November 6, 2024 • 9 mins
Welcome to our podcast on Super Bowl 5, a game that would go down in history as one of the most unusual and dramatic championship matchups in NFL history. This contest between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys took place on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. As we delve into the details of this historic game, we'll explore the lead-up, the key players, the dramatic moments, and the lasting impact of what would become known as the "Blunder Bowl”. The 1970 NFL season was a year of transition. It marked the first season after the AFL-NFL merger, with the leagues now unified under the NFL banner. The Baltimore Colts, representing the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC), and the Dallas Cowboys, from the National Football Conference (NFC), would face off in this historic Super Bowl. The Baltimore Colts entered Super Bowl 5 with a chip on their shoulder. Just two years earlier, they had suffered a shocking upset loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl 3, a defeat that still stung for many on the team. The Colts were led by head coach Don McCafferty, who was in his first year at the helm after taking over from the legendary Don Shula. At quarterback, the Colts had a unique situation. They boasted two exceptional signal-callers in Johnny Unitas and Earl Morrall. Unitas, known as "The Golden Arm," was a legend in Baltimore and one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he had been plagued by injuries in recent years. Earl Morrall, who had led the team to Super Bowl 3 before being benched in that game, had performed admirably when called upon the Colts' offense also featured a strong running game led by Norm Bulaich and Tom Nowatzke. Their receiving corps was anchored by future Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey, along with wide receivers Roy Jefferson and Eddie Hinton. On defense, the Colts boasted a formidable unit led by defensive end Bubba Smith and linebacker Mike Curtis. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, were making their first Super Bowl appearance after years of playoff frustrations. Led by innovative head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys had earned the nickname "Next Year's Champions" due to their inability to win the big game. They were determined to shed that label and prove they could perform on the biggest stage. The Cowboys' offense was led by quarterback Craig Morton, who had beaten out Roger Staubach for the starting job that season. Morton had a strong arm and a talented group of receivers to throw to, including Bob Hayes and Lance Rentzel. The running game was anchored by the duo of Duane Thomas and Walt Garrison. On defense, the Cowboys boasted one of the best units in the league. Known as the "Doomsday Defense," it featured future Hall of Famers Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro, along with other standouts like Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan. As game day approached, the Colts were slight favorites, but many experts expected a close, hard-fought contest. What unfolded over the next sixty minutes of play would exceed even those expectations, though not always for the right reasons. The game began with both teams showing signs of nerves. The first quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither offense able to gain much traction. The Cowboys managed to get on the board first with a 14 yard field goal from kicker Mike Clark, giving them a 3 oh lead. The second quarter saw the game's first touchdown, but it came in an unusual fashion. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas attempted a pass to Eddie Hinton, but the ball bounced off Hinton's hands, then off the fingertips of Cowboys defender Mel Renfro, and into the arms of Colts tight end John Mackey, who ran it in for a 75-yard touchdown. However, the extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 6 to 3 in favor of the Colts. The Cowboys responded with a touchdown of their own later in the quarter. Running back Duane Thomas punched it in from the 7-yard line, giving Dallas a 13 to 6 lead at halftime. The third quarter saw the game take several dramatic turns. First, Johnny Unitas was knocked out of the game with a rib injury after a hit by Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Earl Morrall came in to replace him, just as he had in Super Bowl 3 two years earlier. The Colts managed to tie the game at 13 to 13 on a 2-yard run by Tom Nowatzke, but the real drama was yet to come. Both teams' offenses struggled mightily, with turnovers and penalties becoming the defining feature of the game. In total, the two teams would combine for 11 turnovers - a Super Bowl record that still stands today. As the fourth quarter began, the game remained tied at 13 to 13. Both defenses continued to dominate, forcing punts and turnovers. The Cowboys seemed to have a golden opportunity when they recovered a fumble deep in Colts territory, but they were unable to capitalize, missing a field goal attempt. With just over a minute left in the game, Colts linebacker Mike Curtis intercepted a Craig Morton pass, giving Baltimore excellent field
