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FinalJanuary 15, 1978CBSLouisiana Superdome

Super Bowl XII

MVP: Harvey Martin, Randy White
Dallas Cowboys

Game Story

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super Bowl XII at the Superdome behind one of the most dominant defensive performances in championship history. Dallas forced eight turnovers, turned the game into a field-position grind, and never let Denver's offense settle. Defensive linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin were named co-MVPs, making it the only split Super Bowl MVP award and underscoring how completely the Doomsday Defense controlled the afternoon.

Game Ops

MVPHarvey Martin, Randy White
VenueLouisiana Superdome
LocationNew Orleans, LA
NetworkCBS
Broadcast TeamPat Summerall, Tom Brookshier
Broadcast Partners

Officiating Crew

RefereeJim Tunney
UmpireJoe Connell
Head LinesmanTony Veteri
Line JudgeArt Holst
Field JudgeBob Wortman
Back JudgeRay Douglas

Rosters

Denver Broncos
Starting Lineup
Roger StaubachQB
Tony DorsettRB
Robert NewhouseFB
Drew PearsonWR
Butch JohnsonWR
Billy Joe DuPreeTE
Ralph NeelyLT
Herbert ScottLG
John FitzgeraldC
Tom RaffertyRG
Pat DonovanRT
Too Tall JonesLDE
Jethro PughLDT
Randy WhiteRDT
Harvey MartinRDE
Thomas HendersonLLB
Bob BreunigMLB
D.D. LewisRLB
Benny BarnesLCB
Aaron KyleRCB
Charlie WatersSS
Cliff HarrisFS
Dallas Cowboys
Starting Lineup
Craig MortonQB
Otis ArmstrongRB
Jon KeyworthFB
Jack DolbinWR
Haven MosesWR
Riley OdomsTE
Andy MaurerLT
Tom GlassicLG
Mike MontlerC
Paul HowardRG
Claudie MinorRT
Barney ChavousLDE
Rubin CarterNT
Lyle AlzadoRDE
Bob SwensonLOLB
Joe RizzoLILB
Randy GradisharRILB
Tom JacksonRILB
Louis WrightLCB
Steve FoleyRCB
Bill ThompsonSS
Bernard JacksonFS

Team Stats

StatDENDAL
First Downs1711
Total Net Yards325156
Total Offensive Plays7158
Average Gain/Play4.62.7
Net Rushing Yards143121
Rushing Plays3829
Yards per Rush3.84.2
Net Passing Yards18235
Sacks-Yards Lost5-354-26
Gross Passing Yards21761
Pass Att-Comp-Int28-19-025-8-4
Yards per Pass Play5.51.2
Penalties-Yards12-948-60
Fumbles-Lost6-24-4
Turnovers28

Gamebook Detail

Dallas Cowboys

Skill Positions

PlayerCmpAttPass YdsPass TDIntSkPass LngRateRush AttRush YdsRush TDRush LngTgtRecRec YdsRec TDRec LngFmbFL
Craig Morton41539042210.0000000000--
Norris Weese41022002947.9326010000011-
Rob Lytle0000000-103511600000--
Otis Armstrong0000000-72701800000--
Jim Jensen0000000-11601615050--
Jon Keyworth0000000-590600000--
Lonnie Perrin0000000-38041-70-70--
Jack Dolbin0000000-000022401511-
Haven Moses0000000-00001210210--
Rick Upchurch0000000-000019090--
Riley Odoms0000000-00002901011-

Defense

PlayerIntInt YdsInt TDInt LngPDSacksCombSoloAstTFLQBHitsFRFR YdsFR TDFF
Lyle Alzado00002.04400000---
Rubin Carter00002.04401000---
Tom Jackson00001.0---1000---
Joe Rizzo00000.06600000---
Randy Gradishar00000.05500000---
Bob Swenson00000.04400000---
Louis Wright00000.04400000---
Bill Thompson00000.03300000---
Barney Chavous00000.02200000---
John Grant-----220-------
Paul Smith-----110-------

