Dec. 23, 1972
NFC Divisional Playoff at Candlestick Park |
Staubach, sidelined since suffering a badly separated right shoulder in August, led perhaps the most stirring Cowboys comeback ever, wiping out a 28-13 deficit after relieving Craig Morton. Staubach-to-Billy Parks (20 yards) cut the 49ers' lead to 28-23 with 1:10 left. Mel Renfro quickly gave Dallas possession again after Preston Riley couldn't hold a tricky onsides kickoff by Austrian soccer star Toni Fritsch. Fritsch approached the ball as if aiming to kick it to his left, then suddenly swung his right foot behind his left ankle and drilled the ball 45 degrees to his right.
"The other team," Fritsch said, "they didn't know from which way come the ball."
Staubach sure knew where to take it. He scrambled inside the 30, then nailed Ron Sellers for the winning touchdown in the dying seconds.
On a wild and crazy Cowboys sideline, the usually stoic Tom Landry jumped, waved his arms and laughed. A few feet in front of him, defensive linemen Bob Lilly, George Andrie and Larry Cole turned somersaults. Roger the Dodger had turned the game upside down.
