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Super Bowl V

Super Bowl V
DateJanuary 17, 1971 (1971-01-17)
StadiumMiami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
MVPChuck Howley, linebacker
FavoriteColts by 2.5
RefereeNorm Schachter
Attendance79,204
Ceremonies
National anthemTommy Loy (Trumpeter)
Coin tossNorm Schachter
Halftime showSoutheast Missouri State College Marching Golden Eagles Band with Anita Bryant
TV in the United States
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersCurt Gowdy, Kyle Rote and Bill Enis
Nielsen ratings39.9
(est. 46 million viewers)
Market share75
Cost of 30-second commercial$72,000
Radio in the United States
NetworkNBC Radio
AnnouncersJay Randolph and Al DeRogatis

Super Bowl V was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Colts and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys to determine the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1970 season. It was the fifth edition of the Super Bowl and the first modern-era NFL championship game. The Colts defeated the Cowboys by the score of 16–13 on a field goal with 5 seconds left in the game. The game was played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, and was the first Super Bowl game played on artificial turf; specifically, the game was played on a Poly-Turf surface.

The game was the first Super Bowl played after the completion of the AFL–NFL merger. Beginning with this game and continuing to the present day, the Super Bowl has served as the NFL's championship game, with the winner of the AFC Championship Game and the winner of the NFC Championship Game facing off in the culmination of the NFL playoffs. As per the merger agreement, all 26 AFL and NFL teams were divided into two conferences with 13 teams in each. Along with the Colts, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to join the ten AFL teams to form the AFC; the remaining 13 NFL teams formed the NFC. This explains why the Colts represented the NFL in Super Bowl III, but the AFC for Super Bowl V. Baltimore advanced to Super Bowl V after posting an 11–2–1 regular season record. Meanwhile, the Cowboys were making their first Super Bowl appearance after posting a 10–4 regular season record.

The game is often referred to as the "Blunder Bowl," "Blooper Bowl," or "Stupor Bowl" due to it being marred with poor play, a blocked PAT, missed opportunities, penalties, turnovers, and officiating miscues. The two teams combined for a Super Bowl record 11 turnovers, with five solely in the fourth quarter.[1] The Colts' seven turnovers remain the most committed by a Super Bowl champion. Dallas also set a Super Bowl record with 10 penalties, costing them 133 yards. It was finally settled when Colts rookie kicker Jim O'Brien made a 32-yard field goal with five seconds left in regulation time, then a Super Bowl record for least time in the lead for a champion.[2] Baltimore overcame a 13–6 deficit after three quarters and the loss of its starting quarterback Johnny Unitas to an injury in the second quarter. To date, the game is the only Super Bowl in which the Most Valuable Player Award was given to a member of the losing team: Cowboys' linebacker Chuck Howley, the first non-quarterback to win the award, after making two interceptions (sacks and tackles were not yet recorded).

Due to its blunders, the game is often regarded among the worst Super Bowls played,[3][4][5] but is also recognized as the title the Colts needed after losing Super Bowl III.[6]

Background

Host selection process

The NFL awarded Super Bowl V to Miami on March 17, 1970, at the owners' meeting held in Honolulu.[7][8] It marked the third Super Bowl to be played in the Orange Bowl. Three cities submitted bids: Miami, New Orleans, and Los Angeles (Coliseum). A potential bid by Pasadena (Rose Bowl) failed to materialize, and Houston (Astrodome) dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with conventions.[9]

Baltimore Colts

Earl Morrall (with ball) running a play during Super Bowl V

The Colts were an unspectacular but well-balanced veteran team, led by 37-year-old star quarterback Johnny Unitas. He had regained his starting spot on the team in 1969 upon recovering from an injury that led him to miss the majority of the 1968 season. Unitas played inconsistently during the 1970 regular season; he threw for 2,213 yards, but recorded more interceptions than touchdowns. He also had injury problems, missing two regular season games and giving Earl Morrall more significant playing time. Morrall put up better statistics (792 yards, 9 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a 97.6 passer rating), but head coach Don McCafferty decided to start Unitas for the playoffs. (According to Jim O'Brien, Morrall was just as good as Unitas in the players' opinion.)[10]

In addition, Baltimore had three 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 two outstanding linebackers: Pro Bowler Mike Curtis, who recorded 5 interceptions, and 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.

