Super Bowl V
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Super Bowl V was the fifth Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The game was played on January 17, 1971 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida following the 1970 regular season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Colts defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys, 16–13.
Super Bowl V was the first Super Bowl played after the AFL-NFL Merger. As per the merger agreement, all 26 AFL and NFL teams were divided into 2 conferences with 13 teams in each of them. The NFL's Colts, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to join the other 10 AFL teams to form the AFC. The remaining 13 NFL teams formed the NFC. This is why the Colts represented the NFL in Super Bowl III, but not the NFC for Super Bowl V.
The game is sometimes called the "Blooper Bowl" or the "Turnover Bowl" because it was filled with poor play, turnovers and officiating miscues. Overall, the two teams committed a Super Bowl record 11 combined turnovers in the game. It was finally settled with 5 seconds left when Colts rookie kicker Jim O'Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal. In order to win the game, Baltimore had to overcome a 13–6 deficit at the half, losing their starting quarterback in the second quarter, and their 7 lost turnovers to Dallas' 4.
It is also the only Super Bowl in which the Most Valuable Player Award was given to a member of the losing team: Cowboys Linebacker Chuck Howley, who caught 2 interceptions and recovered a fumble.
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Background
Baltimore Colts
The Colts were an unspectacular but well-balanced team, led by 37-year old quarterback Johnny Unitas. Unitas had regained his starting spot on the team after Earl Morrall's disappointing performance in Super Bowl III. But Unitas played inconsistently during the 1970 regular season; he threw for 2,213 yards, but recorded more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (14), and thus earned a passer rating of just 65.1. Unitas also had injury problems, causing him to miss 2 regular season games and thus giving Morrall more significant playing time. Morrall put up a better statistics then Unitas (792 yards, 9 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a 97.6 passer rating), but head coach Don McCafferty decided to start Unitas for the playoffs.
In addition, Baltimore had 3 solid weapons in the passing game: wide receivers Eddie Hinton and Roy Jefferson, and future hall of fame tight end John Mackey combined for 119 receptions, 1,917 yards, and 15 touchdowns. In the backfield, running back Norm Bulaich was the team's top rusher with 426 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also catching 11 passes for another 123 yards.
The Colts' main strength was their defense. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bubba Smith anchored the line. Behind him, the Colts had 2 outstanding linebackers: Pro Bowler Mike Curtis, who recorded 5 interceptions, and future hall of famer Ted Hendricks. In the secondary, Pro Bowl safety Jerry Logan recorded 6 interceptions for 92 return yards and 2 touchdowns, while safety Rick Volk had 4 interceptions for 61 return yards.
Baltimore finished the regular season winning the AFC East with an 11-1-2 record.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys had to overcome many obstacles during the regular season. Fullback Calvin Hill, the team's second leading rusher with 577 yards and 4 touchdowns, was lost for the year after suffering a leg injury late in the regular season. And wide receiver Bob Hayes was benched by head coach Tom Landry for poor performances on several occasions.
Most significantly, the Cowboys had a quarterback controversy between Craig Morton and Roger Staubach. Morton and Staubach alternated as the starting quarterback during the regular season, but Landry eventually choose Morton to start Super Bowl V because he felt less confident that Staubach would follow his game plan. Also, Morton had done extremely well in the regular season, throwing for 1,819 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only 7 interceptions, earning him a passer rating of 89.8. In contrast, Staubach threw for 542 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, giving him a 42.9 rating.
Hayes was the main deep threat on the team, catching 34 passes for 889 yards (a 26.1 yards per catch average) and 10 touchdowns, while also rushing 4 times for 34 yards and another touchdown, and adding another 116 yards returning punts. On the other side of the field, wide receiver Lance Rentzel recorded 28 receptions for 556 yards and 5 touchdowns.
However, the main strength on the Cowboys offense was their running game. Rookie running back Duane Thomas rushed 151 times for 803 yards (aa 5.1 yards per carry average) and 5 touchdowns, while adding another 416 yards returning kickoffs. Fullback Walt Garrison, who replaced the injured Hill, provided Thomas with excellent blocking and rushed for 507 yards and 3 touchdowns himself. Garrison was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. Up front, Pro Bowl tackle John Niland anchored the offensive line.
Like the Colts, the Cowboys main strength was their defense. Nicknamed the "Doomsday Defense", they allowed just 1 touchdown in their last 6 games prior to the Super Bowl. Their line was anchored by future hall of fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Behind him, linebackers Lee Roy Jordan and Chuck Howley excelled at stopping the run and pass coverage. The Cowboys also had an oustanding secondary, led by future hall of famers Mel Renfro and Herb Adderly, who combined for 7 interceptions. Safety Charlie Waters led the team with 5 interceptions, while safety Cliff Harris recorded 2.
