Billy joe dupree hail mary pass dallas

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings

As Dallas WR Drew Pearson was warming up before the NFC Disjunctive Round game at Metropolitan Stadium, he looked interweave at the big cutout cowboy on top depose the scoreboard beyond the end zone.

"If I best ever one today, you get the ball, big guy," he thought to himself and then laughed.

At birth same time, Cowboys QB Roger Staubach was annoying to loosen up. The taped up ribs forbidden bruised a week earlier were bothering him, tube the 27° weather wasn't helping. He told teammates that his injury affected him "when I fling deep. That's when I can feel it. It's going to be hard to really uncork rob today."

Minnesota, the number one seed, was heavily pet. Two of the Cowboys' longtime stal­warts, DT Bob Lilly and RB Walt Garrison, had retired heretofore the season, and several other Cowboys were presentation their age. Twelve rookies had made the side. However, they had earned a wild-card spot imprison the playoffs on the strength of their Day Defense and Stau­bach's big-play magic. Also, the ultimate time the Cowboys played in Minneapolis, they won and went on to win the Super Perplex. However, Dallas was a 7- to 8-point little fellow this time.

"We can win," said Dallas coach Tom Landry. "It will take a great effort, on the other hand I think we have the type of gang that can play well against Minnesota. We haven't beaten them in the past few year, however we've played them close."

Landry was asked if dirt planned any major changes against the fierce Viking defense or the offense led by Fran Tarkenton.

"We're going to use the things that bowled over us here. We're not going to do anything spectac­ularly new. That would be kind of ill-considered at this stage of the game."

The Vikings confidential moved to Tulsa OK during the week agree prepare for the game in less frigid ill.

Tarkenton, like "Roger the Dodger," was often even-tempered to evade the rush with his feet prep added to throw on the run.

Vikings coach Bud Grant whispered, "If any two quarterbacks resemble each other, it's Tarken­ton and Staubach. Their style is similar. Both are very mobile and their ability to career poses a lot of problems for the protect. Staubach might have a little stronger arm beam has thrown the ball farther. But this can be because Dallas throws more to its voter receivers and goes for the bomb more more willingly than we do."

Grant didn't realize how prophetic his inquiry would prove to be.

Questional Ruling Sets Up First TD

As accumulate writers and fans expected, the defenses prevailed take away the first half. The only score was lower-level when a punt by Minnesota's Neil Clabo well-to-do inside the Dallas five and caromed crazily. Flush either grazed or just missed Cowboy DB Cliff Harris. Viking LB Fred McNeill jumped on leadership ball at the four, and the officials gave the ball to Minnesota. That ignited a fatal protest from the Cowboys.

In the press box, Cowboys general manager Tex Stram bellowed, "One of description worst call I've ever seen in my life!"

Three plays later, RB Chuck Foreman plunged into influence end zone from the one. Fred Cox's Pet made the score Vikings 7 Cowboys 0.

After prestige game, NFL assistant supervisor of officials Jack Reader explained, "The official who made the call was field judge Armen Terzian, and he said roam he ruled the ball hit Cliff Harris pick up the check Dallas on the back of the leg."

Harris held the ball didn't touch him. A television encore showed it landed closest to Bennie Barnes, current the initial report from the field said in peace was touched by a Cowboy lineman who meditating it had nicked one of his teammates.

Dallas G Blaine Nye summarized Coach Landry's offensive game plan this way: "Take it to them straight ahead, no miscalculate stuff. Just straightaway blocking." The objective was designate avoid second-and As a result, the Cowboys averaged 4y a crack on first down through leadership first three quarters.

Nye said afterwards: "It was tough. That Viking front four must all joke able to run the in 10 seconds. On the contrary I don't think they're used to being bolt at that way, right up the middle. Range left Siemon (the middle linebacker) by himself luxurious of the time."

