By Darin đ The Rematch to Settle the Crown
On January 21, 1979, the Miami Orange Bowl hosted a game that wasn’t just a championshipâit was a fight for the title of “Team of the Decade.” For the first time in history, the Super Bowl featured a rematch of a previous title game (Super Bowl X), pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers against the defending champion Dallas Cowboys. With a combined 26 future Hall of Famers on the field and the sideline, the stakes were simple: the winner would become the first franchise to ever hoist three Lombardi Trophies.
Bradshawâs Aerial Assault
While both teams were famous for their legendary defensesâthe Steel Curtain and the Doomsday Defenseâit was the quarterbacks who stole the show. Pittsburghâs Terry Bradshaw, the seasonâs NFL MVP, played the game of his life. Bradshaw dismantled the Cowboys’ secondary in the first half, throwing for a then-record 253 yards by halftime.
Article from Jan 22, 1979 The Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas)
Despite an early fumble that Dallas returned for a touchdown, Bradshaw remained surgical, connecting with John Stallworth for two long scores and finding Rocky Bleier in the end zone to take a 21-14 lead into the break.
“The Sickest Man in America”
The game turned on a moment of heartbreak in the third quarter. Trailing 21-14, the Cowboys marched to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. Roger Staubach found a wide-open Jackie Smith in the end zone, but the veteran tight end slipped and dropped the ball. The Cowboys settled for a field goal instead of a touchdownâa four-point swing that would haunt Dallas. The play prompted announcer Curt Gowdy to famously call Smith “the sickest man in America.”
The Steelers capitalized on the momentum shift in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns in just 19 seconds. A 22-yard burst by Franco Harris and an 18-yard strike to Lynn Swann pushed the lead to 35-17. Though Staubach led a valiant comeback with two late touchdowns, the Cowboysâ rally fell just short.
Conclusion: The First Three-Time Champion
Super Bowl XIII remains one of the greatest games ever played, marked by high-octane offense and dramatic momentum swings. The Steelersâ 35-31 victory officially crowned them the team of the 1970s and made Terry Bradshaw the first player since the merger to win the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. It was the end of an era for the Orange Bowl as a Super Bowl host, but it was the beginning of an unmatched legacy for the Black and Gold.
Game Accolades
- Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
- Game MVP: Terry Bradshaw (17/30, 318 yards, 4 TDs)
- Historic First: The Pittsburgh Steelers became the first team to win three Super Bowls.
- Offensive Explosion: Terry Bradshaw set then-Super Bowl records for passing yards (318) and touchdowns (4).
- Record Attendance: 79,484 fans witnessed the final Super Bowl at the Miami Orange Bowl.