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to our podcast on Super Bowl five, a game
that would go down in history as one of the
most unusual and dramatic championship matchups in NFL history. This
contest between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys took
place on January seventeenth, nineteen seventy one, at the Orange
Bowl in Miami, Florida. As we delve into the details
(00:20):
of this historic game, we'll explore the lead up, the
key players, the dramatic moments, and the lasting impact of
what would become known as the Blunder Bowl. The nineteen
seventy NFL season was a year of transition. It marked
the first season after the AFL NFL merger, with the
leagues now unified under the NFL banner. The Baltimore Colts,
(00:43):
representing the newly formed American Football Conference AFC, and the
Dallas Cowboys from the National Football Conference NFC would face
off in this historic Super Bowl. The Baltimore Colts entered
Super Bowl five with a chip on their shoulder. Just
two years earlier, they had suffered a shocking upset loss
(01:04):
to the New York Jets and Super Bowl Three, a
defeat that still stung for many on the team. The
Colts were led by head coach Don McCafferty, who was
in his first year at the Helm after taking over
from the legendary Don Shula. At quarterback, the Colts had
a unique situation. They boasted two exceptional signal callers in
Johnny Unitas and Earl Morale. Unitis, known as the Golden Arm,
(01:27):
was a legend in Baltimore and one of the greatest
quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he had been plagued by
injuries in recent years. Their receiving corps was anchored by
future Hall of Fame tight end John Mackie, along with
wide receivers Roy Jefferson and Eddie Hinton. On defense, the
Colts boasted a formidable unit led by defensive end Bubba
Smith and linebacker Mike Curtis. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, were
(01:51):
making their first Super Bowl appearance after years of playoff frustrations.
Led by innovative head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys had
earned the nickname next Year's Champions due to their inability
to win the big Game. They were determined to shed
that label and prove they could perform on the biggest stage.
The Cowboys offense was led by quarterback Craig Morton, who
(02:14):
had beaten out Roger Staubach for the starting job that season.
Morton had a strong arm and a talented group of
receivers to throw to, including Bob Hayes and Lance Rensel.
The running game was anchored by the duo of Dwayne
Thomas and Walt Garrison. On defense, the Cowboys boasted one
of the best units in the league, known as the
(02:35):
Doomsday Defense. It featured future Hall of Famers Bob Lilly
and Mel Renfro, along with other standouts like Chuck Howley
and Leroy Jordan. As game day approached, the Colts were
slight favorites, but many experts expected a close, hard fought contest.
What unfolded over the next sixty minutes of play would
exceed even those expectations, though not always for the right reasons.
(02:57):
The game began with both teams showing signs of nerves.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither offense
able to gain much traction. The Cowboys managed to get
on the board first with a fourteen yard field goal
from kicker Mike Clark, giving them a three to zero lead.
The second quarter saw the game's first touchdown, but it
came in an unusual fashion. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas attempted
(03:19):
to pass to Eddie Hinton, but the ball bounced off
Hinton's hands, then off the fingertips of Cowboys defender mel
Renfro and into the arms of Colts tight end John Mackie,
who ran it in for a seventy five yard touchdown. However,
the extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at
six to three in favor of the Colts. The Cowboys
responded with a touchdown of their own later in the quarter.
(03:42):
Running back Dwayne Thomas punched it in from the seven
yard line, giving Dallas a thirteen to six lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw the game take several dramatic turns. First,
Johnny Unitas was knocked out of the game with a
rib injury after a hit by Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan.
(04:04):
Earl Morale came in to replace him, just as he
had in Super Bowl three two years earlier. The Colts
managed to tie the game at thirteen to thirteen on
a two yard run by Tom Nawatski, but the real
drama was yet to come. Both teams offenses struggled mightily,
with turnovers and penalties becoming the defining feature of the game.
(04:25):
In total, the two teams would combine for eleven turnovers,
a Super Bowl record that still stands today. As the
fourth quarter began, the game remained tied at thirteen to thirteen.
