Super Bowl XII

Super Bowl XII: The Cowboys Take on the Broncos in New Orleans Super Bowl XII took place on January 15, 1978, in the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans. It was a match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos. It was the tenth anniversary of the Super Bowl and marked the second time the city of New Orleans hosted the biggest event in American sports. The Cowboys were considered the favorites going into the game, having reached the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the past ten years, and having one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history. However, the Broncos had proven themselves to be a formidable team, with their "Orange Crush" defense, which had allowed only 14.6 points per game during the regular season. The game began with a flurry of turnovers, with both teams losing fumbles on their opening drives. The Cowboys eventually took the lead with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to tight end Billy Joe Dupree. The Broncos responded with a 51-yard touchdown run by running back Rob Lytle, but their extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 7-6 in favor of Dallas. The Cowboys defense then began to take control of the game, forcing two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the second quarter. They also scored two touchdowns of their own, one on a 29-yard interception return by Randy Hughes and the other on a 7-yard fumble return by Harvey Martin. By halftime, the score was 20-3 in favor of the Cowboys. The second half was more of the same, as the Broncos struggled to move the ball and the Cowboys defense continued to dominate. The Broncos did manage to score a touchdown late in the third quarter, with Craig Morton connecting with wide receiver Haven Moses on a 18-yard pass, but it was too little, too late. The Cowboys added another touchdown of their own in the fourth quarter, with a 45-yard pass from Staubach to Butch Johnson, putting the game out of reach. The final score was 27-10 in favor of the Dallas Cowboys, giving them their second Super Bowl victory in five years. The game was notable for many reasons, including the first time a team had returned two turnovers for touchdowns in a Super Bowl, and the first time a defensive lineman had been named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Harvey Martin and Randy White, two stars of the Cowboys' defense, shared the MVP award, marking the first and only time that a Super Bowl MVP has been shared by two players from the same team. Martin and White were both dominant in the game, with Martin recording two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, and White adding a sack and a forced fumble of his own. Super Bowl XII was a memorable game and showcased the dominance of the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1970s. The Broncos would eventually get their revenge, however, winning two Super Bowls of their own in the 1990s. But for one night in New Orleans, the Cowboys were the kings of the NFL, and their defense was unstoppable.