It's going to be a tough two weeks for Dallas Cowboys fans; we'll be forced to re-live painful parts of our past. You'll see film of Lynn Swann making the incredible - lucky, some may say - catch that made this writer, as a young boy, cry. I'm sure no matter what, Jackie Smith is still going to drop a touchdown and the Steelers will steal another Super Bowl. At least that's how I remember it happening.
So prepare yourself for the onslaught of Steelers Super Bowl video highlights on TV, and articles online about their history in the big game. And sure to show up prominently, in fact the co-star will be your Cowboys. ESPN Classic and NFL Network will become the Steelers channel. Fortunately we have the one victory that Neil O'Donnell gift-wrapped for us, but somehow it doesn't meet the majesty of the `70s clashes.
The Pittsburgh victories over the Vikings in SB IX and the Rams in SB XIV will get some play, as will our victory over them in SB XXX. But the Cowboys/Steelers battles in SB X and SB XIII are considered two of the best championship games ever played. So place your bets on which ones you'll see more often in the next two weeks.
It's not like they're going to show any Seattle Super Bowl highlights anyway.
For a quick recap of the Cowboys/Steelers Super Bowl history, click below.
Super Bowl X
Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17
Orange Bowl
Miami, Florida
January 18, 1976
Attendance: 80,187
MVP: Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh
The Steelers won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row on Terry Bradshaw's 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann and an aggressive defense that snuffed out a late rally by the Cowboys with an end-zone interception on the final play of the game.
In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh ran on fourth down and gave up the ball on the Cowboys' 39 with 1:22 to play. Roger Staubach ran and passed for two first downs but his last desperation pass was picked off by Glen Edwards.
Super Bowl XIII
Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31
Orange Bowl
Miami, Florida
January 21, 1979
Attendance: 79,484
MVP: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh
Terry Bradshaw passed for a record four touchdowns to lead the Steelers to victory. The Steelers became the first team to win three Super Bowls.
The Cowboys refused to let the Steelers run away with the contest. [Roger] Staubach connected with Billy Joe DuPree on a 7-yard scoring pass with 2:23 left. Then the Cowboys recovered an onside kick and Staubach took them in for another score, passing four yards to Butch Johnson with 22 seconds remaining. [Rocky] Bleier recovered another onside kick with 17 seconds left to seal the victory for the Steelers.
Super Bowl XXX
Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
January 28, 1996
Attendance: 76,347
MVP: Larry Brown, CB, Dallas
Cornerback Larry Brown's two interceptions led to 14 second-half points and helped lift the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl victory in the last four seasons and their record-tying fifth title overall.
When [the Steelers] forced a punt and took possession at their own 32-yard line trailing only 20-17 with 4:15 remaining, it appeared they might have a chance to break the NFC's recent domination in the Super Bowl. But on second down, Brown struck again, intercepting O'Donnell's pass at the 39 and returning it 33 yards to the six.