Both defenses continued to dominate, forcing punts and turnovers. The
Cowboys seemed to have a golden opportunity when they recovered
a fumble, but they were unable to capitalize, missing a
(04:48):
field goal attempt. With just over a minute left in
the game, Colts linebacker Mike Curtis intercepted a Craig Morton pass,
giving Baltimore excellent field position. This set up what would
be the game winning field goal, a thirty two yard
kick by rookie Jim O'Brien with just five seconds left
on the clock. As the final whistle blew, the Baltimore
(05:08):
Colts had emerged victorious with a score of sixteen to thirteen.
They had exercised the demons of their Super Bowl three
loss and claimed their first NFL championship since nineteen fifty eight.
In a surprising twist, the Super Bowl five MVP Award
was given to Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, marking the first
and only time in Super Bowl history that a player
from the losing team was named MVP. Howley had an
(05:32):
outstanding game, recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery. His
selection as MVP was a testament to the defensive nature
of the game and the struggles of both offenses. The
game would go down in history with several unflattering nicknames,
including the Blunder Bowl and the stuper Bowl, due to
the high number of turnovers and mistakes. However, it was
(05:53):
also one of the most dramatic and closely contested Super
Bowls to date, with the outcome in doubt until the
final sets. For the Colts, the victory was sweet redemption
after their upset loss two years earlier. Players like Johnny Unitas,
who had been part of the Colts' NFL championship teams
in the late nineteen fifties, could now add a Super
(06:15):
Bowl title to their illustrious careers. For younger players like
Jim O'Brien, the rookie kicker who booted the winning field goal,
it was a dream start to their NFL careers. The Cowboys, meanwhile,
were left to wonder what might have been their next
year's champions label seemed more apt than ever, but they
would not have to wait long for redemption. The following year,
(06:37):
they would return to the Super Bowl and claim their
first championship. Super Bowl five was significant for several reasons
beyond the game itself. It was the first Super Bowl
played after the AFL NFL merger, marking the beginning of
the modern NFL era. It was also the first Super
Bowl to be played on artificial turf, as the Orange
Bowl had installed astro turf the previous year. The game
(06:59):
also highlights the importance of defense and championship football. While
high scoring, offense driven games would become more common in
later years, super Bowl five showed that a strong defense
could still be the key to victory in the biggest
game of all. For the players involved, super Bowl five
represented the pinnacle of their careers. Many of them, including
(07:22):
Johnny Unitas, John Mackie, and Bubba Smith from the Colts
and Bob Lilly and mel Renfro from the Cowboys, would
go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. The game had a lasting impact on both franchises.
For the Colts, it would be their last Super Bowl
appearance while representing Baltimore. The team would infamously move to
(07:42):
Indianapolis in nineteen eighty four, leaving behind a passionate fan
base and a rich history. The Cowboys, despite the loss,
were on the verge of becoming America's team. They would
return to the Super Bowl the following year and win,
beginning a dynasty that would see them become one of
the most successful and popular franchises in NFL history. As
(08:03):
we look back on Super Bowl Five from our vantage
point today, it's easy to focus on the mistakes and
turnovers that characterized the game. However, it's important to remember
the context of the time. This was an era of
dominant defenses, when rule changes favoring offense had not yet
been implemented. The struggle between these two talented teams, culminating
(08:25):
in a last minute field goal, created a drama that
is still remembered half a century later. The game also
serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports.