Don Klosterman, formerly with San Diego, Kansas City, and Houston in the AFL, became the Colts' general manager in 1970. Future Colts GM Ernie Accorsi was the public relations director.

Baltimore finished the regular season winning the AFC East with an 11–2–1 record, the best in the AFC. Only the Minnesota Vikings had a better record among all NFL teams at 12–2.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys overcame many obstacles during the regular season. Running back Calvin Hill, the team's second leading rusher with 577 yards and four touchdowns, was lost for the year after suffering a leg injury late in the regular season.[11] 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; the two alternated as starters during the regular season. Landry eventually settled on Morton for most of the latter half of the season, because he felt less confident that Staubach would follow his game plan (Landry called all of Morton's plays).[12] Also, Morton had done extremely well in the regular season, throwing for 1,819 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions, earning him a passer rating of 89.8.[13] In contrast, Staubach, although a noted scrambler and able to salvage broken plays effectively, threw for 542 yards, and only two touchdowns with eight interceptions, giving him a 42.9 rating.[14]

Hayes was the main deep threat on the team, catching 34 passes for 889 yards (a 26.1 yards per catch average) and ten touchdowns, while also rushing four times for 34 yards and another touchdown, and adding another 116 yards returning punts.[15] On the other side of the field, wide receiver Lance Rentzel (who would be deactivated for the last few weeks of the season and postseason following an indecent exposure charge; being replaced in the starting lineup by Reggie Rucker) recorded 28 receptions for 556 yards and 5 touchdowns.[16]

Mel Renfro was a key part of the Cowboys' famed "Doomsday Defense"

However, the main strength on the Cowboys offense was their running game. Rookie running back Duane Thomas rushed 151 times for 803 yards (a 5.1 yards per carry average) and five touchdowns, while adding another 416 yards returning kickoffs.[17] Fullback Walt Garrison, who replaced the injured Hill, provided Thomas with excellent blocking and rushed for 507 yards and three touchdowns. Garrison was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns. Up front, Pro Bowl guard John Niland and Rayfield Wright anchored the offensive line.

Like the Colts, the Cowboys' main strength was their defense. Nicknamed the "Doomsday Defense", they allowed just one touchdown in their last six 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, Dave Edwards, and Chuck Howley excelled at stopping the run and pass coverage. The Cowboys had an outstanding secondary, led by Mel Renfro and Herb Adderley, who combined for seven interceptions. Dallas also had two rookie safeties: Future Hall of Famer Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters, who led the team with five interceptions, while Harris recorded two.

Dallas finished the regular season winning the NFC East with a 10–4 record, winning their final five regular season games to overcome the St. Louis Cardinals (who lost their final three games and fell to third place in the final standings) and New York Giants (who lost their finale 31–3 to the Los Angeles Rams; a Giants victory would have given New York the NFC East title based upon a better division record and forced a coin toss between the Cowboys and Detroit Lions for the wild card playoff spot).

Playoffs

In the playoffs, Dallas defeated Detroit 5–0 in sunny weather at the Cotton Bowl, with a field goal and a safety.[18] Later, the Cowboys overcame 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.[19]

Meanwhile, the Colts advanced to the Super Bowl by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 17–0 and the Oakland Raiders 27–17 in the playoffs at Memorial Stadium.[20][21]

Super Bowl pregame news and notes

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. Volk commented, "Going to the game a second time took away some of the awe. I think we were able to focus better. There was no way we were going to let ourselves get beat again."[12]

The Miami Orange Bowl during Super Bowl V

Meanwhile, the game was a chance for the Cowboys to lose their nickname of "next year's champions" and their reputation of "not being able to win the big games". In the past five seasons, Dallas had won more games, 52 of 68, than any other professional football team, but they had yet to win a league title. The Cowboys had chances to go to the first two 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 failed to score a potential tying touchdown on four attempts starting from the Packers two-yard line on the game's final drive. Then in the 1967 title game (the "Ice Bowl"), the Cowboys lost because they allowed the Packers to score a touchdown with sixteen seconds left in the game.

