Thoughts on Super Bowl XII (Dal 27 Den 10)

[Bryan]

In '72, he had a decent but not great year. He deserved to at least start the NFC Championship game.

I think it would have been a bold decision for Landry to re-install Morton as the starter for the 1972 Championship game after what had just happened against the Niners. Morton starting the 72 Championship may have been the better decision in retrospect, but the Cowboys looked lifeless against San Fran with Morton as QB. Morton's numbers were bad in that divisional game (8-21-96-1 TD-2INT- 1 FUM); his teammates didn't do him any favors, though. Calvin Hill fumbled a lot, passes were dropped or bobbled for INTs. Morton was pulled after Bob Hayes dropped a long TD pass that would have made the score 28-20 at the end of the third quarter.

A lot happened in that 4th quarter. The Niners sacked Staubach often early on, and they seemingly continued to blitz their DBs and LBs for the remainder of the game. Calvin Hill had a long run that resulted in a FG to make the score 28-16, but Staubach really didn't start making plays until the last couple minutes of the game. The Niners offense couldn't bleed out the clock, Bruce Gossett missed a very makeable FG that would have iced the game, and Staubach's first TD pass to Billy Parks was a quick post to a vacant middle of the field. Preston Riley misplayed the onside kick which allowed Dallas another opportunity. San Fran drops back in prevent, Staubach runs up the middle for 21 yards. On the Ron Sellers TD, the Niners blitzed two LBs and Staubach threw against single-coverage to the middle of the field. As bad as everything played out, the Niners still had a chance to win with a FG (although Gossett had been terrible) being down 30-28. Brodie completed a couple quick passes, but a holding penalty on Cas Banaszak killed the drive and the game.

Its interesting to me how many things the Niners did wrong/poorly in that 4th period. The offense couldn't run out the clock or score a point. The defense constantly blitzed a rusty Staubach, allowing him to throw over the middle against man coverage. The easiest ways for the Niners to win were if Gossett makes his FG or if Riley recovers the onside kick. Even the Banaszak holding penalty was a lost opportunity, as a FG would have given the Niners a 1-point win.

[JohnH19]

In 1970, he completed just under 50% (102/207) but for 18 yards per completion. He could barely throw the ball in the playoffs because of his sore arm.I seem to recall that his arm bothered him a lot that season but 18 yards per completion?

In Super Bowl V, his late interception resulted in the Colts' winning FG.

Back in 2014, Morton was suing the NFL claiming that "he was exposed to multiple concussive and subconcussive brain traumas, and that the NFL willfully and deliberately did nothing about it." Not sure if that's been settled or not.

I have always felt that Dan Reeves should have caught that lame duck that he deflected to Mike Curtis.

[JuggernautJ]

In 1970, he completed just under 50% (102/207) but for 18 yards per completion. He could barely throw the ball in the playoffs because of his sore arm.I seem to recall that his arm bothered him a lot that season but 18 yards per completion?

Bob Hayes averaged 26 yards per reception and Lance Rentzel (almost) 20.
It never hurts to have Bullet Bob running up your average.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... l/1970.htm

[Jay Z]

In '72, he had a decent but not great year. He deserved to at least start the NFC Championship game.

I think it would have been a bold decision for Landry to re-install Morton as the starter for the 1972 Championship game after what had just happened against the Niners. Morton starting the 72 Championship may have been the better decision in retrospect, but the Cowboys looked lifeless against San Fran with Morton as QB. Morton's numbers were bad in that divisional game (8-21-96-1 TD-2INT- 1 FUM); his teammates didn't do him any favors, though. Calvin Hill fumbled a lot, passes were dropped or bobbled for INTs. Morton was pulled after Bob Hayes dropped a long TD pass that would have made the score 28-20 at the end of the third quarter.

A lot happened in that 4th quarter. The Niners sacked Staubach often early on, and they seemingly continued to blitz their DBs and LBs for the remainder of the game. Calvin Hill had a long run that resulted in a FG to make the score 28-16, but Staubach really didn't start making plays until the last couple minutes of the game. The Niners offense couldn't bleed out the clock, Bruce Gossett missed a very makeable FG that would have iced the game, and Staubach's first TD pass to Billy Parks was a quick post to a vacant middle of the field. Preston Riley misplayed the onside kick which allowed Dallas another opportunity. San Fran drops back in prevent, Staubach runs up the middle for 21 yards. On the Ron Sellers TD, the Niners blitzed two LBs and Staubach threw against single-coverage to the middle of the field. As bad as everything played out, the Niners still had a chance to win with a FG (although Gossett had been terrible) being down 30-28. Brodie completed a couple quick passes, but a holding penalty on Cas Banaszak killed the drive and the game.

Its interesting to me how many things the Niners did wrong/poorly in that 4th period. The offense couldn't run out the clock or score a point. The defense constantly blitzed a rusty Staubach, allowing him to throw over the middle against man coverage. The easiest ways for the Niners to win were if Gossett makes his FG or if Riley recovers the onside kick. Even the Banaszak holding penalty was a lost opportunity, as a FG would have given the Niners a 1-point win.

The Niners had 9 possessions in the second half. That's a lot. That's including the fact that they missed one because of the onside kick. The Cowboys had 11!

The Niners got two first downs on their first drive, which resulted in a different missed field goal. They got one first down on their final desperation drive. In between, they had 7 drives. One was a one play, one yard run for a touchdown, because they recovered a fumble on the Cowboy 1. The remaining six drives results in 19 plays, one first down, and no points. Five three and outs and a four and out. The second Gossett FG miss came after a recovered fumble on a Staubach sack. Wouldn't have taken much to make it a lot harder for the Cowboys.

