Guide Note:

The Baltimore Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 in Super Bowl V. This was the first Super Bowl played following the conclusion of the merger between the AFL and the NFL. Oddly enough, it featured two teams from the old NFL, as the Colts were one of three teams to be relocated into the new American Football Conference to join the ten AFL teams. The other teams moved to the AFC were the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley was named the MVP of the game. To date, he is the only player froma losing team ever to win a Super Bowl MVP award.

Fast Facts

1. January 17, 1971
2. Site: Orange Bowl
3. Location: Miami
4. Attendance: 79,204
5. MVP: Chuck Howley
6. Television: NBC

The Blunder Bowl

The Colts were looking to erase the stigma of being the 1st NFL team to lose to an AFL team in a Super Bowl, while the Cowboys had long worn the label of "Next Year's Champion". Perhaps because they were both trying too hard to forever shed the image of being "losers", the game saw both teams combine for 11 turnovers, 14 penalties, and were 4-for-24 on third down conversions.

How they got there:

The Cowboys won the NFC East with a 10-4 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Lions 5-0 and then won the NFC Championship Game by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 17-10. The Colts went 11-2-1 to win the AFC East. After shutting out the Cincinnati Bengals 17-0, the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders 27-17 to win the AFC Championship Game.

Memorable ending:

After a sloppy game, the Colts registered the final turnover of the game when Baltimore linebacker Mike Curtis intercepted a Craig Morton pass that was deflected out of the hands of Dallas running back Dan Reeves, and set up a game winning field goal attempt. Rookie kicker Jim O'Brien nailed the 32-yard with just five seconds left to give the Colts the 16-13 triumph.

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