Super Bowl XXX (30) Dallas VS Pittsburgh Recap

Super Bowl XXX Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17 Recap

Dallas Defeats Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX. Larry Brown named MVP

Cornerback Larry Brown's two interceptions led to 14 second-half points and helped lift the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl victory in the last four seasons and their record-tying fifth title overall. Brown's interceptions foiled the comeback efforts of the Steelers, and earned him the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the game's most valuable player.

Dallas scored on each of its first three possessions, taking a 13-0 lead on Troy Aikman's 3-yard touchdown pass to Jay Novacek and a pair of field goals by Chris Boniol. Neil O'Donnell's 6-yard touchdown pass to Yancey Thigpen 13 seconds before halftime pulled Pittsburgh within 6 points, and the Steelers had the ball near midfield midway through the third quarter. But O'Donnell's third-down pass was intercepted by Brown at the Cowboys' 38-yard line, and his 44-yard return carried to Pittsburgh's 18.

After Aikman's 17-yard completion to Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith ran one yard for the touchdown that put Dallas ahead again by 13 points. The Steelers rallied, though, behind Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal, a successful surprise onside kick, and Byron (Bam) Morris's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:36 to play in the game.

And when they forced a punt and took possession at their own 32-yard line trailing only 20-17 with 4:15 remaining, it appeared they might have a chance to break the NFC's recent domination in the Super Bowl. But on second down, Brown struck again, intercepting O'Donnell's pass at the 39 and returning it 33 yards to the six.

Two plays later, Smith barreled over from four yards out for the clinching touchdown with 3:43 to go. Pittsburgh limited the Cowboys' powerful running game to only 56 yards and enjoyed a whopping 201-61 advantage in total yards in the second half, but could not overcome the three interceptions (another came on the game's final play) thrown by O'Donnell, the NFL's career leader for fewest interceptions per pass attempt.

In all, O'Donnell completed 28 of 49 passes for 239 yards. Morris rushed for a game-high 73 yards on 19 carries. For Dallas, Aikman completed 15 of 23 pass attempts for 209 yards.

The Cowboys' victory was the twelfth in a row for NFC teams over AFC teams in the Super Bowl.

Scoring Information

                       1  2  3  4  Final
                       _________________
Dallas Cowboys        10  3  7  7     27
Pittsburgh Steelers    0  7  0 10     17

Dallas     - FG Boniol 42                                     
2:55 into the 1st

Dallas     - Novacek 3 pass from Aikman (Boniol kick)         
9:37 into the 1st

Dallas     - FG Boniol 35                                     
8:57 into the 2nd

Pittsburgh - Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell (N. Johnson kick) 
14:47 into the 2nd

Dallas     - E. Smith 1 run  (Boniol kick)                    
8:18 into the 3rd

Pittsburgh - FG N. Johnson 46                                 
3:40 into the 4th

Pittsburgh - Morris 1 run  (N. Johnson kick)                  
8:24 into the 4th

Dallas     - E. Smith 4 run  (Boniol kick)                   
11:17 into the 4th

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Quick Facts

Score:

Super Bowl XXX

Dallas 27
Pittsburgh 17

Location:
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
January 28, 1996
Attendance: 76,347

MVP:
Larry Brown, Cornerback
of the Dallas Cowboys

Coaches
DAL Barry Switzer
PTI Bill Cowher

Super Bowl XXX Ring, Dallas 27 vs Pittsburgh 17, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona, MVP Larry Brown, Cornerback of the Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl XXX Ring