Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 - MVP Cowboys LB Chuck Howley
Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 - MVP Cowboys LB Chuck Howley

Chuck Howley made history twice in one day with his MVP-worthy performance in Super Bowl V. Not only did this gritty linebacker become the first defensive MVP in Super Bowl history, Howley is still the only player in NFL history to win the award for a losing team. Howley intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in the losing effort.

Baltimore's rookie kicker, Jim O'Brien, nailed a 32-yard field goal with only five seconds left in the game to close out a 16-13 come-from-behind victory over the Colts in Super Bowl V

Super Bowl V was the first Super Bowl played after the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Ironically, it featured two teams from the old NFL, as the Baltimore Colts were one of three teams (Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns) shifted over to the American Football Conference (AFC) along with the ten AFL teams at the time.

The Dallas Cowboys led 13-6 at the end of a scoreless third quarter. However, interceptions by Rick Volk and Mike Curtis set up a Baltimore Colts touchdown and O'Brien's decisive field goal in the fourth period.

Earl Morrall relieved an injured Johnny Unitas late in the first half, although Unitas completed the Colts' only scoring pass. It caromed off receiver Eddie Hinton's fingertips, off Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro, and finally settled into the grasp of John Mackey, who went 45 yards to score on a 75-yard play.

The game between the champions of the AFC and NFC was played on artificial turf for the first time.

Super Bowl V is often referred to as the "Blunder Bowl" and at times the "Stupor Bowl" as the game was filled with poor play, penalties, turnovers, and officiating miscues.

The Colts and Cowboys committed a Super Bowl record 11 combined turnovers in the game, and the Colts 7 turnovers are currently the most ever committed by a winning team in a Super Bowl. Dallas also set a Super Bowl record with 10 penalties, costing them 133 yards.

However, for the Colts, Super Bowl V represented redemption after their humiliating 16-7 loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys had finally made it to the "big game," they stilled carried the stigma of not being able to win the big games. Over the past 5 seasons, the Cowboys had won more games (52 of 68) than any other NFL team. However, the Cowboys had never won a championship.

The Cowboys had the opportunity to play in the first two Super Bowls, but lost to the Green Bay Packers by narrow margins in both the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championships.

In the 1966 NFL Championship game, the Cowboys lost to the Packers in Dallas, 34-27. The Cowboys had and opportunity to win the game, but were unable to score on a 1st-and-goal from the Packers 2-yard line. In the 1967 NFL Championship Game, commonly referred to as the "Ice Bowl," the Cowboys lost to the Packers in Green Bay by a final score of 21-17 as the Cowboys allowed Bart Starr to score on a 1-yard dive with 16 seconds remaininging in the game.

They would finally shed their "losing" stigma the following season when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.

Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 - MVP Cowboys LB Chuck Howley
Super Bowl V Logo

Super Bowl V MVP: Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl V MVP: Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl V MVP: Chuck Howley, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Chuck Howley intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble to win the honor, although his effort was overshadowed by Baltimore's eventual win.

Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley became the first defensive player to be named Most Valuable Player in a Super Bowl. But the honor had a hollow ring for Howley, who also became the first player from a losing team to be named MVP.

To date, Chuck Howley is the only player from a losing team ever to win a Super Bowl MVP award.

Super Bowl V was also the first time a quarterback did not win the MVP award.

Super Bowl V Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Baltimore Colts0601016
Dallas Cowboys3100013

 

1st Quarter

Cowboys: Clark 14-Yard Field Goal, 9:28

2nd Quarter

Cowboys: Clark 30-Yard Field Goal, 0:08

Colts: Mackey 75-Yard TD pass from Unitas (PAT blocked), 0:50

Cowboys: Thomas 7-Yard TD pass from Morton (Clark PAT), 7:07

4th Quarter

Colts: Nowatzke 2-Yard TD run (O'Brien PAT), 7:25

Colts: O'Brien 32-Yard Field Goal, 14:55

Super Bowl V Team Statistics

Team Statistics Colts Cowboys
Source: NFL
Total First Downs1410
First Downs - Rushing44
First Downs - Passing65
First Downs - Penalty41
Total Net Yardage329215
Total Offensive Plays5659
Avg. Gain Per Offensive Play5.93.6
Rushes3131
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)69102
Avg. Yards per Rush2.23.3
Passes Attempted2526
Passes Completed1112
Had Intercepted33
Tackled Attempting to Pass02
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass014
Yards Gained Passing (Net)260113
Punts49
Avg. Distance41.541.9
Punt Returns53
Punt Return Yardage129
Kickoff Returns43
Kickoff Return Yardage9034
Interception Return Yardage5722
Fumbles51
Own Fumbles Recovered10
Opponent Fumbles Recovered14
Penalties410
Yards Penalized31133
Field Goals12
Field Goals Attempted22
Third-Down Efficiency3 / 111 / 13
Fourth-Down Efficiency0 / 00 / 0
Time of Possession28:3731:23

Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Morrall 7/1514701
Unitas 3/98812
Havrilak 1/12500
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Nowatzke103319
Bulaich182808
Unitas1404
Havrilak 1303
Morrall 1101
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Jefferson352023
Mackey280175t
Hinton 251026
Havrilak227025
Nowatzke145045
Bulaich1505
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Volk130300
Logan114140
J.Curtis113130
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Lee 441.5560
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Gardin4/3420
Logan1/0880
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Duncan 490300

 

Super Bowl V: Dallas Cowboys Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Morton12/2612713
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Garrison1265019
Thomas183507
Morton1202
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Reeves546017
Thomas42117t
Garrison219014
Hayes141041
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Howley222220
Renfro1000
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Widby941.9490
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
D. Anderson3/0970
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Harris118180
Hill114140
Kiner1220

January 17, 1971

Orange Bowl (Miami, FL)

Attendance: 79,204

National Anthem: Tommy Loy (Trumpeter)

Coin Toss: Norm Schachter

Halftime Show: Southeast Missouri State College Marching Golden Eagles Band with Anita Bryant

Network: NBC

Announcers: Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote

Nielsen ratings: 39.9 (est. 46 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $72,000

Super Bowl V Cowboys & Colts Highlights

Super Bowl V: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl V Championship Ring and Game Ticket Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 - MVP Cowboys LB Chuck Howley

NFL Football: "Super Bowl V | Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 | MVP Cowboys LB Chuck Howley"