys 14
TD: Mike Hegman 37-yard fumble recovery (Rafael Septien extra point)
Steelers 14, Cowboys 14
TD: John Stallworth 75-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 21, Cowboys 14
TD: Rocky Bleier 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Third Quarter
Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
FG: Rafael Septien 27-yard kick
Fourth Quarter
Steelers 28, Cowboys 17
TD: Franco Harris 22-yard run (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 17
TD: Lynn Swan 18-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 24
TD: Billy Joe DuPree 7-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
TD: Butch Johnson 4-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
First Quarter
Steelers 7, Cowboys 0
TD: John Stallworth 28-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 7, Cowboys 7
TD: Tony Hill 39-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
Second Quarter
Steelers 7, Cowboys 14
TD: Mike Hegman 37-yard fumble recovery (Rafael Septien extra point)
Steelers 14, Cowboys 14
TD: John Stallworth 75-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 21, Cowboys 14
TD: Rocky Bleier 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Third Quarter
Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
FG: Rafael Septien 27-yard kick
Fourth Quarter
Steelers 28, Cowboys 17
TD: Franco Harris 22-yard run (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 17
TD: Lynn Swan 18-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 24
TD: Billy Joe DuPree 7-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
TD: Butch Johnson 4-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien extra point)
Game Facts and Stats
Date: Sunday 21st January 1979
Stadium: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 79,484
MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
TV Broadcast: NBC (Curt Gowdy, John Brodie and Merlin Olsen)
Referee: Pat Haggerty
National Anthem: The Colgate Thirteen
Halftime Show:"Carnival: A Salute to the Caribbean" by Bob Jani
Stadium: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Attendance: 79,484
MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
TV Broadcast: NBC (Curt Gowdy, John Brodie and Merlin Olsen)
Referee: Pat Haggerty
National Anthem: The Colgate Thirteen
Halftime Show:"Carnival: A Salute to the Caribbean" by Bob Jani
Other Notable Game Notes
Super Bowl XIII would be the only game where Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Fame quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, would throw 4 touchdown passes in a single game.
The contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the first time in Super Bowl history where two teams that had previously met in the Super Bowl, would meet again in the big game.
Super Bowl XIII would be the only game where Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Fame quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, would throw 4 touchdown passes in a single game.
The contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers was the first time in Super Bowl history where two teams that had previously met in the Super Bowl, would meet again in the big game.
SUPER BOWL XIV
In the sunny dreamland of California, the Pittsburgh Steelers solidified their status as the team of the seventies, as they bagged their fourth Super Bowl victory in six seasons, including two back-to-back wins....