Returns

PlayerKRKR YdsKR AvgKR TDKR LngPRPR YdsPR AvgPR TDPR Lng
Rick Upchurch39431.30673227.308
John Schultz26231.0037100.000
Jim Jensen11717.001700-00

Kicking and Punting

PlayerXPMXPAFGMFGAPntPunt YdsPunt AvgLng
Jim Turner111100-0
Bucky Dilts----415338.346
Denver Broncos

Skill Positions

PlayerCmpAttPass YdsPass TDIntSkPass LngRateRush AttRush YdsRush TDRush LngTgtRecRec YdsRec TDRec LngFmbFL
Roger Staubach172518310545102.63605000011-
Danny White125000556.211301300000--
Robert Newhouse112910029158.314550103-1050--
Tony Dorsett0000000-156611921101510-
Preston Pearson0000000-311055370110--
Scott Laidlaw0000000-110100000--
Billy Joe DuPree0000000-000046601911-
Golden Richards0000000-00002381290--
Drew Pearson0000000-00001130130--
Butch Johnson0000000-1-90-92531452--

Defense

PlayerIntInt YdsInt TDInt LngPDSacksCombSoloAstTFLQBHitsFRFR YdsFR TDFF
Benny Barnes10000.02200000---
Aaron Kyle1190190.02201000---
Mark Washington1270270.02200000---
Randy Hughes10000.011022100---
Harvey Martin00002.0---0000---
D.D. Lewis00001.01100000---
Randy White00001.0---0000---
Bob Breunig00000.05500000---
Too Tall Jones00000.03300000---
Jethro Pugh00000.03300000---
Charlie Waters00000.03300000---
Cliff Harris00000.02200000---
Thomas Henderson00000.02200000---
John Fitzgerald00000.0---1000---
Tony Hill00000.0---1000---
Bruce Huther00000.0---1000---
Butch Johnson00000.0---2000---
Larry Cole-----110-------
Mike Hegman-----110-------
Mel Renfro-----110-------

Returns

PlayerKRKR YdsKR AvgKR TDKR LngPRPR YdsPR AvgPR TDPR Lng
Tony Hill00-00100.000
Butch Johnson22914.501500-00
Larry Brinson12222.002200-00

Kicking and Punting

PlayerXPMXPAFGMFGAPntPunt YdsPunt AvgLng
Efren Herrera332500-0
Danny White----520841.653
Dallas Cowboys Drives
#QtrTimeLOSPlaysLengthNet YdsResult
1113:02DEN 4773:16-9Punt
217:25DEN 3930:1610Interception
314:01DEN 4020:3417Interception
411:20DEN 2841:303Punt
5211:05DEN 1020:44-5Interception
625:51DEN 2651:4614Fumble
721:06DEN 2010:0710Fumble
820:49DEN 1250:43-1Interception
9314:51DEN 3561:18-24Punt
10313:33DAL 3641:01-6Field Goal
11310:13DEN 3540:459Punt
1236:40DAL 2651:0174Touchdown
13414:02DEN 4571:44-9Punt
1448:50DEN 2431:39-7Fumble
1546:57DAL 47155:11-26Punt
Denver Broncos Drives
#QtrTimeLOSPlaysLengthNet YdsResult
1114:53DAL 2941:511Punt
219:46DAL 152:21-15Punt
317:09DEN 2552:5175Touchdown
413:27DEN 3561:56-17Field Goal
5214:50DAL 4393:34-32Field Goal
6210:21DAL 4051:4912Punt
728:32DEN 4072:41-14Missed FG
824:05DEN 2762:59-12Missed FG
920:59DEN 2810:1016Fumble
1020:06DEN 3520:05-8Missed FG
11312:19DAL 2152:061Punt
1239:28DAL 4262:2942Touchdown
1335:28DAL 14106:26-59Fumble
14412:18DAL 2073:28-21Punt
1547:11DEN 2910:0771Touchdown
1641:46DAL 2641:06-12End of Game

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