"SUPERBOWL IX"
Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
This was the Pittsburgh Steeler's first trip to the Superbowl after 42 years of losing while Minnesota came to Superbowl IX runners up of Superbowl VIII. This game pitted the glacial calm of the Fran Tarkenton led Minnesota Vikings vs. the youthful enthusiasm of the Steel Curtain led Pittsburgh Steelers.
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THE STEELERS #58 JACK LAMBERT SECURES THE SAFETY ON #10 FRAN TARKENTON
It was fitting that the Steel Curtain defense was responsible for the first score of Superbowl IX because all afternoon the Steeler's Defense manhandled the Minnesota offense. They bankrupted Minnesota's rushing attack with the incredible total being 17 yards gained against them! On the scoring play, Dave Osbourne never saw the ball which was accidentally gold whipped by the golden shoe of L.C. Greenwood. Dwight White's tag on Fran Tarkenton in the endzone completed the first safety in Superbowl history and gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.
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THE STEELER'S #27 GLEN EDWARDS DEMOLISHES #42 JON GILLIAM
Late in the first half, Minnesota mounted its first drive of the half which was done on the arm of Fran Tarketon. On a play that symbolized the day for both teams, Glen Edwards vicious hit stripped Jon Gilliam of the ball and gave the Steeler's Mel Blount an easy interception!! This was perhaps the most crushing blow of all because instead of a Viking first down on the 5, Pittsburgh controlled the ball again and their slender 2-0 lead was preserved at the half!!
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PITTSBURGH'S FRANCO HARRIS #32 SCORES PITTSBURGH'S FIRST TD
Roy Gerela slipped and squibbed his kick along the rain soaked poli-turf, but Viking veteran Bill Brown (#30) couldn't handle the wet kick and the Steelers had the biggest break of the game, the ball in great field position on the Viking 30 yard line. Behind playbook perfect blocking, Franco Harris went 24 yards before being forced out of bounds. Then as (#72) Jerry Mullins buried Wally Hilgenburg, Harris swept left and was free. The first touchdown of Superbowl IX increased the Steeler lead to 9-0.
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THE VIKINGS MATT BLAIR #59 BLOCKS BOBBY WALDEN'S PUNT
Matt Blair (#59) poured untouched into Punter Bobby Walden and the Vikings Terry Brown (#24) had an easy touchdown. Incredibly, Minnesota was back in the game 9-6. But, frustration and error were not over for the Vikings. Fred Cox's kick hit the left upright and the Vikings remained 3 points short of a tie. However, 10 minutes remained in Superbowl IX, ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN!!!
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TERRY BRADSHAW TOSSES A DAGGER THROUGH MINNESOTA'S HEART TO LARRY BROWN #87
With his team holding an uncertain lead, Terry Bradshaw had his finest moment. With the game up for grabs, the youngster kept a coolness many thought he didn't possess. He completed 3 crucial third down passes which culminated with a 4 yard TD pass to Larry Brown (#87) which capped the 66 yard 7 minute drive that clinched the game for the Steelers. Terry Bradshaw had given the Steelers an insurmountable lead over the demoralized Minnesota Vikings. The Steel Curtain struck one final fatal blow when Mike Wagner (#23) intercepted a desperation pass from Fran Tarkenton which sealed the Steelers first NFL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Little did Pittsburgh know it would win 3 more titles in the next 6 years.
FINAL SCORE
Pittsburgh 16
Minnesota 6
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