Super Bowl XII

The game

The Cowboys defensive team dominated most of the game, forcing 8 turnovers and allowing only 8 pass completions by the Broncos for just 61 passing yards.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But the game did not start out well for the Cowboys as they nearly turned over the ball three times on their first two possessions. On their first play from scrimmage, receiver Butch Johnson fumbled the handoff on a double reverse, but recovered the ball himself. Dallas was then forced to punt, and the Broncos advanced to the Cowboys' 33-yard line before quarterback Craig Morton was sacked for an 11-yard loss on third down. On the ensuing punt, Cowboys punt returner Tony Hill fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line, but managed to dive on the ball before any Denver player reached him. A few plays later, Dallas running back Tony Dorsett fumbled on his own 19-yard line, but center John Fitzgerald quickly recovered the ball.

Related Topics:
Play from scrimmage - Double reverse - Craig Morton - Tony Hill - Tony Dorsett - John Fitzgerald

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On the Broncos' second drive of the game, Cowboys linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin forced Morton to hurry his throw, and defensive back Randy Hughes intercepted the rushed pass at the Broncos 25-yard line. In 5 plays after the turnover, Dorsett scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. Then on the Broncos' next possession, Morton was intercepted again when his pass was tipped by linebacker Bob Breuning into the arms of defesive back Aaron Kyle, who then returned the ball to Denver's 35-yard line. Six plays later, Dallas kicker Efren Herrera's 35-yard field goal made the score 10-0.

Related Topics:
Randy White - Harvey Martin - Randy Hughes - Bob Breuning - Aaron Kyle - Efren Herrera

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the second quarter, Dallas advanced to Denver's 19-yard line, but once again barely avoided a turnover. On third down, quarterback Roger Staubach's pass was intercepted in the end zone, but officials ruled that he had stepped out of bounds before he threw the ball. On the next play, Herrera's 43-yard field goal increased the Dallas lead to 13-0.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By halftime, the Broncos had commited 7 turnovers. Denver had lost three fumbles and Morton, who had only thrown eight interceptions during the season, was intercepted four times. Still, Denver needed only two touchdowns to take the lead.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On the opening drive of the second quarter, the Broncos advanced to the Cowboys' 30-yard line and scored their first points of the game when kicker Jim Turner made a 47-yard field goal to cut the score 13-3. But later in the period, the Cowboys scored another touchdown on a 45-yard pass from Staubach to Johnson, who made a fingertip catch as he fell into the end zone. The receiver dropped the ball when he hit the ground, but the officials ruled he had caught the ball for a touchdown before it came out of his hands, and the Cowboys increased their lead to 20-3.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Denver kick returner Rick Upchurch returned the ensuing kickoff a super bowl record 67 yards to the Cowboys 26-yard line. On the next play, Morton nearly threw his fifth interception, and was then immediately replaced by quarterback Norris Weese. Four plays later, running back Rob Lytle scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 20-10.

Related Topics:
Rick Upchurch - Norris Weese - Rob Lytle

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But midway through the fourth quarter, Weese fumbled the ball and Kyle recorvered it on Devener's 29 yard line. And on the next play, the Cowboys scored on a 29-yard halfback option play: Staubach pitched the ball to fullback Robert Newhouse, who ran left as if it were a normal run play, but then passed the ball to Cowboys receiver Golden Richards for a touchdown. The score gave the Cowboys a 27-10 lead and put the game out of reach.

Related Topics:
Halfback option play - Robert Newhouse - Golden Richards

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Staubach finished the game with 17 out of 25 pass complesions for 183 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions. Dorsett was the leading rusher of the game, with 66 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 11 receiving yards. In addition to his 29 yard touchdown pass, Newhouse also contributed 55 rushing yards. Dallas tight end Billy Joe Dupree was the leading receiver of the game with 4 receptions for 66 yards. Before being taken out of the game, Denver's starting quarterback Craig Morton completed just 4 out of 15 passes for 39 yards and was intercepted 4 times.

Related Topics:
Billy Joe Dupree - Craig Morton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Scoring summary

• DAL- Dorsett 3 run (Herrera kick)
• DAL- FG Herrera 35
• DAL- FG Herrera 43
• DEN- FG Turner 47
• DAL- Johnson 45 pass from Staubach (Herrera kick)
• DEN- Lytle 1 run (Turner kick)
• DAL- Richards 29 pass from Newhouse (Herrera kick)