National Football League

SB 12: Cowboys and the Doomsday Defense dominates Denver

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:01 p.m. ET

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SUPER BOWL 12

Jan. 15, 1978

At New Orleans-75,583

Dallas 10..3..7..7-27

Denver 0..0.10..0-10

The first indoor Super Bowl - played in the New Orleans Superdome - was all about defense. Dallas' Doomsday Defense faced Denver and the Orange Crush.

The Cowboys evened their Super Bowl record at 2-2 by taking advantage of eight Broncos turnovers. Dallas converted two interceptions into 10 points, and Efren Herrera added a 35-yard field goal for a 13-0 halftime advantage.

After Denver's Jim Turner kicked a 47-yard field goal, Dallas wide receiver Butch Johnson made a sensational diving catch in the end zone on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to put the Cowboys ahead 20-3.

Denver again cut the lead to 10, this time on a 1-yard run by Rob Lytle. But with 7:04 to play fullback Robert Newhouse tossed a 29-yard option pass to Golden Richards for the final score of the game.

Staubach completed 17 of 25 passes for 183 yards with no interceptions. For the first time, there were co-MVPs of the Super Bowl: The award was shared by defensive linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin of Dallas.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL