AFC champion Pittsburgh, in its initial Super Bowl appearance, and NFC champion Minnesota, making a third bid for its first Super Bowl title, struggled through a first half in which the only score was produced by the Steelers' defense when Dwight White downed Vikings' quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety 7:49 into the second period.
The Steelers forced another break and took advantage on the second-half kickoff when Minnesota's Bill Brown fumbled and Marv Kellum recovered for Pittsburgh on the Vikings' 30.
After Rocky Bleier failed to gain on first down, Franco Harris carried three consecutive times for 24 yards, a loss of three, and a 9-yard touchdown and a 9-0 lead.
Though its offense was completely stymied by Pittsburgh's defense, Minnesota managed to move into a threatening position after 4:27 of the final period when Matt Blair blocked Bobby Walden's punt and Terry Brown recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
Fred Cox's kick failed and the Steelers led 9-6. Pittsburgh wasted no time putting the victory away.
The Steelers took the ensuing kickoff and marched 66 yards in 11 plays, climaxed by Terry Bradshaw's 4-yard scoring pass to Larry Brown with 3:31 left.
Pittsburgh's defense permitted Minnesota only 119 yards total offense, including a Super Bowl low of 17 rushing yards.
The Steelers, meanwhile, gained 333 yards, including Harris's record 158 yards on 34 carries.
SCORING
Pittsburgh
0 2 7 7 -- 16
Minnesota
0 0 0 6 -- 6
PIT- safety White 0, 7:49 2nd
PIT- Harris 9 run (Gerela kick), 1:35 3rd
MIN- T. Brown 0 blocked punt return (kick
failed), 4:27
4th
PIT- Brown 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick),
11:29 4th
TEAM STATISTICS
Pitt. Minn.
Total First Downs
17 9
Rushing
11 2
Passing
5 5
Penalty
1 2
Total Net Yardage
333 119
Total Offensive Plays
73 47
Average Gain per Offensive Play 4.6
2.5
Rushes
57 21
Yards Gained Rushing (Net) 249
17
Average Yards per Rush
4.4 0.8
Passes Attempted
14 26
Passes Completed
9 11
Had Intercepted
0 3
Tackled Attempting to Pass
2 0
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass 12
0
Yards Gained Passing (Net) 84
102
Punts
7 6
Average Distance
34.7 37.2
Punt Returns
5 4
Punt Return Yardage
36 12
Kickoff Returns
3 3
Kickoff Return Yardage
32 50
Interception Return Yardage 46
0
Fumbles
4 3
Own Fumbles Recovered
2 1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered
2 2
Penalties
8 4
Yards Penalized
122 18
Total Points Scored
16 6
Touchdowns
2 1
Rushing
1 0
Passing
1 0
Returns
0 0
Extra Points
2 0
Field Goals
0 0
Field Goals Attempted
1 1
Safeties
1 0
Third-Down Efficiency
6/17 5/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency
0/2 0/0
Time of Possession
38:47 21:13
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Pittsburgh
No. Yds. LG
TD
Harris
34 158 25
1
Bleier
17 65
18 0
Bradshaw
5 33 17
0
Swann
1 -7
7 0
Minnesota
No. Yds. LG
TD
Foreman
12 18
12 0
Tarkenton
1 0
0 0
Osborn
8 -1
2 0
Passing
Pittsburgh Att.
Comp. Yds. TD Int.
Bradshaw 14
9 96 1
0
Minnesota Att.
Comp. Yds. TD Int.
Tarkenton 26
11 102 0
3
Receiving
Pittsburgh
No. Yds. LG
TD
Brown
3 49 30
1
Stallworth
3 24 22
0
Bleier
2 11
6 0
Lewis
1 12 12
0
Minnesota
No. Yds. LG
TD
Foreman
5 50 17
0
Voigt
2 31 28
0
Osborn
2 7
4 0
Gilliam
1 16 16
0
Reed
1 -2
2 0
Interceptions
Pittsburgh
No. Yds. LG
TD
Wagner
1 26 26
0
Blount
1 10 10
0
Greene
1 10 10
0
Minnesota
No. Yds. LG
TD
None
-- --
-- --
Punting
Pittsburgh
No. Avg. LG
Blk.
Walden
6 40.5 52
1
Minnesota
No. Avg. LG
Blk.
Eischeid
6 37.2 42
0
Punt Returns
Pittsburgh
No. FC Yds. LG TD
Swann
3 0 34
17 0
Edwards
2 0 2
2 0
Minnesota
No. FC Yds. LG TD
McCullum
3 0 11
6 0
N. Wright
1 0 1
1 0
Wallace
0 1 0
** 0
Kickoff Returns
Pittsburgh
No. Yds. LG
TD
Harrison
2 17 17
0
Pearson
1 15 15
0
Minnesota
No. Yds. LG
TD
McCullum
1 26 26
0
McClanahan
1 22 22
0
B. Brown
1 2
2 0
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minnesota Vikings
== Offense ==
Mansfield, Ray C Tingelhoff,
Mick C
Clack, Jim G
Maurer, Andy G
Mullins, Gerry G White, Ed
G
Gravelle, Gordon T Goodrum, Charlie
T
Kolb, Jon T
Yary, Ron T
Brown, Larry TE Voigt,
Stu TE
Lewis, Frank WR Gilliam,
John WR
Shanklin, Ronnie WR Lash, Jim
WR
Bleier, Rocky RB Foreman, Chuck
RB
Harris, Franco RB Osborn, Dave
RB
Bradshaw, Terry QB Tarkenton, Fran
QB
== Defense ==
Greene, Joe DT
Page, Alan DT
Holmes, Ernie DT Sutherland,
Doug DT
Greenwood, L. C. DE Eller, Carl
DE
White, Dwight DE Marshall, Jim
DE
Ham, Jack OLB
Hilgenberg, Wally OLB
Russell, Andy OLB Winston, Roy
OLB
Lambert, Jack MLB Siemon, Jeff
MLB
Blount, Mel CB
Wallace, Jackie CB
Thomas, J.T. CB Wright,
Nate CB
Edwards, Glen FS Krause, Paul
FS
Wagner, Mike SS Wright,
Jeff SS
== Substitute ==
Allen, Jimmy
Alderman, Grady
Bradley, Ed
Anderson, Scott
Conn, Dick
Blair, Matt
Davis, Charles
Brown, Terry
Davis, Samuel
Brown, Bill
Davis, Steve
Cox, Fred
Druschel, Rich
Craig, Steve
Furness, Steve
Eischeid, Mike
Garrett, Reggie
Kingsriter, Doug
Gerela, Roy
Larsen, Gary
Grossman, Randy
Lawson, Steve
Harrison, Reggie
Lurtsema, Bob
Kellum, Marv
Marinaro, Ed
McMakin, John
Martin, Amos
Pearson, Preston
McClanahan, Brent
Reavis, Dave
McCullum, Sam
Shell, Donnie
McNeill, Fred
Stallworth, John
Poltl, Randy
Swann, Lynn
Reed, Oscar
Toews, Loren
Sunde, Milt
Walden, Bobby
Webster, Mike
== Did Not Play ==
Gilliam, Joe
Berry, Bob
Hanratty, Terry
Blahak, Joe
Wolf, James
Boone, Dave
Holland, John
Riley, Steve