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Super Bowl Memories: SB XII

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10 on January 15, 1978, in the Louisiana Superdome’s inaugural Super Bowl.

During the regular season, the two teams seemed like mirror images at times. Both teams finished with a 12-2 record, and both teams’ defenses had a quirky nickname: the Broncos’ “Orange Crush” and the Cowboys’ “Doomsday.”

Naturally, defense was the theme from the outset, and the Cowboys’ Doomsday Defense was too much for Denver to handle. Dallas intercepted Denver quarterback Craig Morton four times and forced and recovered four Denver fumbles.

Dallas defensive linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin shared Most Valuable player honors. It was the first and only time in Super Bowl history that two players shared the MVP award.

Despite the Orange Crush’s best efforts, they could not stop a talented Cowboys offense that featured Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach and halfback Tony Dorsett.

Dorsett scored the game’s first touchdown when he barreled into the end zone on a three yard run in the first quarter. After the play, television color commentator Tom Brookshier referred to Tony Dorsett as a “mean motor scooter.”

Despite committing a staggering eight turnovers, the Broncos trailed Dallas by only ten points heading into the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys were able to crush Denver’s comeback hopes on a touchdown pass from fullback Robert Newhouse to receiver Golden Richards.

The victory was the second championship for Staubach and Dallas head coach Tom Landry, who won both of their Super Bowl titles in New Orleans (Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl XII).

Notes: Broncos quarterback Craig Morton started Super Bowl V for the Dallas Cowboys.

Links:

SI story: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/features/superbowl/archives/12/

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ad3pDqFO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hrlKy4P0Bk

National Anthem: Phyllis Kelly (Northeast Louisiana State University)
Halftime Show: "From Paris to the Paris of America" with Tyler Apache Belles, Pete Fountain and Al Hirt
Ticket Cost: $30
Attendance: 75,583
Cost of 30-Second Commercial: $162,000

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