Dallas finished the regular season winning the NFC East with a 10-4 record.
Playoffs
Template:Details In the playoffs, Dallas defeated the Detroit Lions, 5-0, just by scoring only a field goal and a safety. Then the Cowboys narrowly defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game, 17-10, aided by Thomas' 143 rushing yards, along with interceptions by Renfro and Jordan late in the third quarter that were both converted into touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Colts advanced to the Super Bowl by beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-0, and the Oakland Raiders, 27-17, in the playoffs.
Super Bowl pregame news and notes
Both teams came into the game extremely eager for a win.
For the Colts, Super Bowl V represented a chance to redeem themselves for their humiliating loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. It also was an opportunity for Unitas to earn a Super Bowl ring, one of the few things he had not yet accomplished in his outstanding career (although he won two NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 prior to the first Super Bowl).
Meanwhile, the game was a chance for the Cowboys to lose their reputation of "not being able to win the big games". In the past 5 seasons, Dallas had won more games, 52 out of 68, then any other professional football team, but they had never won any league title. The Cowboys had chances to go to the first 2 Super Bowls, but narrowly lost to the Green Bay Packers in both the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championship games. In the 1966 title game, the Cowboys lost because they failed to score a touchdown on 4 attempts starting from the Packers 2-yard line on the game's final drive. Then in the 1967 title game, the Cowboys lost because they allowed the Packers to score a touchdown on the game's final play.
Television and entertainment
The game was broadcast in the United States by NBC with play-by-play announcer Curt Gowdy and color commentator Kyle Rote. Although the Orange Bowl was sold out for the event, unconditional blackout rules in the NFL prohibited the live telecast from being shown in the Miami area.
The bands from Southern University and Northeast Missouri State College performed before the game, while Trumpeter Tommy Loy played the national anthem. The Florida A&M Band was featured during the halftime show.
Game summary
The first 3 possessions of the game ended with punts after the respective teams went three-and-out on each one. Then on the first play of the Colts' second drive, Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted a pass from Johnny Unitas and returned it 22 yards to Baltimore's 46-yard line. However, the Cowboys could not take advantage of the turnover because of a holding penalty on the drive and had to punt. But Colts punt returner Ron Gardin fumbled the punt and Cowboys safety Cliff Harris recovered the ball at the Baltimore 9-yard line. Despite their great starting field position, Dallas was unable to score a touchdown and thus had to settle for kicker Mike Clark's 14-yard field goal to give them a 3–0 lead.
Dallas forced the Colts to punt on their next possession, and several plays later, quarterback Craig Morton completed a 47-yard pass to Bob Hayes at the Colts 12-yard line, with a roughing the passer penalty adding 6 yards (half the distance to the goal). But Dallas was still unable to score a touchdown. On first down, linebacker Ted Hendricks deflected Morton's pass, and then running back Duane Thomas was tackled for a 1-yard loss on the next play. Then on third down, Morton committed a 15-yard intentional grounding penalty, pushing the Cowboys back to the 22-yard line and forcing them to settle for Clark's 30 yard field goal, giving them a 6-0 lead.
But on the ensuing drive, the Colts got a lucky break. Baltimore defensive back Jim Duncan returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to their 25-yard line. Then after throwing 2 incompletions, Unitas threw a pass that bounced off the hands of receiver Eddie Hinton, then was tipped by Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro, and finally ended up in the arms of tight end John Mackey, who took the ball 75 yards for a touchdown, tying the score 6–6 after Jim O'Brien's extra point attempt was blocked.
Later in the second quarter, Dallas took a 13–6 lead when Morton threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Thomas at the end of a drive that was setup after Unitas lost a fumble while being tackled by Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. The next time the Colts had the ball, Unitas was hit as he threw a pass, resulting in an interception by Renfro. On the play, Unitas was knocked out of the game with a rib injury, and was replaced by Earl Morrall, who was widely blamed for the Colts loss in Super Bowl III. The Cowboys were unable to get any points off the turnover and the half ended with them still leading 13–6.
Duncan fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half to Dallas, and the Cowboys moved the ball down to the Colts' 1-yard line. But then Thomas returned the favor and fumbled the ball back to Baltimore. The Colts then drove to Dallas' 44-yard line, but came up empty when O'Brien's 52-yard field goal attempt fell short of the goal posts. However, Baltimore linebacker Tom Goode managed to run to the ball and down it at the Cowboys 1-yard line (NFL rules allow a field goal that fall short of the goal posts to be downed just like a punt).
