It is Day 10 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain
dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.
So here’s Day 10 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, and kicking off our top-10 iconic games we go to the first Super Bowl chapter of the Cowboys-Steelers rivalry. Dallas carried a lead into the fourth quarter and still had a chance to win on the final play, but Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense and an unforgettable performance from Lynn Swann denied the Cowboys in massive heartbreak.
Sunday, January 18, 1976 — 2:15 p.m. ET
Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17
Dallas reached Super Bowl X after a remarkable postseason run. The Cowboys had finished 10-4 as a wild-card team before beating Minnesota on the original Hail Mary and crushing the Rams 37-7 in the NFC Championship Game. They became the first wild-card team ever to reach a Super Bowl, while Pittsburgh entered at 12-2 looking to defend its championship from the previous season.
The Cowboys took the lead early in the game. Roger Staubach found Drew Pearson for a 29-yard touchdown midway through the opening quarter. However, Terry Bradshaw quickly responded with a seven-yard scoring pass to Randy Grossman. Toni Fritsch then kicked a 36-yard field goal just 15 seconds into the second quarter, giving Dallas a 10-7 lead that held throughout the second and third quarters.
Pittsburgh finally turned the game around in the fourth quarter. Reggie Harrison blocked Mitch Hoopes’ punt, sending the ball through the end zone for a safety and reducing Dallas’ lead to 10-9. Roy Gerela then kicked field goals from 36 and 18 yards, giving Pittsburgh its first lead at 15-10.
With just over three minutes remaining and Pittsburgh facing third down, Bradshaw launched deep for Lynn Swann while taking a crushing hit from the Dallas pass rush. Swann caught the ball and completed a 64-yard touchdown, extending Pittsburgh’s advantage to 21-10 after Gerela missed the extra point. Bradshaw was knocked out on the play and never saw the touchdown himself.
Swann had tortured Dallas all afternoon with a series of spectacular receptions including his iconic 53-yard acrobatic grab. He finished with only four catches, but those produced a then-Super Bowl record 161 receiving yards. He created enduring highlights to this day, and the 64-yard touchdown ultimately proved decisive.
Dallas tried to come back. Staubach quickly drove the Cowboys 80 yards in only five plays and found Percy Howard for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:48 remaining. Remarkably, it was the only reception of Howard’s NFL career, and it pulled Dallas within four points at 21-17.
The Cowboys received one last opportunity after Pittsburgh failed to convert on fourth down. Staubach moved Dallas to the Steelers’ 38-yard line and launched a final Hail Mary into the end zone with seconds remaining. Mike Wagner tipped the pass and Glen Edwards intercepted it, ending Dallas’ comeback and securing Pittsburgh’s second consecutive championship.
This game belongs on the countdown because it helped establish Cowboys-Steelers as one of the defining rivalries of the 1970s. Dallas went from a wild-card berth to standing one possession away from beating the defending champions, while Pittsburgh survived behind its defense and Swann’s extraordinary playmaking.
Interesting Facts About the Game
Swann became the first wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP.
Countdown to kickoff
100, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 62, 61, 60, 59, 58, 57,56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11
