Ranking The Super Bowls, #35: Super Bowl XII

(photo credit: sportsthenandnow.com)

In 1978, the Dallas Cowboys (12-2) defeated the Denver Broncos (12-2) 27-10 in Super Bowl XII in front of a sellout crowd of 75, 583, as well as 102,010,000 television viewers. The victory was the Dallas Cowboys second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

The Cowboys, who were led by quarterback Roger Staubach and their Doomsday Defense, were going up against their former quarterback, Craig Morton, and the Broncos Orange Crush Defense. 

Super Bowl XII was filled with mistakes and penalties by both teams, but it was the Broncos who made the more crucial mistakes. The Broncos committed eight turnovers, including four interceptions by Craig Morton that led to ten points for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys headed into halftime with a 13-0 lead, aided by two Denver turnovers that the Cowboys turned into ten points, as well as a 35-yard field goal from Efren Herrera.

In the third quarter, Morton and the Broncos were able to drive the ball down to the Cowboys 30-yard line, where Jim Turner kicked a 47-yard field goal to cut the Cowboys lead to 13-3.

After both teams exchanged punts, Cowboys Butch Johnson made an incredible diving catch in the end zone to complete a 45-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to put the Cowboys up 20-3.

After the Broncos Rick Upchurch returned the following kickoff for 67 yards, Norris Weese helped guide the Broncos to a touchdown that cut Dallas' lead to 20-10.

The Cowboys were able to seal their victory when running back Robert Newhouse threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Golden Richards with 7:04 remaining in the game.

For the first and only time in Super Bowl history, two players were named Super Bowl MVP; defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin.