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The Dallas Cowboys dominated Super Bowl VI on both sides of the ball to defeat the Miami Dolphins 24-3.

On offense, the Cowboys set Super Bowl records for the most rushing yards (252) and most first downs (23).

The Cowboys "Doomsday Defense" was even more dominating as they limited the Miami Dolphins to the least total yards allowed in a Super Bowl (185) and the least points allowed (3) while not allowing a touchdown for the first time in Super Bowl history.

Dallas converted Chuck Howley's recovery of Larry Csonka's first fumble of the season into a 3-0 advantage and led at halftime 10-3.

After Dallas received the second-half kickoff, Duane Thomas led a 71-yard march in eight plays for a 17-3 margin.

Howley intercepted Bob Griese's pass at the 50 and returned it to the Miami 9 early in the fourth period, and three plays later Roger Staubach passed 7 yards to Mike Ditka for the final touchdown.

Thomas rushed for 95 yards and Walt Garrison gained 74.

 

After years of struggling to win the big game, the Dallas Cowboys finally won their first NFL championship and Super Bowl title, along with revenge for the Cowboys close 16-13 loss to the Colts in Super Bowl V, by defeating Miami 24-3.

Even though they were the winningest team over the previous 6 NFL regular season, the Cowboys had lost to the Green Bay Packers in the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championship Games, then lost to the Cleveland Browns in the division round playoffs in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, the Cowboys lost to the Colts in Super Bowl V.

In 1971, the Cowboys won the NFC East with the league's best record (11-3).

After a 4-3 start, Cowboys coach Tom Landry decided that splitting playing time between quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Craig Morton was not working. Landry chose Staubach as the starter and the Cowboys went undefeated the remainder of the regular season and throughout the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Cowboys defeated the Minnesota Vikings (20-12) and, then, the San Francisco 49ers (14-3) to win their second NFC title.

The Dolphins, in only their 6th season as an NFL franchise, won the AFC East with a 10-3-1 record under Don Shula.

In the playoffs, the Dolphins first defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in double overtime, and then, shut out the Colst 21-0 to advance to Super Bowl VI.

SUPER BOWL VI MVP: Roger Staubach QB Dallas Cowboys

Staubach, was voted the game's most valuable player, completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards, threw two touchdown passes and rushed 5 times for 18 yards.

The Cowboys' rushing attack was the driving force in their victory, and quarterback Roger Staubach earned the Most Valuable Player award for directing that attack.

Leading 3-0, Dallas made it 10-0 on Staubach's 7-yard touchdown pass to Lance Alworth following a second-quarter Miami fumble. Staubach finished off the scoring in the fourth quarter with another 7-yard touchdown pass, this time to tight end Mike Ditka.

During the regular season, Roger Staubach was the NFL's top rated passer (101.8) as he threw for 1,882 yards and 15 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions. Staubach added 343 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 41 carries.

 

Super Bowl VI

 

 

SUPER BOWL VI SCORING	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Dallas Cowboys	3	7	7	7	21
Miami Dolphins	0	3	0	0	3

 

1st Quarter

DAL FG Clark 9, 13:37

2nd Quarter

DAL Alworth 7 pass from Staubach (Clark kick), 13:45

MIA FG Yepremian 31, 14:56

3rd Quarter

DAL D. Thomas 3 run (Clark kick), 5:17

4th Quarter

DAL Ditka 7 pass from Staubach (Clark kick), 3:18

 

TEAM STATISTICS	Cowboys	Dolphins
Total First Downs	23	10
Rushing	15	3
Passing	8	7
Penalty	0	0
Total Net Yardage	352	185
Total Offensive Plays	69	44
Avg. Gain Per Offensive Play	5.1	4.2
Rushes	48	20
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	252	80
Avg. Yards per Rush	5.3	4.0
Passes Attempted	19	23
Passes Completed	12	12
Had Intercepted	0	1
Tackled Attempting to Pass	2	1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	19	29
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	100	105
Punts	5	5
Avg. Distance	37.2	40.0
Punt Returns	1	1
Punt Return Yardage	-1	21
Kickoff Returns	2	5
Kickoff Return Yardage	34	122
Interception Return Yardage	41	0
Fumbles	1	2
Own Fumbles Recovered	0	0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	2	1
Penalties	3	0
Yards Penalized	15	0
Field Goals	1	1
Field Goals Attempted	1	2
Third-Down Efficiency	7 / 14	2 / 9
Fourth-Down Efficiency	1 / 1	0 / 0
Time of Possession	39:12	20:48

 

Dallas Cowboys Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Staubach	12/19	119	2	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
D. Thomas	19	95	1	23
Garrison	14	74	0	17
Hill	7	25	0	13
Staubach	5	18	0	5
Ditka	1	17	0	17
Hayes	1	16	0	16
Reeves	1	7	0	7
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
D. Thomas	3	17	0	11
Alworth	2	28	1	21
Ditka	2	28	1	21
Hayes	2	23	0	18
Garrison	2	11	0	7
Hill	1	12	0	12
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
Howley	1	41	41	0
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Widby	5	37.2	47	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Hayes	1/1	-1	1	0
Harris	0/2	0	**	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
I. Thomas	1	23	23	0
Waters	1	11	11	0

 

Miami Dolphins Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Griese	12/23	134	0	1
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Kiick	10	40	0	9
Csonka	9	40	0	12
Griese	1	0	0	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Warfield	4	39	0	23
Kiick	3	21	0	11
Csonka	2	18	0	16
Fleming	1	27	0	27
Twilley	1	20	0	20
Mandich	1	9	0	9
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
None
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Seiple	5	40.0	45	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Scott	1/0	21	21	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Morris	4	90	37	0
Ginn	1	32	32	0

 

January 17, 1972
Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, LA)
Attendance: 81,023

 

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