As the designated home team, Dallas was forced to wear its blue jerseys for the Super Bowl under rules in place at the time, which did not allow the home team its choice of jersey color, unlike the regular season and playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl. Dallas had not worn its blue jerseys at home since 1963, as Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm opted to have the team wear white at home in order to present fans with a consistent look. The Cowboys wore their blue jerseys twice during the 1970 season, losing 20–7 at St. Louis in week three and winning 6–2 at Cleveland in week 13. The designated home team was first allowed its choice of jersey color for Super Bowl XIII, allowing the Cowboys to wear white vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gambling establishments had the Colts as 2 ½ point favorites and projected 36 total points scored.[22][23]

Vice President Spiro Agnew, a Colts fan since the team began playing in Baltimore in 1953, attended the game.[24] Agnew was Governor of Maryland prior to his election as Richard Nixon's running mate in 1968. Nixon himself was a huge football fan and had a vacation home in Key Biscayne, approximately ten miles from the Orange Bowl. Also in attendance was boxing great Muhammad Ali, who signed autographs for many young fans. Ali was in south Florida training for his March 8 heavyweight championship fight vs. Joe Frazier in New York City.

Kickoff for this game was at 2:00 pm, making it the earliest starting time in the Eastern Time Zone in Super Bowl history, and one of only three Super Bowls to start in the morning for viewers in the Pacific Time Zone (the others were Super Bowl VI in New Orleans and Super Bowl X in Miami).

Broadcasting

The game was broadcast in the United States by NBC with play-by-play announcer Curt Gowdy, color commentator Kyle Rote, and sideline reporter Bill Enis.

Although the Orange Bowl was sold out for the event, unconditional blackout rules in the NFL in the era prohibited the live telecast from being shown in the Miami area. The blackout was challenged in Miami-Dade District Court by attorney Ellis Rubin, and although the judge denied Rubin's request since he felt he did not have the power to overrule the NFL, he agreed with Rubin's argument that the blackout rule was unnecessary for the Super Bowl.[25] The game was also the first Super Bowl to be carried live in the state of Alaska, thanks to NBC's then-parent company RCA acquiring the Alaska Communications System from the United States Air Force.[26]

The video of the complete original broadcast, up until Chuck Howley's second interception, the first play of the fourth quarter, exists; however, the rest of the fourth quarter is missing from network vaults. The complete audio, including the post-game, does exist. Broadcast excerpts of the crucial fourth-quarter plays, recovered from the Canadian feed of NBC's original, also exist and circulate among collectors. (Two different NFL Films game compilations also cover the fourth-quarter plays, in part.)

46.04 million people in the US watched the game on television, resulting in a rating of 39.9 and a market share of 75.[27]

Entertainment

The bands from Southern University and Southeast Missouri State College performed before the game, while trumpeter Tommy Loy played the national anthem. Loy also played the anthem before every Cowboys' home game from the mid-1960s until the late-1980s. The Southeast Missouri State Golden Eagle Band was featured during the halftime show along with singer Anita Bryant.

The game had one of the first planned jet fly-bys. The fly-by, which was supposed to happen right at the end of the national anthem, ended up coming 5 minutes after the anthem had ended.

This was the third consecutive (and final) Super Bowl to feature the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the 50-yard line. Originally the trophy was supposed to be painted gray, but the league changed it to silver which led to problems washing it out of the poly turf surface.

Halftime show

Super Bowl V halftime show
Part ofSuper Bowl V
DateJanuary 17, 1971
LocationMiami, Florida
VenueMiami Orange Bowl
HeadlinerSoutheast Missouri State Marching Band
Special guestsAnita Bryant
Super Bowl halftime show chronology
IV
(1970)
V
(1971)
VI
(1972)

The Super Bowl V halftime show was headlined by the Southeast Missouri State Marching Band, with Anita Bryant as a guest. Up with People were also included as performers.[28][29][30][31]

This was the third time that the Southeast Missouri State Marching Band had performed at the Miami Orange Bowl (venue of Super Bowl V), having previously performed during the halftime of the 1965 and 1969 Orange Bowl games.[32] The band was directed by LeRoy Mason.[32] During their stay in Miami for the game, the band was accommodated at the McAllister Hotel.[32]

