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NFL Super Bowl XLIII

SUPER BOWL MVP THUMBNAILS

Following is a review of the memorable performances
of each Pete Rozelle Trophy Most Valuable
Player Award from Super Bowl I to Super
Bowl X



SUPER BOWL I: QB BART STARR, Green
Bay Packers - In what was originally called the
“AFL-NFL World Championship,” Starr propelled
the Packers to a 35-10 victory over the Chiefs.
Completing 16 of 23 attempts, Starr amassed 250
yards through the air to go along with three passing
touchdowns. Starr hooked up with reserve
wide receiver Max McGee, whose one-armed firstquarter
touchdown reception is one of the most
memorable plays in Super Bowl history, seven
times for 138 yards.

SUPER BOWL II: QB BART STARR, Green
Bay Packers - Guiding Green Bay to its second
Super Bowl win in a row (and third consecutive
NFL championship), Starr's star shone the brightest
in the second half. The high-powered Green
Bay offense rattled off 17 unanswered points in the
third and fourth quarters to pull away from the
Raiders for a 33-14 victory. Starr completed 13 of
his 24 passes, including a 62-yard scoring strike to
Boyd Dowler.

SUPER BOWL III: QB JOE NAMATH, New
York Jets - In a game that will be forever remembered
because of Namath's “guarantee” of victory,
the Jets toppled the seemingly unbeatable Baltimore
Colts by a score of 16-7. Even future Hall of
Famer Johnny Unitas could not spark a second
half comeback by Baltimore. Because of Namath's
leadership (and five Baltimore turnovers), the Jets
secured the first victory for the AFL in the young
history of the Super Bowl. “Broadway Joe” finished
17-of-28 for 206 yards passing.

SUPER BOWL IV: QB LEN DAWSON, Kansas
City Chiefs - In the last game before the AFL-NFL
merger, Dawson's workmanlike performance
helped Kansas City beat the Vikings, 23-7. Dawson
(12 of 17, 122 yards passing) orchestrated
four scoring drives in the first half alone, three of
which resulted in Jan Stenerud field goals. Utilizing
a running back-by- committee approach, Dawson's
Chiefs outgained the Vikings on the ground
(151-67). After building a 16-0 lead at the half,
Dawson punctuated the victory with a 46-yard
touchdown pass to Otis Taylor.

SUPER BOWL V: LB CHUCK HOWLEY, Dallas
Cowboys - Howley made history twice in one
day with his MVP-worthy performance in this
championship. Not only was did this gritty linebacker
become the first defensive MVP in Super
Bowl history, Howley is still the only player in NFL
history to win the award for a losing team. Baltimore's
Jim O'Brien nailed a 32-yard field goal with
only five seconds left in the game to close out a
16-13 come-from-behind win for the Colts. Howley
intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in
the losing effort.

SUPER BOWL VI: QB ROGER STAUBACH,
Dallas Cowboys - Bouncing back from a devastating
defeat a year earlier, Dallas brought home its
first of five Super Bowl titles with a 24-3 win over
the Dolphins. Outdueling his Miami counterpart
Bob Griese. Staubach found wide receiver Lance
Alworth and tight end Mike Ditka in the end zone
for passing touchdowns. In addition to his 119
yards through the air, Staubach directed the potent
Cowboys' rushing game up and down the
field in this victory.

SUPER BOWL VII: S JAKE SCOTT, Miami
Dolphins - An important cog in Miami's “No Name
Defense,” Scott picked off two of Redskins quarterback
Billy Kilmer's passes in this 14-7 Miami victory.
Scott's second interception came in the Dolphins'
phins' end zone, quashing Washington's best offensive
drive. Mike Bass scored the lone Redskins'
touchdown, corralling Miami kicker Garo Yepremian's
ill-fated forward pass that slipped out of his
hand after a botched field goal attempt. The 1972
Dolphins remain the only unbeaten, untied team in
NFL history.

SUPER BOWL VIII: RB LARRY CSONKA, Miami
Dolphins - Racking up over 100 yards rushing
for two Super Bowls in a row, Csonka's 33 carries
wore down the Vikings. The bruising back finished
with 145 yards and two touchdowns in Miami's
second consecutive Super Bowl victory (24-7). Miami
quarterback Bob Griese attempted only seven
passes. Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton
scampered in for a score in the fourth quarter, but
the Dolphins lead was insurmountable because of
its steady rushing attack.

SUPER BOWL IX: RB FRANCO HARRIS,
Pittsburgh Steelers - Harris and running back
Rocky Bleier combined for more than 200 yards in
Pittsburgh's first of four Super Bowl wins (16-6) in
the 1970s. With the Steelers nursing a 2-0 lead in
the second half, Harris helped his squad pull away
with a nine-yard touchdown run. Remembered
best for reeling in the “Immaculate Reception” earlier
in his career, Harris' 158 rushing yards eclipsed
the Super Bowl record established by Csonka only
one year earlier. Pittsburgh outrushed the Vikings
by over 200 yards.

SUPER BOWL X: WR LYNN SWANN, Pittsburgh
Steelers - Famous for his acrobatic catches,
Swann did not disappoint in the Steelers' 21-17
win over the Cowboys. Racking up a Super Bowl
record 161 yards receiving on only four catches,
Swann's 64-yard touchdown reception from Terry
Bradshaw made the difference in the close contest.
Swann's score capped a 14-0 run for the
Steelers in the fourth quarter.


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