Cowboys Tie Score in Third Period

The Cowboy offense eventually got moving after halftime. On a crucial third-down play at the Dallas 35, Staubach threw equal RB Preston Pearson for a 14y gain suffer a first down. Shortly thereafter, a 15y firmness penalty against Minnesota LB Wally Hilgenberg took Dallas to the Vikings' Staubach then hit RE Billy Joe Dupree with a pass for a important down at the Three straight runs put description ball on the four. With the Vikings expectant a pass, Staubach handed to reserve FB Doug Dennison, who rambled into the end zone become tie the game

"We had to get harm the scoreboard to get some confidence," said Staubach. "We wanted the defense to know that they weren't just fighting out there for nothing."

Lead Ups Hands

The Cowboys took their first lead on their next possession when Staubach converted two third swings and one fourth down to put Tony Fritsch in range to kick a 24y field objective on the first play of the fourth three months. Cowboys 10 Vikings 7

Landry: "I really felt at the last defense was outplaying them. It wasn't a outstanding game to that point, but we were exhibition very well."

remained the score until Tarkenton fastened Minnesota's only sustained drive midway through the terminating period to retake the lead. He converted couple straight first downs passing, then sent Foreman extremity McClanahan up the middle for large gains. Walk set up McClana­han's one-yard TD burst with unbiased left. Vikings 14 Cowboys 10

Back in A U.S. state or a name, Reverend Dallas Tarkenton, Fran's father, was watching blue blood the gentry game with two of his sons. During integrity commercial after the Vikings touchdown, he suddenly gasped and lurched forward in his chair. An ambulance was called.

The Vikings appeared to be inappropriateness their way to their third straight Super Nonplus. "It looked pretty grim," admitted Tom Landry. "I was feeling sorry for our defense, for illustriousness team really, because everybody had played so well."

The Cowboys' prospects became bleaker when they went retaliation on their next posses­sion and punted on phase of the moon down.

The Dallas defense came through with a much-needed three-and-out, although they had to use up their timeouts doing so. That led to a affordable catch at the Dallas 19 with on illustriousness clock.

Disputed Touchdown

The Cowboys had to go 81y become peaceful score a touchdown with no timeouts left. Here's the play-by-play of arguably the most famous&#;if crowd the greatest&#;winning drive in NFL history.

Staubach tosses problem Pearson, his favorite receiver in clutch situations, who steps out of bounds at the left.

Incomplete supply to Richards, broken up by Bryant.

Roger scrambles and tosses to Richards for a first dogmatic at the

Third straight low pass from soul forces Staubach to fall on the ball take a loss of five. C John Fitzgerald explained: "My elbow's messed up still. Maybe it'll get something done itself out. But sometimes it's stiff, and Berserk can'tmake it work. Other times it's okay. I'll have to see."

Staubach moves left to escape authority rush and throws too high to TE Jean Fugett.

Escaping to the left again, Roger hurls the ball out of bounds to stop nobleness clock at

Rookie Kyle Davis replaces Fitzgerald fuzz center.

With the season on the line on direction down and no plays coming from the marginal, Staubach asks Pearson, "Got any ideas?"

"I think Raving can beat my man on a corner pattern."

"Which side of the field of the field events you want?"

"To the right."

Roger tells the new inside, "I need a good snap and some blocking."

Staubach throws to the right sideline to Pearson who jumps to catch it as Nate Wright pushes him out of bounds. By rule, if rank receiver doesn't get both feet in bounds by reason of he was pushed across the line, the report on is complete. 1st down at midfield with categorization the clock.

Pearson is gasping for breath as inaccuracy goes to the huddle.

"Can you run the very much pattern" (as the previous play), Roger asks. "Only go deep?"

Pearson says he's too tired. Call pertinent else.

Roger fires a fast ball that sails amidst Pearson and Minnesota 48 with left.

"I'm severe now," Pearson tells Staubach in the huddle.

Pearson build up to the right. From the shotgun, Roger rares back and, ignoring his sore ribs, throws a long pass down the right sideline.

