Super Bowl X

Guide Note:

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in Super Bowl X. The Steelers became the third team in NFL history to win consecutive Super Bowl championships, joining the 1966 and 1967 Green Bay Packers, and the 1972 and 1973 Miami Dolphins. The Steelers won the game in large part due to the big play receptions by second year wide receiver Lynn Swann. One of his catches, where he tipped the ball to himself while falling over defender Mark Washington, is considered one of the greatest receptions in football history. Coupled with his 64-yard fourth quarter touchdown reception off a pass from Terry Bradshaw, Swann was named the game's MVP. Bradshaw sustained a concussion on the play. The game also gained notority because several scenes for the John Frankenheimer directed film Black Sunday were shot during the game and halftime. The plot of the film revolves around a suspected terrorist attack at the Super Bowl utilizing a Goodyear blimp.

Fast Facts

1. January 18, 1976
2. Site: Orange Bowl
3. Location: Miami
4. Attendance: 80,187
5. MVP: Lynn Swann
6. Television: CBS

Steel Wheel Keeps on Turnin'

The Steelers went 12-2 in 1975, and dominated holding half of their 14 regular season opponents to single digits in points. The division round victory over the Baltimore Colts included the debut of the Terrible Towel, a yellow dish towel that fans waved to show support of their team. Then on an ice-covered field at Three Rivers Stadium, the Steelers edged the Oakland Raiders 16-10 to win their second straight AFC Championship.

On a wing and a prayer

The Dallas Cowboys were thought to be a team in rebuilding mode, but they made the playoffs as the wild card team in the NFC. In the division playoffs at Minnesota, they trailed 14-10 with less than two minutes to go when Roger Staubach hit wide receiver Drew Pearson on 4th-and-16 to keep the drive alive. Then with 24 seconds left, Staubach again hit Pearson for a 50-yard touchdown pass, forever know as the Hail Mary Pass, to win the game 17-14. One week later, another Pearson starred for the Cowboys. Running back Preston Pearson, caught three of Staubach's four touchdown passes as Dallas routed the Los Angeles Rams 37-7 to win the NFC Championship.