Despite all the analysis and predictions, once the players take
the field, anything can happen. The bounces of an oblong football,
the split second decisions of players under pressure, and the
(08:46):
thin line between victory and defeat. All of these elements
were on full display in super Bowl Five. In conclusion,
super Bowl five, for all its flaws and peculiarities, remains
a fascinating chapter in NFL history. It was a game
that showcase the drama of football, the importance of defense,
and the fine margins that often decide championships. From Johnny
(09:09):
Unitas' injury to Earl morriles relief appearance from Chuck Howley's
MVP performance in a losing effort to Jim O'Brien's clutch
game winning kick, super Bowl five provided moments that would
be remembered and discussed for decades to come,
Welcome to our podcast on Super Bowl five, a game
that would go down in history as one of the
most unusual and dramatic championship matchups in NFL history. This
contest between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys took
place on January seventeenth, nineteen seventy one, at the Orange
Bowl in Miami, Florida. As we delve into the details
(00:20):
of this historic game, we'll explore the lead up, the
key players, the dramatic moments, and the lasting impact of
what would become known as the Blunder Bowl. The nineteen
seventy NFL season was a year of transition. It marked
the first season after the AFL NFL merger, with the
leagues now unified under the NFL banner. The Baltimore Colts,
(00:43):
representing the newly formed American Football Conference AFC, and the
Dallas Cowboys from the National Football Conference NFC would face
off in this historic Super Bowl. The Baltimore Colts entered
Super Bowl five with a chip on their shoulder. Just
two years earlier, they had suffered a shocking upset loss
(01:04):
to the New York Jets and Super Bowl Three, a
defeat that still stung for many on the team. The
Colts were led by head coach Don McCafferty, who was
in his first year at the Helm after taking over
from the legendary Don Shula. At quarterback, the Colts had
a unique situation. They boasted two exceptional signal callers in
Johnny Unitas and Earl Morale. Unitis, known as the Golden Arm,
(01:27):
was a legend in Baltimore and one of the greatest
quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he had been plagued by
injuries in recent years. Their receiving corps was anchored by
future Hall of Fame tight end John Mackie, along with
wide receivers Roy Jefferson and Eddie Hinton. On defense, the
Colts boasted a formidable unit led by defensive end Bubba
Smith and linebacker Mike Curtis. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, were
(01:51):
making their first Super Bowl appearance after years of playoff frustrations.
Led by innovative head coach Tom Landry, the Cowboys had
earned the nickname next Year's Champions due to their inability
to win the big Game. They were determined to shed
that label and prove they could perform on the biggest stage.
The Cowboys offense was led by quarterback Craig Morton, who
(02:14):
had beaten out Roger Staubach for the starting job that season.
Morton had a strong arm and a talented group of
receivers to throw to, including Bob Hayes and Lance Rensel.
The running game was anchored by the duo of Dwayne
Thomas and Walt Garrison. On defense, the Cowboys boasted one
of the best units in the league, known as the
(02:35):
Doomsday Defense. It featured future Hall of Famers Bob Lilly
and Mel Renfro, along with other standouts like Chuck Howley
and Leroy Jordan. As game day approached, the Colts were
slight favorites, but many experts expected a close, hard fought contest.
What unfolded over the next sixty minutes of play would
exceed even those expectations, though not always for the right reasons.
(02:57):
The game began with both teams showing signs of nerves.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle, with neither offense
able to gain much traction. The Cowboys managed to get
on the board first with a fourteen yard field goal
from kicker Mike Clark, giving them a three to zero lead.
The second quarter saw the game's first touchdown, but it
came in an unusual fashion. Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas attempted
(03:19):
to pass to Eddie Hinton, but the ball bounced off
Hinton's hands, then off the fingertips of Cowboys defender mel
Renfro and into the arms of Colts tight end John Mackie,
who ran it in for a seventy five yard touchdown. However,
the extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at
six to three in favor of the Colts. The Cowboys
responded with a touchdown of their own later in the quarter.
(03:42):
Running back Dwayne Thomas punched it in from the seven
yard line, giving Dallas a thirteen to six lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw the game take several dramatic turns. First,
Johnny Unitas was knocked out of the game with a
rib injury after a hit by Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan.
(04:04):
Earl Morale came in to replace him, just as he
had in Super Bowl three two years earlier. The Colts
managed to tie the game at thirteen to thirteen on
a two yard run by Tom Nawatski, but the real
drama was yet to come. Both teams offenses struggled mightily,
with turnovers and penalties becoming the defining feature of the game.
(04:25):
In total, the two teams would combine for eleven turnovers,
a Super Bowl record that still stands today. As the
fourth quarter began, the game remained tied at thirteen to thirteen.
