A 32-yard field goal by rookie kicker Jim O'Brien gave the Baltimore Colts a 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the final five seconds of Super Bowl V.

This was the first Super Bowl played after the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Ironically, it featured two teams from the old NFL, as the Baltimore Colts were one of three teams (Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns) shifted over to the American Football Conference (AFC) along with the ten AFL teams at the time.

The Dallas Cowboys led 13-6 at the end of a scoreless third quarter. However, interceptions by Rick Volk and Mike Curtis set up a Baltimore Colts touchdown and O'Brien's decisive field goal in the fourth period.

Earl Morrall relieved an injured Johnny Unitas late in the first half, although Unitas completed the Colts' only scoring pass. It caromed off receiver Eddie Hinton's fingertips, off Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro, and finally settled into the grasp of John Mackey, who went 45 yards to score on a 75-yard play.

The game between the champions of the AFC and NFC was played on artificial turf for the first time.

Super Bowl V is often referred to as the "Blunder Bowl" and at times the "Stupor Bowl" as the game was filled with poor play, penalties, turnovers, and officiating miscues.

The Colts and Cowboys committed a Super Bowl record 11 combined turnovers in the game, and the Colts 7 turnovers are currently the most ever committed by a winning team in a Super Bowl. Dallas also set a Super Bowl record with 10 penalties, costing them 133 yards.

However, for the Colts, Super Bowl V represented redemption for their humiliating 16-7 loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys had finally made it to the "big game," they stilled carried the stigma of not being able to win the big games. Over the past 5 seasons, the Cowboys had won more games (52 of 68) than any other NFL team. However, the Cowboys had never won a championship.

The Cowboys had the opportunity to play in the first two Super Bowls, but lost to the Green Bay Packers by narrow margins in both the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championships.

In the 1966 NFL Championship game, the Cowboys lost to the Packers in Dallas, 34-27. The Cowboys had and opportunity to win the game, but were unable to score on a 1st-and-goal from the Packers 2-yard line. In the 1967 NFL Championship Game, commonly referred to as the "Ice Bowl," the Cowboys lost to the Packers in Green Bay by a final score of 21-17 as the Cowboys allowed Bart Starr to score on a 1-yard dive with 16 seconds remaininging in the game.

They would finally shed their "losing" stigma the following season when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.

SUPER BOWL V MVP : Chuck Howley LB Dallas Cowboys

Howley intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble to win the honor, although his effort was overshadowed by Baltimore's eventual win.

Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley became the first defensive player to be named Most Valuable Player in a Super Bowl. But the honor had a hollow ring for Howley, who also became the first player from a losing team to be named MVP.

To date, Chuck Howley is the only player from a losing team ever to win a Super Bowl MVP award.

Super Bowl V was also the first time a quarterback did not win the MVP award.

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

4th Quarter

Baltimore Colts Player Statistics

Dallas Cowboys Player Statistics

January 17, 1971
Orange Bowl (Miami, FL)
Attendance: 79,204