Colts 16, Cowboys 13
Jan. 17, 1971
at Miami |
Chuck Howley gave a virtuoso performance at linebacker to earn the MVP trophy, the only time the award ever has been won by a player on the losing team. That was one of the more positive things about the Blooper Bowl.
The Cowboys were leading, 13-6, early in the third quarter, when Duane Thomas fumbled on the Baltimore one-yard line. With veteran Colts defensive tackle Billy Ray Smith yelling, "Our ball! Our ball!," official Jack Fette signaled a Colt recovery, then refused to change his call when center Dave Manders emerged with the ball.
Late in the fourth quarter, Craig Morton threw a pass that slipped off Dan Reeves' fingers and into the hands of linebacker Mike Curtis, whose return set up Jim O'Brien's winning field goal with five seconds left. And with that, a furious Bob Lilly threw his helmet 60 yards downfield in disgust.
The Cowboys should have won handily but somehow lost, remaining the champions of Murphy's Law.
