Quarter 3

Blount returned Fritsch's kick 18y to the 26. If the Steelers had anything new up their sleeves after halftime, it didn't show as they went three and out. Harris gained 3, then lost 5, and S Harris broke up a pass to Larry Brown. Walden's punt traveled just 34y into the wind. Richards fair caught at the Dallas 42.
The Cowboys O fared even worse that the Steelers'. Preston Pearson gained zilch before Dennison got 3. Then J. T. Thomas stepped in front of Staubach's pass to Richards and returned it 35y to the Dallas 25. Brad handed to Franco three straight times for a 1st down - 3, then 6 thanks to his patented cutback move, then 2. But that's as deep as the Steelers could go. Bradshaw rolled right and seemed to want to give to Swann coming the other way on an end-around. But Too Tall burst in from LE and caused the QB to keep the ball for a loss of 2. Two straight passes to Swann misfired, bringing on Gerela to try to tie the game from the 23. But despite donning a corset at halftime to alleviate the pain in his rib cage, Roy's woes continued. Wincing in pain as he kicked, he watched the ball veer wide left again. Lambert and Cliff Harris engaged in a brief set-to after the kick, resulting in Lambert throwing Harris down. The referee broke it up but did not throw a flag. Preston ran the ball for the first time and gained 9 to the 29 before being tackled by Lambert. Newhouse got only two before going down in Lambert's grasp for that was enough for a first down. Two more runs by Robert gained 0 and 6 on a draw. Staubach wanted to pass on 3rd down but ran out of the pocket for 3. Although less than a yard remained to get the first, Landry punted, Hoopes' kick traveling 45y with the wind. Dave Brown returned 9y to the 24.
After Franco got 3, Bradshaw hit Swann for 12 on the right sideline for a first down. Bleier gained 3 and Harris 6 to create the same 3rd-and-1 situation the Cowboys just faced. Like Landry, Noll sent in the punt unit. Richards fair caught on the 18. Dallas controlled the ball for the remaining 4:06 of the scoreless period. Roger started by handing off four straight times, alternating between Newhouse and Preston: 6, 3, 2, and 2. On 2nd-and-8 from the 31, Newhouse caught a pass at the left sideline for 8y. Staubach faded to pass but ran up the middle for 2y. But one of the few flags of the afternoon fell - clipping by Newhouse to the 26. What to you call on 1st-and-23? Roger again tried to pass but had to run, gaining 6 to the 32. Robert somehow gained a yard after ducking under a blitzer as he received the ball. Allen-for-Lambert. Staubach connected with Preston for 14, but he needed 16.
END Q3: Dallas 10 Pittsburgh 7