The Colts defense then forced Dallas to punt after 3 plays, and would have gotten the ball inside Dallas territory following Ron Widby's punt, but Colts lineman John Maitland committed a 15-yard clipping penalty during the punt return, pushing his team back to their own 39 for their ensuing drive. Two plays later, Morrall completed a 47-yard pass to running back Tom Nowatzke at the Cowboys 15-yard line. Baltimore gained 4 yards on their next 2 plays, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, Morrall's pass was intercepted by Howley in the end zone.
After forcing the Cowboys to punt, Baltimore got the ball back on their own 18-yard line. On first down, Morrall's pass was incomplete. Then on the next play, Morrall fumbled the snap. Fortunately for the Colts, he managed to recover the fumble and throw the ball away, preventing a loss of yards or a turnover. On third down, Morrall threw his third consecutive incompletion, which would have forced Baltimore to punt from deep in their own territory, but Renfro was called for a 13-yard pass interference penalty while trying to cover Hinton, giving the Colts a first down.
Aided by a 23-yard completion from Morrall to receiver Roy Jefferson, the Colts drove to Dallas' 30-yard line and attempted to fool the Cowboy's with a halfback option play. Running back Sam Havrilak took a pitch from Morrall and then threw a pass to Hinton. The play appeared to work perfectly as Hinton caught the ball at the 5-yard line, but he lost a fumble while being tackled by defensive back Cornell Green. The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback, giving the Cowboys the ball at their 20-yard line.
Three plays after the turnover, Morton threw a pass that was intercepted by safety Rick Volk and returned 30 yards to the Cowboys 3-yard line. Two plays later, Nowatzke scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game, 13–13. Dallas was forced to punt on their ensuing drive, and Widby managed to pin the Colts deep in their own territory with a 40-yard punt that was downed on Baltimore's 5-yard line. Dallas' defense forced Baltimore to punt after 3 plays, and got the ball back with great starting field position after receiving David Lee's 38 yard punt at the Colts 48-yard line with less then 2 minutes left in the game.
On the first play of the drive, Thomas was tackled for a 1-yard loss by Colts defensive tackle Bubba Smith. On the next play, Dallas committed a 15-yard holding penalty on the 42-yard line, which was a spot foul, pushing the team all the way back to their own 27-yard line. Then on second down and 35 to go, Morton threw a pass that went through the hands of running back Dan Reeves and into the arms of linebacker Mike Curtis, who returned the ball 13 yards to the Cowboys 28-yard line. Two plays later, O'Brien kicked a 32-yard field goal with just 5 seconds left in the game, giving his team a 16-13 lead. After receiving the ensuing kickoff, Morton's pass on the final play of the game was intercepted by Baltimore safety Jerry Logan, sealing a victory for the Colts.
Morrall was the top passer of the game, with 7 out of 15 completions for 147 yards, with 1 interception. Before being knocked out of the game, Unitas completed 3 out of 9 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, with 2 interceptions. Morton completed more passes then Morrall and Unitas combined (12), but finished the game with 118 less passing yards (127), and was intercepted 3 times. Mackey was the top receiver of the game with 2 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Nowatzke was the Colts' leading rusher with 33 yards and a touchdown, while also catching a pass for 47 yards. Dallas running back Walt Garrison was the leading rusher of the game with 65 rushing yards, and added 19 yards on 2 pass receptions.
Scoring Summary
- DAL - FG Clark 14
- DAL - FG Clark 30
- BAL - Mackey 75 pass from Unitas (kick blocked)
- DAL - Thomas 7 pass from Morton (Clark kick)
- BAL - Nowatzke 2 run (O'Brien kick)
- BAL - FG O'Brien 32
Trivia
- Super Bowl V was also the first Super Bowl played on an artificial turf surface, namely "Poly Turf".
- Under today's rules, after the game-winning field goal, a penalty would have been called on Jim O'Brien because the chin strap on his helmet was not fastened. [1]
Officials
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- Umpire: Paul Trepinski
- Head Linesman: Ed Marion
- Line Judge: Jack Fette
- Field Judge: Fritz Graf
- Back Judge: Hugh Gamber
Note: A seven-official system was not used until 1978
See also
References
- Super Bowl official website
- NFL Record and Fact Book(ISBN 193299436X)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0062701746)
- The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 (ISBN 089204523X)
- 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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