Morton/Staubach actually wasn't a settled matter for the Cowboys even going into 1973. There was a battle for the job in training camp.

That situation makes me thing what would have happened had the Immaculate Reception not happened. Would the Raiders have gone with Lamonica or Stabler? 1972 was such a strange year for QBs in the playoffs. Morton got benched for Staubach, coming off an injury. Earl Morrall got benched for Griese, coming off an injury. Lamonica got benched for Stabler. Steve Spurrier was the regular season starter for the Niners, but got benched for John Brodie, coming off an injury. Billy Kilmer did go all the way in the playoffs because Sonny Jurgensen couldn't stay healthy any more. Terry Bradshaw was the established starter for the first time division champion Steelers. Of course he got hurt in the playoffs, to be replaced by Terry Hanratty. The other two playoff QBs were the immortal Mike Phipps and Scott Hunter!

[SixtiesFan]

In 1970, he completed just under 50% (102/207) but for 18 yards per completion. He could barely throw the ball in the playoffs because of his sore arm.I seem to recall that his arm bothered him a lot that season but 18 yards per completion?

In Super Bowl V, his late interception resulted in the Colts' winning FG.

Back in 2014, Morton was suing the NFL claiming that "he was exposed to multiple concussive and subconcussive brain traumas, and that the NFL willfully and deliberately did nothing about it." Not sure if that's been settled or not.

I have always felt that Dan Reeves should have caught that lame duck that he deflected to Mike Curtis.

I rewatched the play and it hit Reeves right in the hands and didn't seem to be wobbling. I ran it back several times and it was as bad a play as I've ever seen. I wonder what Coach Reeves thought when he chastised a player for dropping a pass?

[Gary Najman]

I believe that Morton was completing 73% of his passes at the time of his arm injury in 1969. He wound up at 53%.

In 1970, he completed just under 50% (102/207) but for 18 yards per completion. He could barely throw the ball in the playoffs because of his sore arm.I seem to recall that his arm bothered him a lot that season but 18 yards per completion?

In '72, he had a decent but not great year. He deserved to at least start the NFC Championship game.

Ironically, his best season may have been his final one, 1981. He had terrific numbers that year.

I always liked Craig Morton.

He played also in 1982 (as a backup to Steve DeBerg). Morton is part of a favorite trivia of mine: he was the last active player to start his pro career before the Super Bowl era.

[slats7]

Shame on you guys for knowing when "Mork and Mindy" debuted.

Speaking of Morton, was Earl Morrall the only other SB QB to be benched for poor performance (SB3)?

Trivia: what uni # did Morton wear before switching to #14?

[BD Sullivan]

1972 was such a strange year for QBs in the playoffs. Morton got benched for Staubach, coming off an injury. Earl Morrall got benched for Griese, coming off an injury. Lamonica got benched for Stabler. Steve Spurrier was the regular season starter for the Niners, but got benched for John Brodie, coming off an injury. Billy Kilmer did go all the way in the playoffs because Sonny Jurgensen couldn't stay healthy any more. Terry Bradshaw was the established starter for the first time division champion Steelers. Of course he got hurt in the playoffs, to be replaced by Terry Hanratty. The other two playoff QBs were the immortal Mike Phipps and Scott Hunter!

Phipps took over for Bill Nelsen after Nelsen started the opener against Hunter's Packers and couldn't get any offense going. Phipps actually looked like a quality QB that year, but he took a nosedive in '73 and then spent the next three seasons in a struggle with Brian Sipe for playing time.

Hunter took over for Starr in '71, the Starr closed out that season with three starts in the final four games. In '72, Hunter started every game.

[Saban1]

Dallas had one of their best teams in 1977, and everything went their way that year. In the first playoff round they played the Chicago Bears, a team that had not been in the playoffs for a long time (1963 I think).

I expected Dallas to play the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship, but the Rams got upset by the Tarkenton less Vikings (Fran was injured). The field was a quagmire of mud and the Rams could not seem to do anything. So, the Bobby Lee led Minnesota Vikings advanced to the NFC finals against Dallas. I believe that the Los Angeles Rams would have had a much better chance to beat the Cowboys.

In the Super Bowl, Dallas played the Denver Broncos, a team that had never been in the playoffs. As mentioned in another post, there was a controversial call in the AFC championship game that may have cost the Oakland Raiders the game. The Oakland Raiders were the defending Super Bowl champions and I believe that the Cowboys would have had a difficult time unseating them in the Super Bowl.

So, everything came up roses for the Dallas Cowboys in 1977.

[BD Sullivan]

I expected Dallas to play the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship, but the Rams got upset by the Tarkenton less Vikings (Fran was injured). The field was a quagmire of mud and the Rams could not seem to do anything. So, the Bobby Lee led Minnesota Vikings advanced to the NFC finals against Dallas. I believe that the Los Angeles Rams would have had a much better chance to beat the Cowboys.

The Rams played well against the Cowboys in the postseason--away from home. They had won there the year before ('76) and would also knock them out in '79. Their '73 loss had them trailing by only a point with just under 10 minutes left when Staubach (who had taken a big hit in the first quarter) connected with Pearson at midfield on 3rd-and-14 and Pearson outran the Ram defenders.

Ironically, when the Rams hosted the Cowboys in the playoffs in the Knox era, they were a disaster, being outscored 65-7 in two conference championship games.