NFL playoffs, 1975–76

The NFL playoffs following the 1975 NFL season led up to Super Bowl X. This was the first season in which the league used a seeding system in the playoffs. Thus, the surviving clubs with the higher seeds were made the home teams for each playoff round. The three division champions in each conference were seeded 1 through 3 based on their regular season won-lost-tied record, and the wild card qualifier in each conference became the 4 seed.

However, the league continued to prohibit meetings between two teams from the same division in the Divisional Playoffs. Thus, there would be times when the pairing in that round would be the 1 seed vs. the 3 seed and 2 vs. 4. NFL seeds 1975-1977
AFC 1 = Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC 1 div = Central
AFC 2 = Oakland Raiders
AFC 2 div = West
AFC 3 = Baltimore Colts
AFC 3 div = East
AFC 4 = Cincinnati Bengals
NFC 1 = Minnesota Vikings
NFC 1 div = Central
NFC 2 = Los Angeles Rams
NFC 2 div = West
NFC 3 = St. Louis Cardinals
NFC 3 div = East
NFC 4 = Dallas Cowboys

"Note: The Pittsburgh Steelers (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Cincinnati Bengals (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division."

Divisional playoffs

December 27, 1975

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Baltimore Colts 10

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Colts
R1=0
R2=7
R3=3
R4=0
RT=10
Home=Steelers
H1=7
H2=0
H3=7
H4=14
HT=28

"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

*TV: NBC

The Steelers defense forced 4 turnovers and held the Colts to 154 total yards of offense, while Pittsburgh's Franco Harris shreded Baltimore's defense with 153 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Steelers scored first after linebacker Jack Ham's interception set up running back Harris' 8-yard rushing touchdown. Baltimore responded when Lloyd Mumphord returned a 58-yard interception to set up Glenn Doughty's 5-yard touchdown reception. With the Colts leading 10-7 in the third quarter, Pittsburgh cornerback Mel Blount intercepted a pass and returned to the Baltimore 7-yard line. From there, Rocky Bleier scored on a 7-yard rushing touchdown. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw recorded a 2-yard touchdown run, and Andy Russell picked up a Colts fumble and returned it for an NFL playoff record 93 yards to the end zone.

*Scoring
**PIT - Harris 8 run (Gerela kick) PIT 7-0
**BAL - Doughty 5 pass from Domres (Linhart kick)7-7
**BAL - field goal Linhart 27 BAL 10-7
**PIT - Bleier 7 run (Gerela kick) PIT 14-10
**PIT - Bradshaw 2 run (Gerela kick) PIT 21-10
**PIT - Russell 93 fumble return (Gerela kick) PIT 28-10

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 35, St. Louis Cardinals 23

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinals
R1=0
R2=9
R3=7
R4=7
RT=23
Home=Rams
H1=14
H2=14
H3=0
H4=7
HT=35

"at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles"

*TV: CBS

The Rams defense scored 2 touchdowns in the first half while running back Lawrence McCutcheon ran for an NFL playoff record of 37 carries for 202 yards. Los Angeles built a 21-0 lead off of quarterback Ron Jaworski's 5-yard touchdown run, and interception returns for touchdowns by Jack Youngblood and Bill Simpson for 47 and 65 yards, respectively. The Cardinals came back to score on a rushing touchdown by running back Jim Otis, but the Rams responded on the first play of their next drive with Jaworski's 66-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson. After St. Louis cut the score to 28-16 with a field goal and a touchdown pass from quarterback Jim Hart, Simpson intercepted another pass to set up the Rams final touchdown.

Youngblood had an outstanding performance. In addition to his 47-yard interception return for a touchdown, he also recorded a sack, blocked an extra point, and forced a fumble

*Scoring
**LA - Jaworski 5 run (Dempsey kick) LA 7-0
**LA - Youngblood 47 interception return (Dempsey kick) LA 14-0
**LA - Simpson 65 interception return (Dempsey kick) LA 21-0
**STL - Otis 3 run (kick blocked) LA 21-6
**LA - Jackson 66 pass from Jaworski (Dempsey kick) LA 28-6
**STL - field goal Bakken 39 LA 28-9
**STL - Gray 11 pass from Hart (Bakken kick) LA 28-16
**LA - Jessie 2 fumble return (Dempsey kick) LA 35-16
**STL - Jones 3 run (Bakken kick) LA 35-23

December 28, 1975

AFC: Oakland Raiders 31, Cincinnati Bengals 28

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bengals
R1=0
R2=7
R3=7
R4=14
RT=28
Home=Raiders
H1=3
H2=14
H3=7
H4=7
HT=31

"at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California"

*TV: NBC

The Raiders outgained Cincinnati in total yards, 358-258, and first downs, 27-17, while also recording five sacks, jumping to a 31-14 lead, and holding off a Bengals comeback in the final period.

Oakland kicker George Blanda made a 31-yard field goal, while quarterback Ken Stabler threw two touchdown passes in the first half, one for 9 yards to Mike Siani and an 8 yard one to Bob Moore. Cincinnati's lone score in the first was a 1-yard run by running back Stan Fritts. The Raiders then scored on their first drive of the second half with running back Pete Banaszak's 6-yard touchdown run to take a 24-7 lead. Then after the Bengals marched 91 yards to cut the lead, 24-14, with Lenvil Elliott's 6-yard touchdown run, Stabler threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time a 2-yard pass to tight end Dave Casper.

