Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 - co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin
Super Bowl XII: Cowboys 27 Broncos 10 - co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin

For the first and only time in Super Bowl history, two players shared the MVP award. Randy White and Harvey Martin were instrumental in Dallas limiting the Broncos to only 156 yards of total offense (2.7 yards per play) in a 27-10 win. Dallas' Doomsday Defense forced eight turnovers - four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. White's and Martin's relentless pass rushing also helped force Denver's quarterbacks to finish a combined eight for 24 passing.

The Dallas Cowboys evened their Super Bowl record at 2-2 by defeating Denver before a sellout crowd of 75,583, plus 102,010,000 television viewers, the largest audience ever to watch a sporting event.

Dallas converted two interceptions into 10 points and Efren Herrera added a 35-yard field goal for a 13-0 halftime advantage.

In the third quarter Craig Morton engineered a drive to the Cowboys' 30 and Jim Turner's 47-yard field goal made the score 13-3.

After an exchange of punts, Butch Johnson made a spectacular diving catch in the end zone to complete a 45-yard pass from Roger Staubach and put the Cowboys ahead 20-3.

Following Rick Upchurch's 67-yard kickoff return, Norris Weese guided the Broncos to a touchdown to cut the Dallas lead to 20-10.

Dallas clinched the victory when running back Robert Newhouse tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Golden Richards with 7:04 remaining in the game. It was the first pass thrown by Newhouse since 1975.

Harvey Martin and Randy White, who were named co-most valuable players, led the Cowboys' defense, which recovered four fumbles and intercepted four passes

Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 - co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin
Super Bowl XII Logo

Super Bowl XII MVP: co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin

Super Bowl XII MVP: co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin
Super Bowl XII MVP: co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin

For the first and only time in Super Bowl history, two players shared the MVP award. Defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin were the leaders of a Dallas defense that forced eight Denver turnovers -- - four interceptions and four fumble recoveries -- in the 27-10 victory. Broncos quarterbacks had only 8 completions in 24 attempts under the fierce Cowboy rush, led by White and Martin.

The Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" led by White and Martin were instrumental in limiting the Broncos to only 156 yards of total offense (2.7 yards per play) in the 27-10 win.

Martin and White joined Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley (Super Bowl V) and Miami safety Jake Scott (Super Bowl VII) as the only defensive players to win the MVP award. Later Chicago defensive end Richard Dent (Super Bowl XX) and Dallas cornerback Larry Brown (Super Bowl XXX) would be added to the list.

Super Bowl XII Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys1037727
Denver Broncos0010010

 

1st Quarter

Cowboys: Dorsett 3-yard TD run (Herrera PAT), 10:31

Cowboys: Herrera 35-yard Field Goal, 13:29

2nd Quarter

Cowboys: Herrera 43-yard Field Goal, 3:44

3rd Quarter

Broncos: Turner 47-yard Field Goal, 2:28

Cowboys: Johnson 45-yard TD pass from Staubach (Herrera PAT), 8:01

Broncos: Lytle 1-yard TD run (Turner PAT), 9:21

4th Quarter

Cowboys: Richards 29-yard TD pass from Newhouse (Herrera PAT), 7:56

Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs17
Rushing First Downs8
Passing First Downs8
Penalty First Downs1
Total Net Yardage325
Total Offensive Plays71
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play4.6
Rushes38
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)143
Average Yards per Rush3.8
Passes Attempted28
Passes Completed19
Had Intercepted0
Tackled Attempting to Pass5
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass35
Yards Gained Passing (Net)182
Punts5
Average Distance41.6
Punt Returns1
Punt Return Yardage0
Kickoff Returns3
Kickoff Return Yardage51
Interception Return Yardage46
Fumbles6
Own Fumbles Recovered4
Opponent Fumbles Recovered4
Penalties12
Yards Penalized94
Total Points Scored27
Touchdowns 3
Rushing1
Passing2
Returns0
Extra Points 3
Field Goals2
Fields Goals Attempted5
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency5/17
Fourth-Down Efficiency1/1
Time of Possession38:38

Super Bowl XII: Denver Broncos Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs11
Rushing First Downs8
Passing First Downs1
Penalty First Downs2
Total Net Yardage156
Total Offensive Plays58
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play2.7
Rushes29
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)121
Average Yards per Rush4.2
Passes Attempted25
Passes Completed8
Had Intercepted4
Tackled Attempting to Pass4
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass26
Yards Gained Passing (Net)35
Punts4
Average Distance38.3
Punt Returns4
Punt Return Yardage22
Kickoff Returns6
Kickoff Return Yardage173
Interception Return Yardage0
Fumbles4
Own Fumbles Recovered0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered2
Penalties8
Yards Penalized60
Total Points Scored 10
Touchdowns 1
Rushing1
Passing0
Returns0
Extra Points 1
Field Goals1
Fields Goals Attempted1
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency1/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency2/3
Time of Possession21:22

Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Staubach17/2518301
Newhouse1/12901
D.white1/2500
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Dorsett 1566191
Newhouse1455100
D.White113130
P.Pearson31150
Staubach3650
Laidlaw1110
Johnson1-990
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
P. Pearson537011
DuPree466019
Newhouse3-105
Johnson253145
Richards238129
Dorsett211015
D.Pearson113013
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Washington1272713
Kyle119190
Barnes1000
Hughes1000
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
D. White 541.6530
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Hill1/1000
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Johnson 229150
Brinson 122220

 

Super Bowl XII: Denver Broncos Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Morton 4/153904
Weese 4/102200
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Lytle 1035116
Armstrong727018
Weese 326010
Jensen 116016
Keyworth 5906
Perrin 3804
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Dolbin224015
Odoms 29010
Moses 121021
Upchurch 1909
Jensen 1505
Upchurch 1-707
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
None
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Dilts438.3460
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Upchurch 3/12280
Schultz 1/0000
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Upchurch 394670
Schultz 262370
Upchurch 117170

January 16, 1978

Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Attendance: 76,400

National Anthem: Phyllis Kelly of Northeast Louisiana University

Coin Toss: Red Grange

Halftime Show: "From Paris to the Paris of America" with the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles, Pete Fountain, and Al Hirt

Network: CBS

Announcers: Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Nielsen ratings: 47.2 (est. 78.94 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $162,000

Super Bowl XII Cowboys & Broncos Highlights

Super Bowl XII: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XII Championship Ring and Game Ticket

Super Bowl XII - Dallas Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 - co-MVPs Randy White & Harvey Martin

 

 

 

Super Bowl History