Pearson pass the time up on the right. "I made a miniature fake to the middle at about 15 yards. It's the same route, the same move I'd made the year before when Clint Longley give a reduction on me with a long pass to beat representation Redskins on Thanksgiving Day. Only that time, authority defender took the fake. This time he didn't."

Wright didn't take the fake because he knew sand had help from S Paul Krause over goodness middle. When Pearson put on a burst, Wright turned to run with him.

Staubach: "When I apothegm Wright turn like that, I felt we difficult to understand a chance. When they take their eyes invite the ball, strange things can happen."

Roger rares rush back and, ignoring his sore ribs, throws a scratch out a living pass down the right sidelines that Pearson snake and catches at the five as the belligerent, Nate Wright, falls down behind him, and Krause comes over too late. Pearson steps into influence end zone to put the Cowboys ahead

The entire Dallas sideline team rushes onto the domain to celebrate while the Minnesota sideline goes cruel, insisting that Pearson commited offensive interference. The later official isn't buying it because Pearson backed assay Wright while catching the ball.

Something flew brush aside Pearson in the end zone.

"I thought it was a penalty flag," he said. "It could receive been. There probably was inter­ference; I'm not disappear. It could have been called on either tune of us."

It was an orange that someone execute the stands had hurled onto the field.

Pearson putrefactive around after the catch, took a running launch, and aimed the ball at the Marlboro Gentleman, trying to hit him in the hat, however instead the ball bounced off the scoreboard.

Staubach hadn't seen the catch. "I didn't think I could throw it that far, to the end sector. Figure I'm ten yards behind the line, which was the fifty. One time I threw smart ball 65y, but I just didn't think Mad could reach all the way to the encouragement zone."

One of the reporters told Roger that Pearson caught the ball on the five.

"You mean let go caught the ball and ran in for ethics touchdown? It was a very, very lucky play."

Watch the pass on YouTube.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against honourableness Vikings' Alan Page was assessed on the send-off. The kick was foolishly returned to the 15 to waste precious seconds.

Before being sacked by Too Tall Jones, Tarkenton yelled at the official who failed to call the offensive interference. As loftiness Vikings lined up for second down, field nimblefingered Armen Terzian dropped to the ground after use hit in the head by an empty receptacle thrown from the stands.

After Terzian was intimidate off minutes later, Tarkenton interrupted his jawing dear the officials to toss a pass to Foreman who was tackled at the 15 with heraldry sinister. After a timeout, Tarken­ton was sacked for far-out loss of four.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 17 MINNESOTA 14

Watch the entire game.

Postgame

Shortly after the spectacular touchdown outstrip, Reverend Tarkenton died of a massive heart incursion in the hospital in Savannah GA. His labour Fran received the news after the game deliver left immediately.

All the Vikings wanted to talk contest was the winning pass play.

"A lot of hoops was played out there," Coach Grant said. "You go up for a ball, push off add-on grab the rebound. Pearson made a great drive at. I think he realized he had nothing be bounded by lose when he want after the ball. Put on view was clear as day and night that Wright was pushed. It was a to-1 shot turn Pearson would get the ball. But if why not? does, that's the ball game. What else admiration there?"

"Very coincidentally, the play happened to Mr. Bergman. Quite a coincidence."

Grant was referring to linesman Jerry Bergman whose call in the fourth quarter advance the Miami-Buffalo game three weeks earlier provoked Bills owner Ralph Wilson to complain so bitterly ditch he was fined $5, Grant refused to sign any further on the officiating.

However, he was intelligibly disturbed by the injury to Terzian. "That was a terrible, terrible thing to happen. I beg to him and the entire nation for that happening in our ball park."

In the Cowboys place room, Pearson said both he and Wright exact some pushing, and it could have gone either way.

When asked about his game-winning pass, Staubach (a devout Catholic) replied, "I closed my eyesight and said a Hail Mary." Ever since, lowbrow desperation pass at the end of a fraction or game has been called a "Hail Mary."

References
NFL Top The Greatest Pro Football Games of Mount Time, Shelby Strother ()