Quarter 4

Hoopes now punted into the wind. Dave Brown fumbled the punt, but Thomas recovered for Pittsburgh at the 17.
Bradshaw dropped back, scrambled to his right, and threw on the run to Harris at the right sideline. Franco broke into the clear, but the whistle blew because he stepped out at the 43 for a gain of 26y. Brad passed again but overthrew Stallworth. Then a draw play to Harris lost two because Jethro Pugh hit the ball carrier right after he took the ball. On 3rd down, Bradshaw tried to pass, but Randy White blew up the middle, just missed a sack, then chased the QB and threw him out of bounds for a loss of 14. Punting with the wind, Walden launched a 59y rocket that Richards caught over his shoulder running toward the goal line and returned 5y to the 19.
The Cowboys tried a dipsy-do, Staubach handing to Preston who lateraled back to him. But as Roger rared back to pass, he spotted his intended receiver covered. So he ran forward but lost a yard. Dennison gained the yard back at RT to make it 3rd-and-10. After the whistle, Richards shoved Mel Blount, who had been covering him, but the officials quickly stopped the altercation. Staubach again tried to pass but could find no one to throw to. He ran a few steps before Greenwood dropped him for a loss of 3. Hoopes received the snap at the 1 but took a moment to get control of it before moving forward to kick. Reggie "Boobie" Harrison came up the middle and blocked it out of the EZ for a safety. Dallas 10 Pittsburgh 9 (11:28) Hoopes' free kick traveled to the Pitt 30 where Mike Collier took it and returned to the Dallas 45. Harris ran wide left and cut back for 5y. Then Bleier took his turn, gaining 4 at LT. Franco got the 1y needed and 6 more around LE again behind Bleier's block on Renfro. 1st-and-10 at the 29. After Jones smashed down Bleier 1y upfield, Bradshaw called a keeper again, gaining 8 before Washington's hard hit knocked the ball out of bounds. Mistiming on the handoff on the next snap caused Harris to be stopped a foot short of the first down as a measurement revealed. Despite Gerella missing two FGs earlier - as many as he had missed inside the 40 all season, Noll sent him in and, with the wind, Roy gritted his teeth against the pain and put the pigskin through the uprights from the 26 to give the Steelers their first lead. Pittsburgh 12 Dallas 10 (8:41)
The kickoff hit the ground at the 15, Preston Pearson falling on the ball at that point just ahead on an onrushing Steeler. The Pitt fans waved their Terrible Towels and yelled "Defense, Defense" and that's what they got. Despite the poor field position, Staubach took the air, calling the same play that produced the TD to Drew Pearson in Q1. But Mike Wagner diagnosed it perfectly this time and intercepted on the run at the 26 and continued until T Ralph Neely dropped him at the 7. Knowing a TD would practically ice the game, the Cowboy D dug in. Bleier swept to the right to the 4. Bradshaw took the snap and turned left. In what looked like a busted play, he had to keep the ball and turn upfield for 3 to the 3. Harris tried LT but lost the ball, putting the hearts of Steeler fans in their throats. But Franco pulled the pigskin back into his arms at the 3. Gerella came on for an 18y FG. Pittsburgh 15 Dallas 10 (6:37)
Preston returned the kick 19y to the 24. Dallas had plenty of time to score a TD and regain the lead. Staubach started by flipping a screen pass to Newhouse on the right side. Steve Furness, filling in ably for Joe Greene, made the tackle from behind at the 28. The last outcome Dallas needed was a sack, but that's what happened when Staubach went back deep but had to run away from White before Greenwood got him for a loss of 9. Having to pass, Roger could find no one downfield. So he flared to Young in the left flat for 10y. On 4th-and-5, Hoopes boomed an excellent 48y punt into the stiff breeze. Edwards returned 7y to the Pitt 30 with 4:25 on the clock.
Two Franco runs gained 6 to set up the play of the game. Reading a blitz, Bradshaw dropped back, sidestepped the rush by D.D. Lewis, and threw the ball as far as he could down the middle. Swann raced downfield from his right flanker spot, Washington chasing him with no safety help because Harris, Lynn's tormentor, had blitzed. Swann slowed slightly to adjust to the flight of the ball, which gave the CB a chance to make up a step on him. The ball dropped into Lynn's hands at the 6 as the defender tried to grab him. But the receiver shed him and ran into the EZ for an electrifying 64y TD. The Steeler celebration was cut short when the team realized that Bradshaw was down on the turf after Larry Cole smashed him in the chin right after Brad threw the ball. After Terry was helped off, his day finished, Gerella bounced the PAT off the left upright - no good. Pittsburgh 21 Dallas 10 (3:02) Needing two scores, Dallas had to pass, pass, pass and go for it on any fourth down. Staubach was not called "Captain Comeback" for no reason. However, the Cowboys had not crossed midfield in the second half. After a touchback, Roger hit Young over the middle for 7. Then Staubach made a beautiful throw to Pearson on a slant to the sideline just before Drew stepped out at the Pitt 43 for a gain of 30. Then Captain America went to the left side to Preston Pearson, who went out of bounds on the 32 as Bradshaw was led down the sidelines to the dressing room, his day over with "a possible concussion." Crowded by the rush, Staubach ran forward until White brought him down for a 2y loss at the two-minute warning. Roger then threw to rookie TE Percy Howard at the left edge of the EZ as Blount fell down at the goal line. Fritsch converted. Pittsburgh 21 Dallas 17 (1:48) Dallas's film study caused them to target the onside kick at G Gerry Mullins, the only player on the "good hands" unit who wasn't a WR or RB. But "Moon" had good hands too and played TE in some formations. He handled the pooch kick on a knee at the Dallas 42. When no one touched him down after several seconds, the OG got up and ran with the ball but the officials had blown it dead. Terry Hanratty took the controls to try to run out the clock or at least make Dallas use its three timeouts. Harris lost 2. Dallas Timeout #1. Harris for 2. Timeout #2 (1:33). Bleier +2. Timeout #3 (1:28). Then came a decision that was vigorously discussed after the game and that some rate one of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history. Chuck Noll decided not to send in Walton but to run another play. After consulting with Noll, Hanratty handed to Bleier, who gained 2 at RT, at which point the clock stopped for the change of possession. The Cowboys took over at their 39 with 1:22 left. Dallas receivers could not afford to be tackled in the field of play. Staubach fumbled the shotgun snap, went back to pass, but had to run. He gained 11 but didn't get out of bounds. Then Roger backed up and threw to Preston over the middle. Instead of running to the sideline, Pearson ran up the middle to the Pitt 38 to keep the clock running. Now in range for another dramatic Hail Mary, Staubach bobbled a low snap for the third straight play, scrambled forward to get away from the rushers, and threw off-balanced to Drew Pearson incomplete at the 7. 0:12 left. The next snap was true, allowing Roger to set his feet and get his weight behind a throw down the right side to the EZ for Percy Howard. DB J. T. Thomas mistimed his leap but seemed to obscure Howard's vision enough so the ball appeared to bounce off the WR's helmet. Three seconds. Last play. Wagner didn't bother to join the Steelers' huddle. He just stayed on the goal line. Staubach pumped short, then threw to the EZ where Wagner jumped and tipped the ball away from Drew Person into the hands of fellow S Edwards. Instead of going down, Glen started up the field as his teammates ran onto the field until he fell down at the 33. FINAL SCORE: PITTSBURGH 21 DALLAS 17