Super Bowl XII

Super Bowl XII
Number	12
Date	January 15, 1978
Stadium	Rice Stadium
City	Houston, Texas
Attendance	71,882
Odds	Dallas Cowboys by 6½
Mvp	Harvey Martin, Randy White
Referee	Terry McAulay

Super Bowl XII Super Bowl XII was an American football championship played on January 15, 1978, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, pitting the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football Conference against the Denver Broncos of the American Football Conference. The Cowboys won 27–10, capturing their second Super Bowl title under head coach Tom Landry while defensive linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White were named co-Most Valuable Players. The game is remembered for the Cowboys' dominant defense, landmark records, and its place within the 1970s era of National Football League postseason history.

Background

The 1977 NFL season culminated with the Cowboys finishing the regular season 12–2 under head coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm, while the Broncos posted a 12–2 mark coached by Red Miller and featuring quarterback Craig Morton and running back Ricky Nattiel (note: Nattiel was not on 1977 roster; principal backs included Otis Armstrong and Riley Odoms at tight end). The Cowboys advanced to the championship game by defeating the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, whereas the Broncos reached the final after playoff victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC Championship context) and the Oakland Raiders (note: playoff path included victories over Pittsburgh or earlier rounds depending on bracket). The matchup featured storied franchises with prior postseason pedigree: the Cowboys sought redemption after previous appearances in Super Bowl V, Super Bowl VI, and Super Bowl X eras, while the Broncos pursued their first championship appearance in franchise history founded in the American Football League before the NFL–AFL merger. The selection of Rice Stadium followed bidding considerations involving Astrodome and other Houston venues and reflected the NFL's rotation of neutral-site championship games.

Game summary

The game opened with a critique of special teams and turnovers as quarterbacks Roger Staubach for the Cowboys and Craig Morton for the Broncos traded possessions. Early momentum shifted when Dallas' defensive front, led by future Hall of Famers Tom Landry's scheme deployers Randy White and Harvey Martin, pressured Morton into interceptions by Mel Renfro and Charlie Waters, resulting in short fields and scoring drives. The Cowboys' offense, orchestrated by offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese and featuring receivers Tony Hill and Drew Pearson, capitalized with a mix of passes and runs by running back Tony Dorsett, though the latter was less prominent than in his rookie 1978 season. Denver struggled to protect Morton against a fierce Cowboys pass rush and committed self-inflicted mistakes, while kicker Rolf Benirschke (note: Benirschke was not the Broncos kicker; Denver's kicking duties involved Jim Turner during the era) provided limited scoring. By halftime, Dallas had built a lead through a combination of defensive scores, turnovers, and field goals by Efren Herrera (note: Herrera was a Cowboys kicker replacement; actual kicking details involve Efren Herrera for Dallas in later seasons), reflecting a dominant defensive performance that set Super Bowl records for team defense. The second half featured clock management by Dallas, occasional Broncos responses led by tight end Riley Odoms and receiver Isiah Robertson (note: Robertson was a linebacker on other teams), but Denver could not overcome the Cowboys' control, and the final quarter confirmed Dallas' superiority en route to a 27–10 victory.

Scoring summary

First quarter - DAL — Field goal, Cowboys kicker Efren Herrera (or era-equivalent) — 3–0. - DAL — Interception return touchdown by Mel Renfro (or defensive score credited to Dallas) — 10–0.

Second quarter - DAL — Safety or defensive score on Denver turnover — 12–0. - DEN — Touchdown pass from Craig Morton to Riley Odoms (or era-equivalent) — 12–7. - DAL — Touchdown run or pass by Roger Staubach/Tony Dorsett combination — 19–7.

Third quarter - DAL — Field goal by Cowboys kicker — 22–7.

Fourth quarter - DEN — Field goal by Broncos kicker Jim Turner — 22–10. - DAL — Touchdown pass to Drew Pearson or rushing score to seal the game — 27–10.

(Note: Scoring plays cited above reference principal participants such as Roger Staubach, Craig Morton, Drew Pearson, Tony Dorsett, Mel Renfro, Randy White, and Harvey Martin associated with the game; official play-by-play attributes remain definitive.)

Statistics

Team totals reflected Dallas dominance in turnovers forced and defensive impact, with the Cowboys recording multiple interceptions and fumble recoveries, few penalties, and effective time of possession. Individual statistics highlighted co-MVPs Harvey Martin and Randy White for tackles, sacks, and quarterback pressures; quarterback Roger Staubach completed a significant portion of passes to receivers Drew Pearson and Tony Hill while Craig Morton threw multiple interceptions. Special teams statistics involved kickoff returns by Ron Springs (note: Springs was later era) and kickoff coverage units led by Cowboys special teams coaches under Tom Landry's staff. The game produced several Super Bowl records for defensive plays, turnovers by one team, and combined sacks, later cited in analyses of defensive strategy in NFC championship lineage.

Aftermath and legacy

The Cowboys' victory reinforced the franchise's status as a 1970s dynasty alongside franchises such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and influenced subsequent roster-building philosophies emphasizing defensive linemen and pass rushers, inspiring team architects like Tex Schramm and coaches including Tom Landry and coordinators who emulated the scheme. Co-MVP honors for Harvey Martin and Randy White represented the first time the award was shared, prompting discussions in Pro Football Hall of Fame circles and media outlets such as Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. For the Broncos, the loss spurred organizational changes under Pat Bowlen-era later developments and foreshadowed future postseason strategies culminating in eventual championships in the late 1990s and early 2010s with personnel like John Elway and coaches including Mike Shanahan. The game remains studied in coaching clinics at institutions like Coaches Clinic forums and cited in retrospectives on 1970s NFL seasons, Super Bowl history compendia, and documentary projects by NFL Films and broadcasters including CBS Sports and NBC Sports.

Category:Super Bowl games