Super Bowl History: Super Bowl V

Nick Scott & Richmond Tigers Media Opportunity
Nick Scott & Richmond Tigers Media Opportunity

Super Bowl V, the fifth edition of the annual American football championship game, was played on January 17, 1971. The game featured the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Colts and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys. The game was held at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, in front of a crowd of over 80,000 people.

Despite the Baltimore Colts' victory in Super Bowl V with a final score of 16-13, the game has been remembered as one of the least exciting and poorly played Super Bowls in history. It is often referred to as the "Blunder Bowl," "Blooper Bowl," or "Stupor Bowl" due to the high number of mistakes, poor play, and officiating errors that marred the game.

Both teams struggled to get the ball moving and the game was filled with 11 turnovers, 7 by the Colts and 4 by the Cowboys, penalties, missed opportunities, and a blocked PAT. Linebacker Chuck Howley became the first defensive player in Super Bowl history to be named the Super Bowl MVP, despite playing on the losing team. He recorded two interceptions and recovered a fumble in the game, making crucial plays on defense for the Cowboys throughout the game. He remains the only MVP to end up on the losing side in a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl V is remembered for its poor performance and the mistakes that overshadowed the game. Despite this, it remains a significant moment in the history of the Super Bowl and American football, as it marked the Colts' second Super Bowl appearance in five years, solidifying their place among the NFL's elite teams of the era with this win, and Chuck Howley became the first defensive player to win the Super Bowl MVP.

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Edited by Krutik Jain