Super Bowl V: A Tumultuous Road to the Championship
The fifth edition of the Super Bowl, Super Bowl V was held on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys battled it out for the championship title in a game that would go down in history as one of the closest and most dramatic in Super Bowl history.
The Season Leading Up to Super Bowl V
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth teams had a tumultuous season leading up to Super Bowl V. The Baltimore Colts had a remarkable start, winning their first 11 games of the season. However, they suffered a setback when their quarterback, Johnny Unitas, was injured in Week 13. The team struggled without their star quarterback, losing two of their last three games.
On the other hand, the Dallas Cowboys had a shaky start, losing their first game of the season to the New Orleans Saints. They bounced back, however, winning their next six games. Despite a few hiccups along the way, the Cowboys finished the regular season with a record of 10-4.
The Halftime Show
The halftime show of Super Bowl V featured a tribute to Mardi Gras, with performances by the Southern University Marching Band, Grambling State University Band, and Al Hirt, a New Orleans-based jazz musician. This was the first time that the halftime show featured performances by more than one group.
Super Bowl V: A Tale of Two Halves
Super Bowl V was a closely contested match, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The first half of the game was marred by turnovers, penalties, and missed opportunities.
First Half Struggles
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Colts had three turnovers in the first half, including a fumble that led to a Cowboys touchdown. Dallas took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter after a 17-yard touchdown pass from Craig Morton to wide receiver Bob Hayes. However, the Cowboys missed the extra-point attempt.
In the second quarter, the Colts scored their first points of the game when kicker Jim O’Brien made a 32-yard field goal. The Cowboys responded with a 46-yard field goal from Toni Fritsch to take a 9-3 lead. Later in the quarter, the Colts had a chance to score when they drove to the Cowboys’ 2-yard line. However, they were unable to capitalize and settled for another field goal from O’Brien, making the score 9-6 at halftime.
Second Half Comeback
The second half of the game saw a dramatic turnaround, with both teams finding their footing. The Cowboys came back from a 13-6 deficit to tie the game at 13-13. However, the Colts regained the lead with a field goal, making it 16-13.
Fourth Quarter Drama
Embed from Getty ImagesWith just over two minutes remaining in the game, the Cowboys drove to the Colts’ 6-yard line. On third down, Morton threw a pass to running back Dan Reeves, but the ball bounced off his hands and was intercepted by Colts linebacker Mike Curtis. However, the Colts were unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced to punt.
The Cowboys got the ball back with just over a minute remaining in the game and drove to the Colts’ 36-yard line. With 28 seconds remaining, Fritsch attempted a 51-yard field goal, but it sailed wide right. The Colts got the ball back and drove down the field, setting up O’Brien’s game-winning field goal with just five seconds left on the clock.
Key Plays and Players
One of the key plays in the game came in the third quarter when Cowboys defensive back Mel Renfro intercepted a pass from Unitas and returned it 38 yards to the Colts’ 3-yard line. The Cowboys scored a touchdown on the next play to tie the game at 13-13.
For the Colts, O’Brien was the hero of the game, scoring all of the team’s points, including the game-winning field goal. He finished the game 4-for-4 on field goal attempts and 1-for-1 on extra points.
Another key player for the Colts was linebacker Mike Curtis, who had a remarkable performance in the game, recording 14 tackles and intercepting a pass. For the Cowboys, quarterback Craig Morton threw for 127 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Bob Hayes caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Super Bowl V will always be remembered for the drama and excitement that unfolded in the second half. The game was a tale of two halves, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm early on but finding their footing in the second half. The key plays and players in the game helped to shape the outcome, with O’Brien’s game-winning field goal standing out as one of the most memorable moments in Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl V MVP: Jim O’Brien
Embed from Getty ImagesJim O’Brien, the Baltimore Colts kicker, was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl V. He scored all of the Colts’ points in the game, including the game-winning field goal with just five seconds left on the clock.
The Game-Winning Field Goal
O’Brien’s game-winning field goal was the most memorable moment of the game. With the game tied at 13-13 and just seconds remaining on the clock, the Colts drove down the field and set up a 32-yard field goal attempt for O’Brien. He made the kick, giving the Colts a 16-13 victory and cementing his place in Super Bowl history.
O’Brien’s Other Kicks
In addition to his game-winning field goal, O’Brien made three other field goals in the game, from distances of 32, 28, and 42 yards. He also made his only extra-point attempt of the game.
First Kicker to Win Super Bowl MVP
O’Brien’s performance in Super Bowl V was remarkable, and he became the first kicker to win the Super Bowl MVP award. His perfect kicking performance was crucial to the Colts’ victory, and he played a significant role in the team’s success.
O’Brien’s Legacy
After Super Bowl V, O’Brien continued to play for the Colts until 1972. He then played for the Detroit Lions for two seasons before retiring in 1974. He finished his career with 129 field goals and 496 points.
O’Brien’s legacy in Super Bowl history is significant, as he is the only kicker to win the Super Bowl MVP award. His game-winning field goal in Super Bowl V is still remembered as one of the most dramatic moments in Super Bowl history.
In Conclusion
Super Bowl V was a thrilling and closely contested game that saw two teams battle it out for the championship title. Both the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys had a tumultuous season leading up to the game, but they fought hard and put on a great performance. The halftime show featured a tribute to Mardi Gras, with performances by several groups. The key players in the game included Johnny Unitas, Mike Curtis, Craig Morton, and Bob Hayes. However, it was Jim O’Brien who emerged as the MVP of the game, scoring the game-winning field goal with just seconds left on the clock. Super Bowl V will always be remembered as one of the most dramatic and exciting Super Bowls in history.