During the roughly 13-minute performance, floats representing each of the league's 26 teams were utilized.[32] Members of two high school bands were utilized to form a geographic outline of the United States.[32]

In the performance, Bryant, standing on a float, sang, "Battle Hymn of the Republic".[32][33] The arrangement of this song was created by her musical director Charles Bird, and had been created for the band to accompany her. It had been adapted from a previous recording Bryant had done of the tune.[32]

Game summary

First quarter

The first three possessions of Super Bowl V ended quietly with each team punting after a three-and-out. Then, after a facemask penalty on Dallas during a punt back to Baltimore for the second time, the Colts started their second drive on their own 47-yard line, but on the first play, Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted a pass from Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and returned it 22 yards to the Colts' 46-yard line, the first of 11 combined turnovers committed by both teams. The Cowboys failed to take advantage of the turnover, with a 15-yard holding penalty 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage pushing them back to a 3rd-and-33 situation. Fullback Walt Garrison could only gain 11 yards on the next play, forcing Dallas to punt. However, Colts punt returner/cornerback Ron Gardin fumbled the return, and the loose ball was recovered by Cowboys safety Cliff Harris at the Colts' 9-yard line. Baltimore managed to keep Dallas out of the end zone, forcing them to settle for kicker Mike Clark's 14-yard field goal to establish a 3–0 lead.

After a Colts punt, which they failed to keep from reaching the end zone, Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton completed a 14-yard pass to running back Dan Reeves, followed by a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Bob Hayes (Morton's longest pass of the game) to reach the Colts' 12-yard line, with a roughing the passer penalty on Colts defensive tackle Fred Miller adding 6 yards (half the distance to the goal), but Dallas was denied the end zone by the Baltimore defense for a second time. Linebacker Ted Hendricks deflected Morton's pass on first down, and running back Duane Thomas was tackled for a 1-yard loss on second down by cornerback Jim Duncan.

Second quarter

At the start of the second quarter, Morton was flagged for intentional grounding on third down while trying to avoid a sack by defensive tackle Billy Ray Smith, pushing the Cowboys back to the 22-yard line and forcing them to settle for Clark's 30-yard field goal, stretching the score to 6–0.

On their next possession, the Colts offense got a break. After two straight incompletions to open the drive, Unitas uncorked a pass to wide receiver Eddie Hinton that was both high and behind the receiver. The ball ricocheted off Hinton's hands, was tipped by Cowboys cornerback Mel Renfro,[34] then landed in the arms of tight end John Mackey, who sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys subsequently blocked kicker Jim O'Brien's extra point attempt to keep the score tied at 6–6, with O'Brien later saying that he was "awfully nervous" and hesitated a second too long before kicking it.[10]

After the next three possessions ended in punts, Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan forced a fumble on Unitas, and defensive tackle Jethro Pugh recovered the loose ball at the Baltimore 28. Dallas capitalized on the turnover in three plays; Thomas rushed for 4 yards, then Morton completed a 17-yard pass to Reeves, followed by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Thomas to establish a 13–6 lead. The Colts reached the Cowboys' 37 on their next drive, but turned the ball over yet again, with Unitas unleashing a fluttering interception to Renfro while taking a fierce hit by defensive end George Andrie. Unitas was knocked out of the game permanently on the play with a rib injury and was replaced by Earl Morrall, who was widely blamed for the Colts' loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The Cowboys, starting from their own 15, were unable to score any points off the turnover. An offensive pass interference penalty on Hayes forced Dallas to punt. Starting from their own 48-yard line, the Colts offense, now led by Morrall, began to gain momentum. Morrall completed a 26-yard pass to Hinton, followed by a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Roy Jefferson. A personal foul penalty on Jordan put the ball on the Dallas 2-yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the half and giving Baltimore a chance to tie the game. However, the Cowboys defense stiffened. Colts running back Norm Bulaich was stuffed on three consecutive rushing attempts from inside the 2-yard line. The Colts elected to convert fourth down, but Morrall threw a pass intended for tight end Tom Mitchell that fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs and maintaining Dallas' 13–6 lead to end the half.