Both defenses continued to dominate, forcing punts and turnovers. The
Cowboys seemed to have a golden opportunity when they recovered
a fumble, but they were unable to capitalize, missing a
(04:48):
field goal attempt. With just over a minute left in
the game, Colts linebacker Mike Curtis intercepted a Craig Morton pass,
giving Baltimore excellent field position. This set up what would
be the game winning field goal, a thirty two yard
kick by rookie Jim O'Brien with just five seconds left
on the clock. As the final whistle blew, the Baltimore
(05:08):
Colts had emerged victorious with a score of sixteen to thirteen.
They had exercised the demons of their Super Bowl three
loss and claimed their first NFL championship since nineteen fifty eight.
In a surprising twist, the Super Bowl five MVP Award
was given to Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, marking the first
and only time in Super Bowl history that a player
from the losing team was named MVP. Howley had an
(05:32):
outstanding game, recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery. His
selection as MVP was a testament to the defensive nature
of the game and the struggles of both offenses. The
game would go down in history with several unflattering nicknames,
including the Blunder Bowl and the stuper Bowl, due to
the high number of turnovers and mistakes. However, it was
(05:53):
also one of the most dramatic and closely contested Super
Bowls to date, with the outcome in doubt until the
final sets. For the Colts, the victory was sweet redemption
after their upset loss two years earlier. Players like Johnny Unitas,
who had been part of the Colts' NFL championship teams
in the late nineteen fifties, could now add a Super
(06:15):
Bowl title to their illustrious careers. For younger players like
Jim O'Brien, the rookie kicker who booted the winning field goal,
it was a dream start to their NFL careers. The Cowboys, meanwhile,
were left to wonder what might have been their next
year's champions label seemed more apt than ever, but they
would not have to wait long for redemption. The following year,
(06:37):
they would return to the Super Bowl and claim their
first championship. Super Bowl five was significant for several reasons
beyond the game itself. It was the first Super Bowl
played after the AFL NFL merger, marking the beginning of
the modern NFL era. It was also the first Super
Bowl to be played on artificial turf, as the Orange
Bowl had installed astro turf the previous year. The game
(06:59):
also highlights the importance of defense and championship football. While
high scoring, offense driven games would become more common in
later years, super Bowl five showed that a strong defense
could still be the key to victory in the biggest
game of all. For the players involved, super Bowl five
represented the pinnacle of their careers. Many of them, including
(07:22):
Johnny Unitas, John Mackie, and Bubba Smith from the Colts
and Bob Lilly and mel Renfro from the Cowboys, would
go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. The game had a lasting impact on both franchises.
For the Colts, it would be their last Super Bowl
appearance while representing Baltimore. The team would infamously move to
(07:42):
Indianapolis in nineteen eighty four, leaving behind a passionate fan
base and a rich history. The Cowboys, despite the loss,
were on the verge of becoming America's team. They would
return to the Super Bowl the following year and win,
beginning a dynasty that would see them become one of
the most successful and popular franchises in NFL history. As
(08:03):
we look back on Super Bowl Five from our vantage
point today, it's easy to focus on the mistakes and
turnovers that characterized the game. However, it's important to remember
the context of the time. This was an era of
dominant defenses, when rule changes favoring offense had not yet
been implemented. The struggle between these two talented teams, culminating
(08:25):
in a last minute field goal, created a drama that
is still remembered half a century later. The game also
serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports.
Despite all the analysis and predictions, once the players take
the field, anything can happen. The bounces of an oblong football,
the split second decisions of players under pressure, and the
(08:46):
thin line between victory and defeat. All of these elements
were on full display in super Bowl Five. In conclusion,
super Bowl five, for all its flaws and peculiarities, remains
a fascinating chapter in NFL history. It was a game
that showcase the drama of football, the importance of defense,
and the fine margins that often decide championships. From Johnny
(09:09):
Unitas' injury to Earl morriles relief appearance from Chuck Howley's
MVP performance in a losing effort to Jim O'Brien's clutch
game winning kick, super Bowl five provided moments that would
be remembered and discussed for decades to come,
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