Super Bowl XII: Cowboys Corral the Broncos
Super Bowl XII, played on January 15, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, was a showdown of grit, defense, and turnovers. The Dallas Cowboys, led by their iconic head coach Tom Landry, took on the upstart Denver Broncos, who were making their first Super Bowl appearance under fiery coach Red Miller. The result was a 27-10 Cowboys victory, cementing Dallas as a football powerhouse and delivering one of the most unique MVP outcomes in Super Bowl history.
The Cowboys entered the game with a reputation for precision. Quarterback Roger Staubach, nicknamed “Captain America,” was the undisputed leader of the offense, while the Doomsday Defense—anchored by players like Harvey Martin and Randy White—struck fear into opposing teams. The Broncos, meanwhile, were a Cinderella story. Denver had ridden the success of their own Orange Crush Defense and the unorthodox quarterbacking of Craig Morton, a former Cowboy now seeking revenge against his old team.
The game began with the intensity of a heavyweight bout. Dallas struck first, with Efren Herrera kicking a 35-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead. The Broncos struggled to respond, as Morton found himself under siege from the relentless Dallas pass rush. By the end of the first quarter, Morton had already thrown two interceptions, a harbinger of a long day for the Denver offense.
In the second quarter, the Cowboys seized control. Staubach orchestrated a brilliant drive that culminated in a seven-yard touchdown pass to Butch Johnson. Johnson’s acrobatic catch—a one-handed grab while falling backward—became an instant highlight. The Broncos’ defense looked bewildered, while their offense continued to sputter. Morton, harassed by the Dallas front seven, threw two more interceptions before halftime, giving him an unenviable total of four picks in the first half alone.
By halftime, the Cowboys led 13-0, and the Broncos were reeling. In the locker room, Red Miller urged his team to dig deep, but the Orange Crush seemed to have lost its fizz.
The second half began with a flicker of hope for Denver. Following a Dallas fumble, the Broncos capitalized with a touchdown run by Rob Lytle, cutting the deficit to 13-7. The Superdome crowd erupted, sensing a potential comeback. However, any hopes of a Broncos rally were quickly dashed by the Cowboys’ smothering defense and methodical offense.
The defining moment of the game came in the third quarter when Dallas linebacker Hollywood Henderson forced a fumble deep in Denver territory. The turnover set up a 29-yard touchdown pass from Staubach to Golden Richards, extending the Cowboys’ lead to 20-10. Henderson, never shy about his flamboyance, later quipped, “We turned their Mile High hopes into Mile Low misery.”
The Cowboys’ defense continued to dominate, with Harvey Martin and Randy White wreaking havoc in the trenches. Morton, visibly rattled, was eventually replaced by backup quarterback Norris Weese, but the change did little to stem the tide. Dallas’ defense forced a staggering eight turnovers—four interceptions and four fumbles—the most ever in a Super Bowl.
In the fourth quarter, Dallas delivered the final blow. Running back Robert Newhouse took a handoff and lofted a perfectly thrown halfback option pass to Golden Richards for a touchdown, sealing the 27-10 victory. It was a play that encapsulated the Cowboys’ creativity and execution, leaving Denver’s defense grasping at air.
As the final whistle blew, the Cowboys celebrated their second Super Bowl title, while the Broncos were left to ponder what might have been. The game’s MVP honors went to Harvey Martin and Randy White, marking the first (and only) time in Super Bowl history that co-MVPs were awarded. Their combined dominance epitomized the Doomsday Defense’s performance, and their impact on the game was undeniable.
In the post-game press conference, Tom Landry, ever the picture of stoicism, reflected on his team’s victory. “This was a complete team effort,” he said. “Our defense was outstanding, and our offense executed when it mattered. That’s what championship football is all about.”
Super Bowl XII was a showcase of Dallas’ ability to excel in all phases of the game. The Cowboys’ dominance reaffirmed their status as one of the NFL’s premier franchises, while the Broncos’ struggles underscored the challenges of competing on football’s biggest stage.
For fans, the game was a reminder that defense wins championships—and sometimes, it does so with a flair for the dramatic. The Cowboys didn’t just win Super Bowl XII; they overwhelmed it, leaving no doubt about their place atop the NFL hierarchy. As for Denver, their first Super Bowl appearance was a valuable lesson in the price of greatness—a lesson they would carry forward in the years to come.