Ranking the Super Bowls, #9: Super Bowl XIII

(photo credit: steelers.com)

On Jan. 21, 1979, the AFC-champion Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the NFC-champion Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII. The game was held at the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL, the fifth and last time it would ever be played in that stadium.

During the 1978 regular season, the Steelers went 14-2 to win the AFC Central, earn the number one overall seed in the AFC, and a first-round bye. In their first two playoff games, against the Denver Broncos and Houston Oilers, the Steelers defeated their opponents by a combined score of 67-15, and outgained them 804 yards to 360. The “Steel Curtain” defense had led the league in fewest points allowed, and finished third in yards allowed.

Running back Franco Harris recorded the sixth of his eight career 1,000 yard seasons (1,082), Lynn Swann and John Stallworth combined for 102 catches, 1,678 yards and 20 touchdowns, and Terry Bradshaw earned NFL MVP honors, leading the league with 28 touchdowns while his 84.7 QB rating was good enough for second in the league.

After starting 6-4, Dallas won six games in a row to finish the regular season 12-4, good enough to win the NFC East and earn the second overall seed in the conference. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 27-20 in the Divisional Round, then shut out the Los Angeles Rams on the road, 28-0, in the Conference Championship. The Cowboys’ offense led the league in points scored and was second in total yards. Quarterback Roger Staubach finished with 3,190 yards, 25 touchdowns, and an 84.9 rating, ranking fourth, second and first in the league, respectively.

Second-year running back Tony Dorsett ran for 1,325 yards, placing fourth in the league. Dallas spread their passing offense around, having five different players each record at least 34 receptions, and four players accumulated at least 500 receiving yards. The Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense” gave up the third-fewest points and second-fewest yards in the league during the regular season.

The first four scores of Super Bowl XIII were all big plays, split evenly between the two teams. John Stallworth had touchdown receptions of 28 and 75 yards for Pittsburgh, while Staubach threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Tony Hill and Mike Hegman returned a fumble 37 yards for Dallas. Pittsburgh finished the first half scoring with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw to Rocky Bleier. The Steelers took a 21-14 lead into the halftime break.

The two teams could muster just a single Cowboys field goal in the third quarter, making the score 21-17 heading into the last frame. Pittsburgh took a commanding 35-17 lead after a 22-yard Franco Harris rushing touchdown and Lynn Swann caught an 18-yard touchdown from Bradshaw. Dallas kept fighting, though, scoring first on a touchdown pass from Staubach to Billy Joe DuPree, then again when Butch Johnson had a four-yard touchdown reception. Alas, a final onside kick attempt by the Cowboys was recovered by Pittsburgh, ending Dallas’ hopes at completing a full comeback.

Terry Bradshaw won Super Bowl MVP honors, completing 17 of 30 passes (identical to Staubach) for 4 touchdowns (to Staubach’s 3) and a solitary interception (matched by Staubach).

The Cowboys were making their fifth appearance in the Super Bowl, and after this loss now had a record of two wins and three losses. They had just won the previous year over the Denver Broncos and would not return again until 14 years later for Super Bowl XXVII. Pittsburgh and Dallas are tied with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos for most Super Bowls competed in (8), though Pittsburgh has the most victories (6), one more than the Cowboys. The Steelers would win again the following year, in Super Bowl XIV over the Los Angeles Rams, moving them to 4-0 in the Super Bowl to that point.