Third quarter

The second half was a parade of turnovers, sloppy plays, penalties, and missed opportunities. Baltimore's defense also held Dallas' offense scoreless for the rest of the game.

Duncan fumbled the opening kickoff while running into Cowboys running back Claxton Welch, and Dallas recovered the ball at Baltimore's 31. Then the Cowboys drove to the Colts' 2-yard line with the chance to take a two-score lead, but linebacker Mike Curtis punched the ball loose from Thomas before he could cross the goal line, and the Colts took over at their own 1 as Duncan was credited with the recovery–-a controversial call because when the resulting pile-up was sorted out, Dallas center Dave Manders was seen holding the ball. The energized Colts then drove to the Cowboys' 44-yard line, with Morrall completing a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Sam Havrilak, but came up empty when O'Brien's 52-yard field goal attempt fell short of the goal posts. However, instead of attempting to return the missed field goal, Renfro allowed it to bounce inside the Cowboys' own 1-yard line where it was downed by Colts center Tom Goode (NFL rules prior to 1974 allowed a field goal that fell short of the goal posts to be downed just like a punt; that rule is still in effect in high school football). "I thought it would carry into the end zone", Renfro explained after the game.[35]

Dallas, backed up to their own end zone, punted after a three-and-out. The Colts would have received the ball inside Dallas territory following the punt, but a clipping penalty on Baltimore running back Jack Maitland pushed the Colts back to their own 39 to begin the drive. Two plays later, however, Morrall completed a 45-yard pass to running back Tom Nowatzke to reach the Cowboys' 15-yard line.

Fourth quarter

However, three plays later, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Morrall threw an interception to Howley in the end zone to preserve the Cowboys' 13–6 lead.[36]

After forcing the Cowboys to punt, the Colts regained the ball on their own 18-yard line, still trailing 13–6. Aided by a pass interference penalty on Dallas safety Charlie Waters and a 23-yard pass from Morrall to Jefferson, the Colts advanced into Dallas territory. A second pass interference penalty, which was called on defensive back Cornell Green, gave the Colts a first down at the Dallas 39-yard-line. An 8-yard run by Nowatzke moved the ball to the 31-yard line. The Colts then attempted to fool the Cowboys with a flea-flicker,[10][12][37] resulting in one of the oddest plays in Super Bowl history. Havrilak took a handoff and ran right, intending to lateral the ball back to Morrall, but Pugh stormed into the backfield and prevented him from doing so. Havrilak (who played quarterback at Bucknell University) then threw a pass intended for Mackey, but it was caught instead by Hinton, who promptly took off for the end zone. However, Green stripped Hinton from behind at the 11, and the loose ball bounced wildly into the end zone, evading recovery attempts by six different players until it was eventually pushed through the back of the end zone for a touchback, thus returning the ball to the Cowboys at their 20.

Three plays after the turnover, Morton threw a pass that was deflected by Garrison and intercepted by Colts safety Rick Volk, who returned the ball 30 yards to the Cowboys' 3-yard line before being tackled by wide receiver Reggie Rucker (Morrall later referred to that play as the play of the game).[12] Two plays later, Nowatzke scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 13–13. (O'Brien says he was much calmer and more confident on this extra point than on the first one, which was blocked.)

The next two possessions ended in traded punts, with the Cowboys eventually taking over in excellent field position at the Colts 48-yard line with less than two minutes left in the game.

On the second play of this potential game-winning drive, a 15-yard holding penalty on Cowboys offensive tackle Ralph Neely on the Dallas 42-yard line, which was a spot foul, pushed the Cowboys all the way back to their own 27-yard line (the NFL did not reduce the penalty for offensive holding to 10 yards until 1974).[38] Then, on 2nd-and-35, Morton threw a pass that slipped through the hands of Reeves and bounced for an interception into the arms of Mike Curtis, who then returned the ball 13 yards to the Cowboys' 28-yard line.

Two plays later, with nine seconds left in the game, O'Brien kicked the go ahead 32-yard field goal, giving Baltimore their first lead of the game, 16–13.[39] O'Brien says he was "on automatic" and was so calm and concentrating so hard that he didn't hear anything and saw only the ball.[10] After the field goal, in an enduring image, Cowboys defensive tackle Bob Lilly took off his helmet and hurled it through the air in disgust.

