Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers 21 Dallas Cowboys 17 - MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann
Super Bowl X: Steelers 21 Cowboys 17 - MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann

Famous for his acrobatic catches, Lynn Swann did not disappoint in the Steelers 21-17 win over the Cowboys. Racking up a Super Bowl record 161 yards receiving on only four catches, Swann's 64-yard touchdown reception from Terry Bradshaw made the difference in the close contest. Swann's score capped a 14-0 run for the Steelers in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row on Terry Bradshaw's 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann and an aggressive defense that snuffed out a late rally by the Cowboys with an end-zone interception on the final play of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh ran on fourth down and gave up the ball on the Cowboys' 39 with 1:22 to play. Roger Staubach ran and passed for two first downs but his last desperation pass was picked off by Glen Edwards.

Dallas's scoring was the result of two touchdown passes by Staubach, one to Drew Pearson for 29 yards and the other to Percy Howard for 34 yards. Toni Fritsch had a 36-yard field goal.

The Steelers scored on two touchdown passes by Bradshaw, one to Randy Grossman for seven yards and the long bomb to Swann.

Roy Gerela had 36- and 18-yard field goals. Reggie Harrison blocked a punt through the end zone for a safety.

Swann set a Super Bowl record by gaining 161 yards on his four receptions.

Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers 21 Dallas Cowboys 17 - MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann
Super Bowl X Logo

Super Bowl X MVP: MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann

Super Bowl X MVP: MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann
Super Bowl X MVP: MVP Steelers WR Lynn Swann

Pittsburgh became the third team to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

They were led by balletic wide receiver Lynn Swann, who set a Super Bowl record with 161 receiving yards on 4 catches and earned Most Valuable Player honors.

A 64-yard touchdown pass from future two-time Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw to Swann late in the fourth quarter proved to be the decisive score.

Swann's score capped a 14-0 run for the Steelers in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the game, Swann had made a couple of acrobatic catches. One of them, a juggling, tumbling, 53-yard catch in the second quarter, is one of the Super Bowl's greatest plays. Stumbling over a defender, Swann was horizontal, parallel with the field in midair when he caught the pass.

Super Bowl X Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys730717
Pittsburgh Steelers7001421

 

1st Quarter

Cowboys: D. Pearson 29-yard TD pass from Staubach (Fritsch PAT), 4:36

Steelers: Grossman 7-yard TD pass from Bradshaw (Gerela PAT),9:03

2nd Quarter

Cowboys: Fritsch 36-yard FG, 0:15

4th Quarter

Steelers: Safety Harrison 0, 3:32

Steelers: Gerela 36-yard FG, 6:19

Steelers: Gerela 18-yard FG, 8:23

Steelers: Swann 64-yard TD pass from Bradshaw (kick failed),11:58

Cowboys: P. Howard 34-yard TD pass from Staubach (Fritsch PAT), 13:12

Super Bowl X: Team Statistics

Statistic Cowboys Steelers
Source: NFL
Total First Downs1413
Rushing First Downs67
Passing First Downs86
Penalty First Downs00
Total Net Yardage270339
Total Offensive Plays6267
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play4.45.1
Rushes3146
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)108149
Average Yards per Rush3.53.2
Passes Attempted2419
Passes Completed159
Had Intercepted30
Tackled Attempting to Pass72
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass4219
Yards Gained Passing (Net)162190
Punts74
Average Distance35.039.8
Punt Returns15
Punt Return Yardage531
Kickoff Returns44
Kickoff Return Yardage9689
Interception Return Yardage089
Fumbles44
Own Fumbles Recovered44
Opponent Fumbles Recovered00
Penalties20
Yards Penalized200
Total Points Scored1721
Touchdowns22
Rushing00
Passing22
Returns00
Extra Points21
Field Goals12
Fields Goals Attempted14
Safeties01
Third-Down Efficiency3/148/19
Fourth-Down Efficiency1/10/3
Time of Possession30:3029:30

Super Bowl X: Dallas Cowboys Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Staubach15/2420423
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Newhouse1656016
Staubach522011
Dennison51605
P. Pearson51409
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
P. Pearson553014
Young 331014
D. Pearson259130
Newhouse21208
P. Howard134134t
Fugett1909
Dennison1606
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
None
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Hoopes 640.8481
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Richards1/3550
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
P. Pearson448240
Henderson048480

 

Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Bradshaw 9/1920920
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Harris2782011
Bleier155108
Bradshaw41608
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Swann4161164t
Stallworth 28013
Harris 126026
L. Brown 1707
Grossman1717t
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Edwards135350
Thomas135350
Wagner119190
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Walden439.8590
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
D. Brown 3/01490
Edwards 2/017100
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Blount 364270
Collier 125250

January 19, 1976

Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida)

Attendance: 80,187

National Anthem: Tom Sullivan and Up With People

Coin Toss: United States Secretary of the Navy John Warner

Halftime Show: Up with People presents "200 Years and Just a Baby: Tribute to America's Bicentennial"

Network: CBS

Announcers: Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier and Hank Stram (4th quarter only)

Nielsen ratings: 42.3 (est. 57.7 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $110,000

Super Bowl X Steelers & Cowboys Highlights

Super Bowl X: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl X Championship Ring and Game Ticket

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