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Super Bowl power rankings: Miami games from 10-1

By Russell S. Baxter

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 12: Joe Namath No. 12 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl on January 12, 1969 in Miami, Florida. The Jets defeated the Colts 16-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 12: Joe Namath No. 12 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl on January 12, 1969 in Miami, Florida. The Jets defeated the Colts 16-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 21: Terry Bradshaw #12 and Mike Webster #52 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII at the Orange Bowl on January 21, 1979 in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won the Super Bowl 35-31. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 21: Terry Bradshaw #12 and Mike Webster #52 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII at the Orange Bowl on January 21, 1979 in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won the Super Bowl 35-31. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1. XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31

The match-up had everything you wanted in a Super Bowl and the game lived up to its lofty billing. Either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Dallas Cowboys would become the first franchise to win three Super Bowls. Three years earlier, Chuck Noll’s defending NFL champions held off Tom Landry’s wild card squad, 21-17.  Now the clubs were back at it at the same venue, Miami’s fabled Orange Bowl, this time with a grass field and not artificial turf and in a clash that today is a who’s who from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The ‘Boys came out strong with second-year running back Tony Dorsett running at will. Then a fumble by Drew Pearson on an attempted reverse would pave the way for Terry Bradshaw’s 28-yard TD pass to John Stallworth. But a couple of turnovers by the Steelers’ signal-caller would eventually result in Dallas taking a 14-7 second-quarter lead. However, Bradshaw found Stallworth again and a short toss turned into a 75-yard score and the teams were all even again. A third touchdown pass by the league’s MVP in 1978 and Noll’s club owned a seven-point lead at intermission.

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Dallas closed the gap to 21-17 in the third quarter after Cowboys’ star quarterback Roger Staubach and tight end Jackie Smith failed to connect on a throw when the latter was wide open. Then came the controversial pass interference call on Benny Barnes vs. Lynn Swann. It set the table for Franco Harris’ 22-yard TD run. Defensive tackle Randy White tried to pick up the sloppy ensuing kickoff but dropped the ball and linebacker “Dirt” Winston recovered. It was Bradshaw to Swann on the next play at Pittsburgh opened up a 35-17 lead and then held off a late Cowboys’ rally for the win.

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