The Cowboys received the ball again on their own 40 with one second remaining after O'Brien's ensuing squib kick, but Morton's pass to Hayes was intercepted by safety Jerry Logan at the Baltimore 29, and the Colts were victorious.

Postscript

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 than Morrall and Unitas combined (12), but finished the game with 118 fewer passing yards (127), and was intercepted 3 times (all in the fourth quarter). 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.

Referencing the numerous turnovers, Morrall said, "It really was a physical game. I mean, people were flying into one another out there."[12] "It was really a hard-hitting game," wrote O'Brien. "It wasn't just guys dropping the ball. They fumbled because they got the snot knocked out of them."[10] Said Tom Landry:

I haven't been around many games where the players hit harder. Sometimes people watch a game and see turnovers and they talk about how sloppy the play was. The mistakes in that game weren't invented, at least not by the people who made them. Most were forced.[12]

"We figured we could win if our offense didn't put us into too many holes", said 35-year-old Colts lineman Billy Ray Smith, who was playing in his last NFL game, "Let me put it this way, they didn't put us into any holes we couldn't get out of".[40]

Colts defensive end Bubba Smith would later refuse to wear his Super Bowl V ring because of the "sloppy" play.[41] In a similar action, Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley was named the Super Bowl MVP, despite being on the losing team, but Howley initially refused to accept the award because he stated that it was meaningless to him since his team lost. He reluctantly accepted the honor since it included the awarding of a brand-new station wagon that he decided to use as a gift for his wife. During the game, Howley recorded two tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for 22 yards.

Don McCafferty became the first rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl. The feat was not repeated until George Seifert led the San Francisco 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XXIV. McCafferty was also the first Super Bowl-winning coach who did not wear coat and tie, opting for a short-sleeved T-shirt with a mock turtleneck.

This Super Bowl would also start a trend with the team that lost the game would come back the next year and win it. Dallas lost this game but they would come back and win it all the next year in Super Bowl VI while their opponents, the Miami Dolphins, lost that game, and would go on to win Super Bowl VII the following season.

Two rule changes that were adopted before the 1974 season were:

  • When the defensive team commits an illegal use of hands, arms, or body foul from behind the line of scrimmage, the penalty will be assessed from the previous spot instead of the spot of the foul.
  • The penalties for offensive holding, illegal use of hands, and tripping were reduced from 15-yards to 10-yards.

These would have reduced the severity of the two Dallas offensive holding penalties in Super Bowl V.[42][43]

This was the first and only Super Bowl where the Trophy presentation was done by somebody other than the commissioner, in this case, Marie Lombardi the wife of recently deceased coach Vince Lombardi. Super Bowl V also marked the debut of the newly renamed Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Box score

Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts (AFC) 0 6 01016
Cowboys (NFC) 3 10 0013

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: January 17, 1971
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), clear[44]
  • Game attendance: 79,204[45]
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP BAL DAL
1 5:32 3 2 1:40 DAL 14-yard field goal by Mike Clark 0 3
2 14:52 8 58 3:12 DAL 30-yard field goal by Clark 0 6
2 14:10 3 75 0:42 BAL John Mackey 75-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Unitas, Jim O'Brien kick no good (blocked) 6 6
2 7:53 3 28 1:07 DAL Duane Thomas 7-yard touchdown reception from Craig Morton, Clark kick good 6 13
4 7:35 2 3 0:35 BAL Tom Nowatzke 2-yard touchdown run, O'Brien kick good 13 13
4 0:05 2 3 0:52 BAL 32-yard field goal by O'Brien 16 13
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 16 13

Final statistics

Sources:The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football, (1973), p. 149, Macmillan Publishing Co. New York, NY, LCCN 73-3862, NFL.com Super Bowl V, Super Bowl V Play Finder Bal, Super Bowl V Play Finder Dal

