Cowboys’ defense spurred Super Bowl XII victory

With Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers just five days away, we continue our look back at the Dallas Cowboys’ eight Super Bowl appearances.

Today, we look at Super Bowl XII, played on Jan. 15, 1978, at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Cowboys (14-2) were two years removed from their last Super Bowl and still looking for their second Super Bowl win in their fourth try.

The Denver Broncos (14-2) were playing in their first Super Bowl. They were also being led by former Cowboys’ quarterback, Craig Morton.

Morton had been the starting quarterback in Dallas’ 16-13 loss to the Colts in Super Bowl V seven years earlier.

Dallas Dominates The First Half

The Cowboys punted on their first two possessions of the contest. Denver also punted on its first drive.

But on the Broncos’ second possession Morton was intercepted by Randy Hughes, giving Dallas the ball at Denver’s 25.

Five plays later, rookie running back Tony Dorsett opened the scoring with a three-yard run. Dallas led 7-0 with 4:53 left in the opening quarter.

On the next possession, just two plays later, Aaron Kyle picked off Morton to give Dallas the ball at the Broncos’ 35.

The Cowboys got down to Denver’s eight before Lyle Alzado sacked Roger Staubach. It forced a 35-yard field goal by Effren Herrera for a 10-0 Dallas lead.

The Cowboys extended the lead to 13-0 on a 43-yard field goal by Herrera with 11:46 left in the half.

A Comedy Of Errors

Benny Barnes would pick off another Morton pass just two plays later at the Cowboys’ 40.

But this time, after an 11-play drive, Herrera would miss a 43-yard field goal attempt.

The Broncos would turn the ball over again on their next possession. This time Hughes would recover a fumble at the Broncos’ 27.

But Herrera would miss from 32 yards out as the Broncos dodged a second bullet.

Morton would hit Riley Odoms on the next play. But Odoms would cough up the ball and Hughes would collect his second fumble recovery – and third turnover overall – of the day.

On the next play, Staubach would hit Billy Joe Dupree at the Broncos’ 12, only to have the tight end cough up the ball back to Denver.

But Morton wasn’t finished playing give away. Mark Washington intercepted Morton’s pass – the fifth combined turnover of the quarter for the two teams.

Staubach moved the Cowboys to the Denver 27 but on the final play of the half, Herrera missed his third field goal of the quarter.

The Cowboys settled for a 13-0 halftime lead.

Broncos’ Battle Back

Denver took the opening kickoff of the second half.

A Dallas penalty gave Denver a first down after a fake punt went awry the Broncos moved into position for a 47-yard field goal by Jim Turner.

With seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, Staubach hit Butch Johnson on a 45-yard touchdown pass. By today’s rules, it wouldn’t have counted.

Johnson caught the ball in the air, crossed the goal line just after his elbow hit the ground, and then lost the ball just as his body fully landed in the endzone.

Today, it would be an incomplete pass. In 1978’s rulebook though, that was good enough and it gave the Cowboys a 20-3 lead.

With Norris Reese in relief of Morton – and following a 67 yard kickoff return by Rick Upchurch – Denver got a one-yard touchdown by Rob Lytle to make it 20-10 just over a minute later.

The Final Quarter

Staubach was sacked in the opening minute of the fourth quarter and fumbled the ball to Denver. Danny White would play a few plays at quarterback during the next series until Staubach could return.

The Broncos could not take advantage of the turnover or Staubach’s absence. Kyle recovered a Weese fumble at Denver’s 29 with 7:44 left.

On the next play, Staubach pitched the ball to Robert Newhouse, who hit Golden Richards for the championship-sealing touchdown.

Denver would get one last possession, moving down to the Cowboys’ 27 before a failed pass on fourth down ended the drive with 3:39 to play.

Staubach and the Cowboys were able to run out the remainder of the clock for the 27-10 victory.

The Final Numbers

In Super Bowl V the Cowboys and Colts had combined for 11 turnovers. In Super Bowl XII the Cowboys and Broncos managed 10 combined turnovers.

Six were fumbles while Morton accounted for all four interceptions thrown.

The three quarterbacks were sacked nine times – Staubach five times while Morton and Weese were sacked twice each.

Staubach was 17-of-25 for 183 yards and the one touchdown. Dorsett led all rushers with 66 yards on 15 carries.

Dupree had 66 yards on four catches.

Morton was just 4-of-15 for 39 yards while Weese went 4-of-10 for 22 yards. Lytle had 35 yards on 10 carries and Jack Dolbin led Denver with two catches for 24 yards.

Randy White (one sack) and Harvey Martin (two sacks) were named co-MVPs, the only time the award has been shared by two players in Super Bowl history.

Neither man was credited with a tackle. Randy Hughes might have had a better claim to the trophy.

In addition to two fumble recoveries and an interception, Hughes also had a tackle.

Cowboys Starters

Offense

Roger Staubach QB

Tony Dorsett RB

Robert Newhouse FB

Butch Johnson WR

Drew Pearson WR

Billy Joe DuPree TE

Ralph Neely LT

Herbert Scott LG

John Fitzgerald C

Tom Rafferty RG

Pat Donovan RT

Defense

Too Tall Jones LDE

Jethro Pugh LDT

Randy White RDT

Harvey Martin RDE

Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson LLB

Bob Breunig MLB

D.D. Lewis RLB

Benny Barnes LCB

Aaron Kyle RCB

Charlie Waters SS

Cliff Harris FS

Special Teams

Effren Herrera PK

Danny White P