Super Bowl XII

Super Bowl XII was the 12th Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The game was played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the first Super Bowl played inside a domed stadium, following the 1977 regular season.

The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos, 27–10. 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.

For the first time, two players won Super Bowl MVP honors: defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin. This was also the first time that a defensive lineman was named as the Super Bowl MVP.

1 Background
2 Television and entertainment
3 Game summary
- 3.1 Scoring summary
4 Trivia
5 Officials
6 See also
7 References

[edit] Background

[edit] Staubach v. Morton

The main storyline surrounding Super Bowl XII was Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach versus Broncos quarterback Craig Morton. Morton began his career playing for Dallas in 1965. But after Staubach joined the Cowboys in 1969 after spending 4 years of service in the United States Navy, both quarterbacks competed for the starting job. During the 1970 season, both Morton and Staubach started for about half of the regular season games, but Morton was selected to lead the team through the playoffs and eventually to their Super Bowl V loss to the Baltimore Colts, 16-13. The next year, Staubach won the starting job and eventually led Dallas to defeat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24-3. Staubach was also named Super Bowl MVP during that game, essentially assuring him the starting spot in the future. Morton ended up being the backup until he left the team in 1974 to join the New York Giants.

[edit] Morton leads the Broncos

After spending three years with the Giants, Morton became the starting quarterback for the Broncos and helped Denver record a 12-2 regular season record. He did not record a large amount of passing yards (1,929) during the regular season, but he threw 14 touchdown passes and only 8 interceptions, while also rushing for 125 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Denver tight end Riley Odoms was his main target, with 37 receptions for 429 yards. Wide receiver Haven Moses was also major deep threat, catching 27 passes for 539 yards, an average of 20 yards per catch. However, the Broncos main offensive strength was their rushing game. Denver had 3 running backs, Otis Armstrong, Lonnie Perrin, and Rob Lytle, who carried the ball equally, combining for 1,353 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. On special teams, multi-talented wide receiver Rick Upchurch led the NFL with 653 punt return yards, while also catching 12 passes for 245 yards and recording 456 yards returning kickoffs.

The backbone of the Broncos was their defense, which used a 3-4 formation because they had four superb linebackers, led by Randy Gradishar (3 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries) and Tom Jackson (4 interceptions, 93 return yards, 1 touchdown). Defensive End Lyle Alzado anchored the line, while their secondary was led by defensive backs Billy Thompson (who recorded 5 interceptions) and Louis Wright (who had 3 interceptions).

[edit] Staubach and the Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense"

With Staubach and his team's "Doomsday Defense", the Cowboys won the NFC East with a 12-2 regular season record.

Staubach had another fine regular season with the Cowboys, throwing for 2,620 yards and 18 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions, while also gaining 171 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver Drew Pearson was the leading receiver on the team with 48 receptions for 870 yards, while Pro Bowl tight end Billy Joe Dupree recorded 28 receptions for 347 yards and provided solid blocking support on running plays.

The Cowboys also had a new weapon on offense: rookie running back Tony Dorsett. Despite not becoming a full-time starter until the tenth game of the regular season, Dorsett led the team in rushing with 1,007 yards, scored 13 total touchdowns, and was the team's third leading receiver with 29 receptions for another 273 yards. Veteran fullback Robert Newhouse provided Dorsett with great blocking, and was the team's second leading rusher with 721 yards, while also catching 16 passes for another 106 yards. Running back Preston Pearson was also a big contributor, rushing for 341 yards, catching 46 passes for 535 yards, and scoring 5 touchdowns. The Cowboys also had a solid offensive line, led by All-pro guard Rayfield Wright.

The Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" appeared to be even better than they were when they competed in Super Bowl X. Their defensive line, consisting of Harvey Martin (who recorded 23 sacks), Jethro Pugh, Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Randy White, was widely considered the best defensive line in league history. Behind them, the Cowboys had a trio of great linebackers, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson (3 interceptions), D.D. Lewis, and Bob Breunig, who were great at pass coverage and stopping the run. Dallas also had a fine secondary led by future hall of famer Mel Renfro and safety Cliff Harris.

[edit] Playoffs

For more details on this topic, see NFL playoffs, 1977-78.

The Cowboys earned their second trip to the Super Bowl in the last 3 years by defeating the Chicago Bears, 37-7, and the Minnesota Vikings, 23-6, in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Broncos earned their first ever trip to the Super Bowl in team history by defeating the two previous league champions: the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34-21, and the Oakland Raiders, 20-17, in the playoffs.