Statistical comparison

Baltimore Colts Dallas Cowboys
First downs 14 10
First downs rushing 4 4
First downs passing 6 5
First downs penalty 4 1
Third down efficiency 3/11 1/13
Fourth down efficiency 0/1 0/0
Net yards rushing 69 102
Rushing attempts 31 31
Yards per rush 2.2 3.3
Passing – Completions/attempts 11/25 12/26
Times sacked-total yards 0–0 2–14
Interceptions thrown 3 3
Net yards passing 260 113
Total net yards 329 215
Punt returns-total yards 5–12 3–9
Kickoff returns-total yards 4–90 3–34
Interceptions-total return yards 3–57 3–22
Punts-average yardage 4–41.5 9–41.9
Fumbles-lost 5–4 1–1
Penalties-total yards 4–31 10–133
Time of possession 28:37 31:23
Turnovers 7 4

Individual statistics

Colts passing
C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Rating
Johnny Unitas 3/9 88 1 2 68.1
Earl Morrall 7/15 147 0 1 54.0
Sam Havrilak 1/1 25 0 0 118.8
Colts rushing
Car2 Yds TD LG3 Yds/Car
Tom Nowatzke 10 33 1 9 3.30
Norm Bulaich 18 28 0 8 1.56
Johnny Unitas 1 4 0 4 4.00
Sam Havrilak 1 3 0 3 3.00
Earl Morrall 1 1 0 1 1.00
Colts receiving
Rec4 Yds TD LG3 Target5
Roy Jefferson 3 52 0 23 7
John Mackey 2 80 1 75 2
Ed Hinton 2 51 0 26 7
Sam Havrilak 2 27 0 25 2
Tom Nowatzke 1 45 0 45 1
Norm Bulaich 1 5 0 5 4
Tom Mitchell 0 0 0 0 1
Ray Perkins 0 0 0 0 1
Cowboys passing
C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Rating
Craig Morton 12/26 127 1 3 34.1
Cowboys rushing
Car2 Yds TD LG3 Yds/Car
Walt Garrison 12 65 0 19 5.42
Duane Thomas 18 35 0 7 1.94
Craig Morton 1 2 0 2 2.00
Cowboys receiving
Rec4 Yds TD LG3 Target5
Dan Reeves 5 46 0 17 6
Duane Thomas 4 21 1 7 5
Walt Garrison 2 19 0 14 6
Bob Hayes 1 41 0 41 4
Mike Ditka 0 0 0 0 1
Reggie Rucker 0 0 0 0 1

1Completions/attempts 2Carries 3Long gain 4Receptions 5Times targeted

Records set

The following records were set or tied in Super Bowl V, according to the official NFL.com boxscore,[46] the 2016 NFL Record & Fact Book[47] and the ProFootball reference.com game summary.[48] Some records have to meet a required minimum number of attempts in order to be recognized.[47] The minimums are shown (in parentheses).

Player records in Super Bowl V[48]
Longest scoring play 75-yard pass John Mackey
(Baltimore)
Longest reception 75 yards
Longest touchdown reception 75 yards
Longest pass 75 yards (TD) Johnny Unitas
(Baltimore)
Most interceptions thrown, career 4 Earl Morrall
(Baltimore)
Special teams
Most kickoff return yards, game 9 Jim Duncan
(Baltimore)
Most kickoff return yards, career 90
Highest kickoff return average, game (3 returns) 22.5 yards (4–90)
Highest kickoff return average, career (4 returns) 22.5 yards (4–90)
Most punts, game 9 Ron Widby
(Dallas)
Most fair catches, game 3 Ron Gardin
(Baltimore)
Records tied
Most interceptions thrown, game 3 Craig Morton
(Dallas)
Most interceptions, game 2 Chuck Howley
(Dallas)
Most interceptions, career 2
Most kickoff returns, game 4 Jim Duncan
Most kickoff returns, career 4
Most fumbles, game
Most fumbles, career
1 Ron Gardin
Johnny Unitas
Jim Duncan
Eddie Hinton
Earl Morrall
(Baltimore)
Duane Thomas
(Dallas)
Most fumbles recovered, game
Most fumbles recovered, career
1 Earl Morrall
Jim Duncan
Cliff Harris
Jethro Pugh
Richmond Flowers
(Dallas)
Team records set[48]
Points
Smallest margin of victory 3 points Colts
Most points, fourth quarter 10
Net yards
Fewest net yards,
rushing and passing
215 Cowboys
Rushing
Lowest average gain
per rush attempt
2.2 yards Colts
(69–31)
Passing
Fewest passes completed 11 Colts
Most yards passing (net) 260
Fewest yards passing (net) 113 Cowboys
Highest average yards gained
per pass attempt
10.4 Colts
(260–25)
Lowest average yards gained
per pass attempt
4.3 Cowboys
(113–26)
First downs
Fewest first downs 10 Cowboys
Fewest first downs passing 5
Most first downs, penalty 4 Colts
Defense
Fewest yards allowed 215 Colts
Fumbles
Most fumbles, game 5 Colts
Most fumbles lost, game 4
Most fumbles recovered, game 4 Cowboys
Turnovers
Most turnovers, game 7 Colts
Punting
Most punts, game 9 Cowboys
Penalties
Most penalties, game 10 Cowboys
Most yards penalized, game 133
Team records tied
Most Super Bowl appearances 2 Colts
Fewest times sacked 0
Most punt returns, game 5
Most Super Bowl losses 1 Cowboys
Fewest points, second half 0
Fewest touchdowns, game 1
Fewest rushing touchdowns 0
Fewest sacks made 0

