"SUPERBOWL X"
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
In January of 1976, the Steelers and Cowboys met in Superbowl X, a game which boasted fireworks worthy of any bicentennial party. The surprising Dallas Cowboys were the cinderella team of the NFL. Relegated to the pergatory of rebuilding before the season began, Dallas parlayed a new spirit and some last minute miracles that would culminate with this: Their third trip to the Superbowl. While Dallas needed miracles to reach the summit, the Steelers had few pit falls along the way. For the Steelers had gone from cinderella status to establishment powerhouse in one single year!!! Many call this the Greatest Superbowl ever played!!!!
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PITTSBURGH'S LYNN SWANN #88 CATCHES THE BALL WITH MARK WASHINGTON #46 DRAPED ALL OVER HIM NOW KNOWN AS THE "LEVETATING LEAP"
Early in the game, Dallas moved the ball on proud Pittsburgh on two occasions and took a 10-7 first quarter lead on the Steelers with a touchdown pass to #88 Drew Pearson and a field goal by #15 Tony Fritsche. Pittsburgh countered with a touchdown of their own from Terry Bradshaw to #84 Randy Grossman. The Cowboys completely missed the target in Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh passing attack. Error free and seemingly with hours of pocket time, the rifle armed quarterback exploited the Cowboys through the air. Lynn Swann's Levetating Leap was one of the greatest catches in football history. Though Swann, who later would be named the games MVP, literally rose to the occasion on the 53 yard pass, Pittsburgh moved no further. Pittsburgh looked to Roy Gerela to put the points on the scoreboard to tie the game. It was the first of 3 kicks Gerela missed on the day, but the 10-7 first half score in no way reflected the furious action crammed into Superbowl X.
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JACK LAMBERT #58 STICKS UP FOR ROY GERELA IN THE FACE OF CLIFF HARRIS'S #43 TAUNTING OF GERELA'S MISSED FIELD GOAL
In the third quarter, another Gerela miss was vital to the outcome of the game. Cliff Harris celebrated the kicker's misfortune with glee, but #58 Jack Lambert quickly came to the rescue. Though Gerela's nemesis was spirited away from danger, the damage was already done. Lambert, who many feel stands as the successor to Dick Butkus as the most fearsome defensive player in football later said: "No one can be allowed to intimidate us, we're supposed to be the intimidators." Lambert used the incident to psyche himself to an even higher level of rage. Needless to say, the Dallas Cowboys paid the price and this became a turning point for the Steel Curtain Defense!! Pittsburgh would go onto post a safety on a blocked Dallas punt and then making a pair of field goals to make the score 15-10 in the fourth quarter.
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DEFENSIVE TACKLE #63 LARRY COLE NAILS TERRY BRADSHAW AFTER HE DELIVERS A 64 YARD TD PASS TO #88 LYNN SWANN
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LYNN SWANN BURNS MARK WASHINGTON TO PUT THE STEELERS AHEAD 21-10 ON A 64 YARD BOMB FROM TERRY BRADSHAW
All day, Mark Washington (#46) had been a target of the Pittsburgh air attack. Now on third and 4, Bradshaw read a blitz that would leave the cornerback in one on one coverage with Lynn Swann. The result is Superbowl history!! The 64 yard touchdown pass had seemingly put the game out of reach. But while the graceful Swann was celebrating at one end of the field, Terry Bradshaw had been knocked senseless at the other end of the field. On the touchdown play, Tom Landry trying to change the complexion of the game, had called an all out blitz. DB Lewis (#50) was the first man in but missed, and with 2 more Cowboys bearing down, Bradshaw stood his ground and let fly. Accounts of the game said Cliff Harris (#43) hit Bradshaw, but it was tackle Larry Cole (#63) that hit Bradshaw. Bradshaw left the field with a concussion, but he left a hero. Under his leadership, the Steelers had 4 scores in under 8 minutes and ahead now by 11 points with 3 minutes left, the Steelers appeared to have Superbowl X salted away 21-10. But, the Dallas Cowboys had different ideas as Roger Staubach took his team 80 yards on 4 plays to make the score 21-17 Pittsburgh. Dallas stopped Pittsburgh and got the ball back, but the Steel Curtain Defense outlasted Dallas for a second WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!
FINAL SCORE
Pittsburgh 21
Dallas 17
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