[edit] Super Bowl pregame news and notes

Super Bowl XII provided an opportunity for Morton to not only beat his former team, but also to redeem himself for his Super Bowl V loss and the loss of his starting job to Staubach. For Staubach, he had a chance to win his second Super Bowl, and defeat his old rival, showing that he truly was the superior of the two.

[edit] Television and entertainment

The game, the first Super Bowl to be played in prime time, was broadcast in the United States by CBS with play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall and color commentator Tom Brookshier.

The pregame festivities featured the Southern University Band along with the cheerleaders of both teams. Later, Phyllis Kelly of Northeast Louisiana State University sang the national anthem.

For the first time in a Super Bowl, someone other than the game's referee tossed the coin. Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Red Grange participated in the coin toss ceremony.

The halftime show was "From Paris to Paris of America" featuring performances by the Apache Belles Drill team from Tyler Junior College, clarinetist Pete Fountain, and trumpeter Al Hirt.

[edit] Game summary

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.

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 Breunig into the arms of defesive back Aaron Kyle, who then returned the ball 19 yards to Denver's 35-yard line. Dallas then drove to the 8-yard line, but Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was sacked by Lyle Alzado for a 10-yard loss on third down, forcing them to settle for kicker Efrin Herrera's 35-yard field goal to increase their lead to 10-0.

In the second quarter, Dallas advanced to Denver's 19-yard line, and once again barely avoided a turnover. On third down, 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.

The rest of the quarter was filled with sloppy play and turnovers by both teams. On the second play after receiving the ensuing kickoff, Morton was intercepted again, this time by Dallas defensive back Benny Barnes at his own 40-yard line. The Cowboys then drove to the Denver 26-yard line, but Herrera's 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. The Broncos then committed another turnover when wide receiver Jack Dolbin fumbled, and Hughes picked it up and returned it 19 yards to the Denver 27-yard line. However, the Cowboys once again failed to score as Herrera missed a 32-yard field goal attempt. On the first play after the missed field goal, Hughes recovered Denver tight end Riley Odoms's fumble at the Broncos 28-yard line. But on the next play, Dallas gave the ball right back to Denver after Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson recovered tight end Billy Joe Dupree's fumble. Then 5 plays later, defensive back Mark Washington intercepted Morton's pass and returned it 27 yards to Denver's 35-yard line with just 6 second left in the period. But Herrera missed a 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the half.

By halftime, the Broncos had committed 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 receiver Butch 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.

But midway through the fourth quarter, Weese fumbled the ball while being sacked by Martin, and Kyle recorvered it on Devener's 29 yard line. 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.

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. Hughes had an interception and a Super Bowl record 2 fumble recoveries. 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. Upchurch recorded 125 total offensive yards (94 on kickoff returns, 22 on punt returns, and 9 receiving yards).

[edit] 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)

[edit] Trivia

The Cowboys joined Minnesota as the only teams to appear in four Super Bowls.
Tony Dorsett became the first football player in history to win an NCAA National Championship one year (with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers) and a Super Bowl the next. Dorsett won both championships in the same building; Pitt clinched the 1976 national championship by defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1977.
Robert Newhouse became the first running back in Super Bowl history to complete a touchdown pass.
Referee Jim Tunney became the first official to work consecutive Super Bowls. Tunney was also the referee for Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XI. Tom Sifferman, a field judge, would later work three consecutive Super Bowls, Super Bowl XXXVII, Super Bowl XXXVIII, and Super Bowl XXXIX.
Dallas was the only NFC team to win the Super Bowl in the 1970's.
This was the first Super Bowl between two teams who had met in regular season play. The Cowboys defeated the Broncos 14-6 on the final Sunday of the regular season at Texas Stadium. Denver did not play most of its starters in that contest, since the Broncos came in 12-1 and had already clinched the AFC West title and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

[edit] Officials

Referee: Jim Tunney
Umpire: Joe Connell
Head Linesman: Tony Veteri
Line Judge: Art Holst
Field Judge: Bob Wortman
Back Judge: Ray Douglas

Note: A seven-official system was not used until the following season

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Super Bowl official website
2006 NFL Record and Fact Book. Time Inc. Home Entertainment. ISBN 1-933405-32-5.
Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. Harper Collins. ISBN 1-933405-32-5.
The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995. ISBN 0-89204-523-X.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com - Large online database of NFL data and statistics
Super Bowl play-by-plays from USA Today (Last accessed September 28, 2005)
All-Time Super Bowl Odds from The Sports Network (Last accessed October 16, 2005)

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