Turnovers are defined as the number of times losing the ball on interceptions and fumbles.

Records, both team totals[48]
Total Colts Cowboys
Fewest points scored, second half 10 10 0
Fewest rushing yards (net) 171 69 102
Fewest passes completed 23 11 12
Most times intercepted 6 3 3
Most interceptions by 6 3 3
Most fumbles 6 5 1
Most fumbles lost 5 4 1
Most turnovers 11 7 4
Most punts, game 13 4 9
Most penalties, game 14 4 10
Most yards penalized 164 31 133
First downs, both teams
Fewest first downs 24 14 10
Fewest first downs rushing 8 4 4
Fewest first downs, passing 11 6 5
Most first downs, penalty 5 4 1
Records tied, both team totals
Fewest (one point) extra points 2 (1–2) (1–1)
Fewest rushing touchdowns 1 1 0
Fewest times sacked 2 0 2
Fewest sacks made 2 2 0

Starting lineups

Source:[49][50]

Hall of Fame‡

Baltimore Position Dallas
Offense
Eddie Hinton WR Bob Hayes
Bob Vogel LT Ralph Neely
Glenn Ressler LG John Niland
Bill Curry C Dave Manders
John Williams RG Blaine Nye
Dan Sullivan RT Rayfield Wright
John Mackey TE Pettis Norman
Roy Jefferson WR Reggie Rucker
Johnny Unitas QB Craig Morton
Norm Bulaich RB Duane Thomas
Tom Nowatzke RB Walt Garrison
Defense
Bubba Smith LE Larry Cole
Billy Ray Smith LT Jethro Pugh
Fred Miller RT Bob Lilly
Roy Hilton RE George Andrie
Ray May LLB Dave Edwards
Mike Curtis MLB Lee Roy Jordan
Ted Hendricks RLB Chuck Howley
Charlie Stukes LCB Herb Adderley
Jim Duncan RCB Mel Renfro
Jerry Logan LS Cornell Green
Rick Volk RS Charlie Waters

Officials

  • Referee: Norm Schachter #56 second Super Bowl (I)
  • Umpire: Paul Trepinski #22 first Super Bowl
  • Head Linesman: Ed Marion #26 first Super Bowl
  • Line Judge: Jack Fette #39 first Super Bowl
  • Back Judge: Hugh Gamber #70 first Super Bowl
  • Field Judge: Fritz Graf #34 first Super Bowl
  • Alternate Referee: Jack Reader #42 worked Super Bowls I and III as a Back Judge. Named NFL Assistant Director of Officiating in 1974.
  • Alternate Umpire: Pat Harder #88 never had an on-field assignment in a Super Bowl. Alternate Umpire for Super Bowl XVI

Note: A seven-official system was not used until 1978, also Back Judge and Field swapped titles in 1998.

References

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  2. ^ Stood until Super Bowl LI, where the Patriots led for zero in-game seconds and won.
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