This game was arguably one of the best Super Bowl matchups ever as both team's featured the No. 1 ranked defensive units in their respective conferences and more then solid offenses and featured 14 future Hall of-Famers, nine from Pitt and five from Big D.

At halftime the Steelers took a 21-14 lead, but were able to pull away in the second half due to two major miscues on the part of the Cowboys and one questionable penalty by the refs.

First, is Jackie Smith not being able to hold onto a potential game tying pass in the third quarter, which lead to the famous call by Cowboys play by play annoucer by Verne Lundquist "Aw, Bless his heart, he has to be the sickest man in America". Thus the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal and trailed 21-17, instead of being able to tie the game.

On the Steelers next posssesion, Cowboys DB Benny Barnes was called for tripping Lynn Swann, when it was incidental contact, however the incidental contact rule didn't exist in the NFL at the time, and it inspired the NFL to introduce the rule the following season, and it kept Pittsburgh's drive alive and it resulted in a Franco Harris TD.

On the ensuing kickoff, Steelers Kicker Roy Gerala fell while making the kick and it bounced to Randy White who was not able to hold onto the ball mainly because he had a cast around his left arm, and the Steelers recovered and on the very next play Terry Bradshaw, connecting with Lynn Swann on the next play for another TD and seemingly putting the gameout of reach.

However America's Team, wouldn't go down with a fight and after Roger Staubach went into overdrive led the team down field for two quick TD's, the second coming after the Cowboys recovered an onside kick. Although the Steelers D may have become subconsiously complacement knowing they had a 17 point lead with less then seven minutes remaining in the game.

Midnight struck on the Cowboys next onside kick attempt was recovered by Steelers FB Rocky Blier (he would later say he prayed the ball wouldn't be kicked to him) and the Steelers ran out the clock.

Had Jackie Smith been able to hold onto the pass from Roger Staucbach, or Pass Intereference hadn't been called on Benny Barnes or Roy Gerala hadn't accidently squibbed a kick /Randy White been able to hold onto the ball this game might have resulted in the Cowboys might have Six Super Bowl titles instead of five.

None the less a fine game and the Cowboys organization and their fans were able to exact a sense of revenge when it took down the Black and Gold in Super Bowl XXX in 1996.

I hated the outcome of this game, but it was one of the most exciting games I'd ever seen. The Steelers were a force to be reckonned with, but the Cowboys were pretty awesome in their own right. It was certainly the most exciting finish to a Super Bowl I've ever seen.

anytime the Steelers win, its really awesome.....beating the Cowboys was like beating a jr. high football team

Poor Jackie Smith a Hall Of Fame TE who dropped a sure TD that would have kept the score tied. Tony D ran 16 times for 95 yards. Hey Coach Landry why did you not run Tony D about Twenty Five times the Steelers could not stop'em.

Though not as close as the score would allude (Dallas scored 2 late TDs to close the gap), it had a ton of scoring with John Stallworth and Terry Bradshaw hooking up for 2 TDs. The tragic sight of Jackie Smith dropping an easy TD was memorable. Smith, a Hall of Fame TE at the end of his career, deserved a better finale.

Feh. Don't let the score fool you, this game is extremely overrated, as the Steelers led by 18 and the Cowboys' last two TDs came in garbage time. I suspect the igh rating comes from the fact that every other Super Bowl around this time was so bad it was being called the "Super Bore". The Steelers-Rams game was actually better, despite the 12-point spread.

Man this game is underrated. It should be mentioned in the top 10 without a doubt, but it's become somewhat forgotten. It kills me that the Cowboys never lost a Super Bowl by more than 4 points. If freakin' Jackie Smith could hold onto the ball Dallas might've won. Have you ever watched the NFL Films coverage? Pittsburgh got alot of calls. Even Jack Hamm said so. Pittsburgh was a great team, but, unlike X, this should've been Dallas's game. The 70s should've been a split and Team of the 70s would be one of the great debates of all time.

One of the best. Plus, I hate the Cowboys. The Steelers were dominant in that era and deserved to win.

Not the best played ( Bradshaw throwing three INT's in the 1st half ) , but, in my opinion , still the most exciting SB ever played . A roller coaster ride ,with so many exciting plays and TD's , from kickoff to the final gun .

In my opinion, the best Super Bowl. A great, competitive, and exciting game from beginning to end.

Terry Bradshaw as QB at his finest.

Any time the Steelers win it's great. Beating the Cowboys was a bonus.

Good game or not, the wrong team won.

classic

a true classic