Super Bowl XXX

Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
January 28, 1996; Attendance: 76,347

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.

Brown's interceptions foiled the comeback efforts of the Steelers, and earned him the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the game's Most Valuable Player.

Dallas scored on each of its first three possessions, taking a 13-0 lead on Troy Aikman's 3-yard touchdown pass to Jay Novacek and a pair of field goals by Chris Boniol.

Neil O'Donnell's 6-yard touchdown pass to Yancey Thigpen 13 seconds before halftime pulled Pittsburgh within 6 points, and the Steelers had the ball near midfield midway through the third quarter.

But O'Donnell's third-down pass was intercepted by Brown at the Cowboys' 38-yard line, and his 44-yard return put the Cowboys at Pittsburgh's 18.

After Aikman's 17-yard completion to Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith ran 1 yard for a touchdown that put Dallas ahead again by 13 points.

But the Steelers rallied again behind Norm Johnson's 46-yard field goal, a successful surprise onside kick, and Byron (Bam) Morris's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:36 to play in the game.

When they forced a punt and took possession at their own 32-yard line trailing only 20-17 with 4:15 remaining, it appeared they might break the NFC's recent Super Bowl dominance.

But on second down, Brown struck again, intercepting O'Donnell's pass at the 39 and returning it 33 yards to the 6.

Two plays later, Smith barreled over from 4 yards out for the clinching touchdown with 3:43 to go.

Pittsburgh limited the Cowboys' running game to only 56 yards and enjoyed a whopping 201-61 advantage in total yards in the second half, but could not overcome the 3 O'Donnell interceptions (the third one came on the game's final play).

O'Donnell completed 28 of 49 passes for 239 yards. Morris rushed for a game high 73 yards on 19 carries.

For Dallas, Aikman completed 15 of 23 pass attempts for 209 yards. The Cowboys' victory was the 12th straight for the NFC in the Super Bowl.

  1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Final
Dallas (NFC)    10 3 7 7 27
Pittsburgh (AFC)   0 7 0 10 17

Dal -  FG Boniol 42  (2:55)
Dal -  Novacek 3 pass from Aikman (Boniol kick)  (9:37) 
Dal -  FG Boniol 35  (8:57)
Pitt -  Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell (N. Johnson kick)  (14:47)
Dal -  E. Smith 1 run (Boniol kick)  (8:18)
Pitt -  FG N. Johnson 46  (3:40)
Pitt -  Morris 1 run (N. Johnson kick)  (8:24)
Dal -  E. Smith 4 run (Boniol kick)