Super Bowl XXX
Meeting for a record third time in the Super Bowl, the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers battled it out in the Arizona desert, in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.
Unlike their meetings of the 1970s, however, it was the Dallas Cowboys who were in the middle of a dynastic run, as by game's end, they would collect their third Super Bowl victory in four seasons.
Initially, the Cowboys were in control, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, and stretching it to 13-0 deep into the second period. However, Neil O'Donnell would drive his team steadily down the field, aided by some spectacular catches from his wide receivers, and eventually find Yancey Thigpen in the end zone to narrow the gap to six points and make the halftime score, 13-7.
Although Dallas would retake the double-digit advantage off the back of an Emmitt Smith touchdown run, Pittsburgh would close the gap to ten points with a field goal from Norm Johnson early in the final period. Then, a decision that swung momentum, if only temporarily, saw Pittsburgh attempt and recover an onside kick. Shortly after, Bam Morris rumbled over the goal line from a yard out, making the score 20-17 in the Cowboys' favor.
As Pittsburgh were driving late in the contest, however, O'Donnell threw the first of two late and devastating interceptions to Cowboys' cornerback, Larry Brown. Brown had good returns on both, one of which Emmitt Smith converted into his second touchdown of the game, making the final score, 27-17. Brown was awarded MVP honours due to how key his interceptions were in sealing the contest.
Unlike their meetings of the 1970s, however, it was the Dallas Cowboys who were in the middle of a dynastic run, as by game's end, they would collect their third Super Bowl victory in four seasons.
Initially, the Cowboys were in control, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, and stretching it to 13-0 deep into the second period. However, Neil O'Donnell would drive his team steadily down the field, aided by some spectacular catches from his wide receivers, and eventually find Yancey Thigpen in the end zone to narrow the gap to six points and make the halftime score, 13-7.
Although Dallas would retake the double-digit advantage off the back of an Emmitt Smith touchdown run, Pittsburgh would close the gap to ten points with a field goal from Norm Johnson early in the final period. Then, a decision that swung momentum, if only temporarily, saw Pittsburgh attempt and recover an onside kick. Shortly after, Bam Morris rumbled over the goal line from a yard out, making the score 20-17 in the Cowboys' favor.
As Pittsburgh were driving late in the contest, however, O'Donnell threw the first of two late and devastating interceptions to Cowboys' cornerback, Larry Brown. Brown had good returns on both, one of which Emmitt Smith converted into his second touchdown of the game, making the final score, 27-17. Brown was awarded MVP honours due to how key his interceptions were in sealing the contest.
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Total |
|
Cowboys |
10 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
27 |
Steelers |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
17 |
Scoring Record
First Quarter
Cowboys 3, Steelers 0
FG: Chris Boniol 42-yard kick
Cowboys 10, Steelers 0
TD: Jay Novacek 3-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Chris Boniol extra point)
Second Quarter
Cowboys 13, Steelers 0
FG: Chris Boniol 35-yard kick
Cowboys 13, Steelers 7
TD: Yancey Thigpen 6-yard pass from Steve Young (Norm Johnson extra point)
Third Quarter
Cowboys 20, Steelers 7
TD: Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Chris Boniol extra point)
Fourth Quarter
Cowboys 20, Steelers 10
FG: Norm Johnson 46-yard kick
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
TD: Bam Morris 1-yard run (Norm Johnson extra point)
Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
TD: Emmitt Smith 4-yard run (Chris Boniol extra point)
First Quarter
Cowboys 3, Steelers 0
FG: Chris Boniol 42-yard kick
Cowboys 10, Steelers 0
TD: Jay Novacek 3-yard pass from Troy Aikman (Chris Boniol extra point)
Second Quarter
Cowboys 13, Steelers 0
FG: Chris Boniol 35-yard kick
Cowboys 13, Steelers 7
TD: Yancey Thigpen 6-yard pass from Steve Young (Norm Johnson extra point)
Third Quarter
Cowboys 20, Steelers 7
TD: Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Chris Boniol extra point)
Fourth Quarter
Cowboys 20, Steelers 10
FG: Norm Johnson 46-yard kick
Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
TD: Bam Morris 1-yard run (Norm Johnson extra point)
Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
TD: Emmitt Smith 4-yard run (Chris Boniol extra point)
Game Facts and Stats
Date: Sunday 28th January 1996
Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Attendance: 76,347
MVP: Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys
TV Broadcast: NBC (Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms)
Referee: Red Cashion
National Anthem: Vanessa Williams
Halftime Show: Diana Ross
Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Attendance: 76,347
MVP: Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys
TV Broadcast: NBC (Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms)
Referee: Red Cashion
National Anthem: Vanessa Williams
Halftime Show: Diana Ross
Other Notable Game Notes
Super Bowl XXX was the first time the big game had ventured to Arizona. It has returned several times since to the Cardinals' new stadium, but the thirtieth Super Bowl was the only time Sun Devil Stadium would host the game.
Larry Brown was the first Super Bowl MVP since the Chicago Bears' Richard Dent scooped the award for his performance in Super Bowl XX. He would go on to sign with the Oakland Raiders but he never played at the level he showed in Super Bowl XXX.
Super Bowl XXX was the first time the big game had ventured to Arizona. It has returned several times since to the Cardinals' new stadium, but the thirtieth Super Bowl was the only time Sun Devil Stadium would host the game.
Larry Brown was the first Super Bowl MVP since the Chicago Bears' Richard Dent scooped the award for his performance in Super Bowl XX. He would go on to sign with the Oakland Raiders but he never played at the level he showed in Super Bowl XXX.
SUPER BOWL XXXI
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