Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys 27 Steelers 17

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys 27 Steelers 17 - Cowboys CB Larry Brown, MVP

Larry Brown intercepted two passes thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell in the Cowboys' fifth Super Bowl win. Both interceptions stymied viable Pittsburgh drives, setting up short rushing touchdowns by Emmitt Smith. Brown's opportunistic interceptions helped Dallas overcome a deficit of 13-7 as well as preserve a 20-17 advantage in this eventual 27-17 Cowboys victory

The Dallas Cowboys joined the San Francisco 49ers at the time as the only teams to win five Super Bowls, mostly due to the stellar play of cornerback Larry Brown, who intercepted two passes in the second half of Dallas's 27-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys vs. Steelers

Cornerback Larry Brown's two interceptions led to 14 second-half points and helped lift the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl victory in the last four seasons and their record-tying fifth title overall. Brown's interceptions foiled the comeback efforts of the Steelers, and earned him the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the game's most valuable player.

Dallas scored on each of its first three possessions, taking a 13-0 lead on Troy Aikman's 3-yard touchdown pass to Jay Novacek and a pair of field goals by Chris Boniol. Neil O'Donnell's 6-yard touchdown pass to Yancey Thigpen 13 seconds before halftime pulled Pittsburgh within 6 points, and the Steelers had the ball near midfield midway through the third quarter. But O'Donnell's third-down pass was intercepted by Brown at the Cowboys' 38-yard line, and his 44-yard return carried to Pittsburgh's 18.

After Aikman's 17-yard completion to Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith ran one yard for the touchdown that put Dallas ahead again by 13 points. The Steelers rallied, though, behind Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal, a successful surprise onside kick, and Byron (Bam) Morris's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:36 to play in the game.

And when they forced a punt and took possession at their own 32-yard line trailing only 20-17 with 4:15 remaining, it appeared they might have a chance to break the NFC's recent domination in the Super Bowl. But on second down, Brown struck again, intercepting O'Donnell's pass at the 39 and returning it 33 yards to the six.

Two plays later, Smith barreled over from four yards out for the clinching touchdown with 3:43 to go. Pittsburgh limited the Cowboys' powerful running game to only 56 yards and enjoyed a whopping 201-61 advantage in total yards in the second half, but could not overcome the three interceptions (another came on the game's final play) thrown by O'Donnell, the NFL's career leader for fewest interceptions per pass attempt.

In all, O'Donnell completed 28 of 49 passes for 239 yards. Morris rushed for a game-high 73 yards on 19 carries. For Dallas, Aikman completed 15 of 23 pass attempts for 209 yards.

The Cowboys' victory was the twelfth in a row for NFC teams over AFC teams in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXX: MVP Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Cowboys CB Larry Brown, MVP Super Bowl XXX

Larry Brown, a 12th-round draft pick, became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP by intercepting two passes thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell in the Cowboys' fifth Super Bowl win.

Both interceptions came in the second half -- which the Cowboys converted into touchdowns and stymied viable Pittsburgh drives -- setting up short rushing touchdowns by Emmitt Smith. Brown's opportunistic interceptions helped Dallas overcome a 13-7 deficit as well as preserve a 20-17 advantage in this eventual Cowboys 27-17 victory over the Steelers.

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 | MVP Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Trailing 13-7 midway through the third quarter, Pittsburgh had moved the ball close to midfield.

On third down, Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell was intercepted by Brown at the Cowboys' 38-yard line. Brown returned the pick 44 yards to Pittsburgh's 18, which led to a rushing touchdown by Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.

Brown's second interception prevented a Steelers comeback. The Steelers scored 10 consecutive points to make the score 20-17 and had the ball on their own 32-yard line with 4:15 remaining. On second down, Brown again intercepted an O'Donnell pass and returned it 33 yards to Pittsburgh's 6. Moments later, Smith later scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.

Super Bowl XXX Scoring

Teams	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys	10	3	7	7	27
Pittsburgh Steelers	0	7	0	10	17

Qtr	Time	Plays	Yards	Duration	Team	Scoring Summary	DAL	PIT
Source: NFL
1	12:05	7	47	2:55	DAL	42-yard field goal by Chris Boniol	3	0
1	5:23	8	75	4:35	DAL	Jay Novacek 3-yard TD reception from Troy Aikman, Boniol PAT	10	0
2	6:03	14	62	8:44	DAL	35-yard field goal by Boniol	13	0
2	0:13	13	54	3:39	PIT	Yancey Thigpen 6-yard TD reception from Neil O'Donnell, Norm Johnson PAT	13	7
3	6:42	2	18	0:36	DAL	Emmitt Smith 1-yard TD run, Boniol PAT	20	7
4	11:20	11	52	4:13	PIT	46-yard field goal by Johnson	20	10
4	6:36	9	52	4:44	PIT	Bam Morris 1-yard TD run, Johnson PAT	20	17
4	3:43	2	6	0:18	DAL	Smith 4-yard TD run, Boniol PAT	27	17

Super Bowl XXX Team Statistics

Statistic	Cowboys	Steelers
Source: NFL
First downs	15	25
First downs rushing	5	9
First downs passing	10	15
First downs penalty	0	1
Third down efficiency	2/10	9/19
Fourth down efficiency	1/1	2/4
Net yards rushing	56	103
Rushing attempts	25	31
Yards per rush	2.2	3.3
Passing - Completions/attempts	15/23	28/49
Times sacked-total yards	2--11	4--32
Interceptions thrown	0	3
Net yards passing	198	207
Total net yards	254	310
Punt returns-total yards	1--11	2--18
Kickoff returns-total yards	3--37	5--96
Interceptions-total return yards	3--77	0--0
Punts-average yardage	5--38.2	4--44.8
Fumbles-lost	0--0	2--0
Penalties-total yards	4--25	2--15
Time of possession	26:11	33:49
Turnovers	0	3

January 28, 1996

Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe, Arizona)

Attendance: 76,347

National Anthem: Vanessa Williams

Coin Toss: Joe Montana representing previous Super Bowl MVPs

Halftime Show: Diana Ross

Network: NBC

Announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire, Jim Gray and Will McDonough

Nielsen ratings: 46.0 (est. 94.08 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $1.085 million

Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys vs. Steelers Highlights

Super Bowl XXX: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XXX Championship Ring and Game Ticket Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 | MVP Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXX: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 | MVP Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXX: Logo

NFL Football: "Super Bowl XXX | Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 | MVP Cowboys CB Larry Brown"