Super Bowl XXX

NFC: Dallas Cowboys

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers

Date: January 28, 1996

Scoring:

Team 1 2 3 4 Final

DAL 10 3 7 7 27

PIT 0 7 0 10 17

NFC playmakers:

TE Jay Novacek, RB Emmitt Smith, CB Larry Brown

AFC playmakers:

Yancey Thigpen, Bam Morris

Network: NBC (KFDX Wichita Falls/Lawton)

Announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire

Pregame: Yes – Vanessa Williams sings the National Anthem

Halftime: Yes – Diana Ross (LAME!)

Postgame: Yes

Commercials: No

Grade: 7.5

Notes: Cornerback Larry Brown's two interceptions led to 14 second-half points and helped lift the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl victory in the last four seasons and their record-tying fifth title overall. Brown's interceptions foiled the comeback efforts of the Steelers, and earned him the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the game's most valuable player.

Dallas scored on each of its first three possessions, taking a 13-0 lead on Troy Aikman's 3-yard touchdown pass to Jay Novacek and a pair of field goals by Chris Boniol. Neil O'Donnell's 6-yard touchdown pass to Yancey Thigpen 13 seconds before halftime pulled Pittsburgh within 6 points, and the Steelers had the ball near midfield midway through the third quarter. But O'Donnell's third-down pass was intercepted by Brown at the Cowboys' 38-yard line, and his 44-yard return carried to Pittsburgh's 18.

After Aikman's 17-yard completion to Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith ran one yard for the touchdown that put Dallas ahead again by 13 points. The Steelers rallied, though, behind Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal, a successful surprise onside kick, and Byron (Bam) Morris's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:36 to play in the game.

And when they forced a punt and took possession at their own 32-yard line trailing only 20-17 with 4:15 remaining, it appeared they might have a chance to break the NFC's recent domination in the Super Bowl. But on second down, Brown struck again, intercepting O'Donnell's pass at the 39 and returning it 33 yards to the six.

Two plays later, Smith barreled over from four yards out for the clinching touchdown with 3:43 to go. Pittsburgh limited the Cowboys' powerful running game to only 56 yards and enjoyed a whopping 201-61 advantage in total yards in the second half, but could not overcome the three interceptions (another came on the game's final play) thrown by O'Donnell, the NFL's career leader for fewest interceptions per pass attempt.

In all, O'Donnell completed 28 of 49 passes for 239 yards. Morris rushed for a game-high 73 yards on 19 carries. For Dallas, Aikman completed 15 of 23 pass attempts for 209 yards.

The Cowboys' victory was the twelfth in a row for NFC teams over AFC teams in the Super Bowl.

Thanks Dale.

Running time: 3:20 (2 discs)