Trailing 31-14 in the fourth quarter, the Bengals managed to come back with two unanswered touchdowns. First, Cincinnati defensive back Ken Riley intercepted a pass from Stabler and returned it 34 yards to the Raiders 34-yard line, setting up Ken Anderson's 25-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Joiner. Then the Bengals defense forced Oakland to punt for the first time in the game, and Ray Guy's kick went just 38 yards. Three minutes later, Anderson's 14-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Curtis cut the score to 31-28. With 4:19 left in the game, Bengals defensive lineman Ron Carpenter recovered a Banaszak fumble on the Raiders 37-yard line. But on the next play, linebacker Ted Hendricks sacked Anderson for an 8-yard loss, pushing the Bengals out of field goals range. Two plays later, the Raiders stopped the Cincinnati offense on fourth down and ran out the last two minutes of the game.

Stabler threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns, with 1 interception. Anderson threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

*Scoring
**OAK - field goal Blanda 31 OAK 3-0
**OAK - Siani 9 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick) OAK 10-3
**CIN - Fritts 1 run (Green kick) OAK 10-7
**OAK - Moore 8 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick) OAK 17-7
**OAK - Banaszak 6 run (Blanda kick) OAK 24-7
**CIN - Elliott 6 run (Green kick) OAK 24-14
**OAK - Casper 2 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick) OAK 31-14
**CIN - Joiner 25 pass from Anderson (Green kick) OAK 31-21
**CIN - Curtis 14 pass from Anderson (Green kick) OAK 31-28

NFC: Dallas Cowboys 17, Minnesota Vikings 14

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cowboys
R1=0
R2=0
R3=7
R4=10
RT=17
Home=Vikings
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=7
HT=14

"at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota"

*TV: CBS Gary Bender, Johnny Unitas

With 24 seconds left in the game, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw the 50-yard winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson on a play that became known as the Hail Mary pass. After a scoreless first quarter, Fred McNeill recovered a muffed punt for Minnesota to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Chuck Foreman. Dallas did not tie the game until the third quarter when Doug Dennison scored on a 4-yard touchdown run. Then after the Cowboys added a fourth-quarter field goal, the Vikings took the lead, 14-10, with 5:24 remaining in the game by marching 70 yards to score on running back Brent McClanahan's 1-yard touchdown run. The Cowboys got the ball back on its own 15-yard line with only 1:51 left, but Staubach's fourth-down-and-16 pass to Pearson set up the winning "Hail Mary pass." The fourth and 16 completion proved to be a forshadowing of events to come, as this play had its own minor controversy, as Minnesota argued that Pearson was out of bounds when he made this catch. The official ruled that he was forced out by Nate Wright, which replay appeared to confirm. These two would of course participate in a more controversial play two plays later, as Drew Pearson caught a 50-yard pass on what Staubach called (in the postgame interview) a "Hail Mary" pass, the first time that term was used to describe such a play. Wright had tripped over Pearson's leg as the ball was coming down, and the Vikings argued that Pearson pushed off Wright and should have been flagged for offensive interference. The play drew the ire of Minnesota's Alan Page, who was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15-yard penalty that allowed Dallas to kick off from the 50, and ejected. Fran Tarkenton then vehemently argued with the referees, inspiring fans to throw objects onto the field, one of which was a liquor bottle that struck official Armen Terzian in the head, creating a large forehead gash and rendering him unconscious. Terzian had to wear a bandage, later requiring 11 stitches, as he walked off the field and replaced by substitute official Charley Musser for the final two plays.

It was another disappointing end to a spectacular season for the Vikings. They had finished the season with an NFC best 12-2 record and quarterback Fran Tarkenton won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award, while Foreman amassed 1,761 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. The upstart and youthful Cowboys, not expected to do much after an 8-6 season in 1974 and the loss of several key veterans, would go on to defeat the Rams and lose to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
*Scoring
**MIN - Foreman 1 run (Cox kick) MIN 7-0
**DAL - Dennison 4 run (Fritsch kick)7-7
**DAL - field goal Fritsch 24 DAL 10-7
**MIN - McClanahan 1 run (Cox kick) MIN 14-10
**DAL - Pearson 50 pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick) DAL 17-14

Conference Championships

January 4, 1976

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Raiders
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=10
RT=10
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=3
H3=0
H4=13
HT=16

"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

*TV: NBC

A defensive struggle turned into an offensive battle as the Steelers managed to stop the Raiders' final drive for the winning score as time ran out. Only Pittsburgh could manage to score during the first three quarters, with Roy Gerela's 36-yard field goal. But late in the third period, Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert recovered a fumble at the Pittsburgh 30-yard line. The turnover set up running back Franco Harris' 25-yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead. Oakland responded with Mike Siani's 14-yard touchdown reception, but was countered by John Stallworth's 20-yard touchdown catch. But the Steelers' ensuing extra point was missed, and with the score 16-7, the Raiders found themselves at the Pittsburgh 24-yard line, third down and 2 yards to go, with 18 seconds left in the game. They opted to have George Blanda kick a 41-yard field goal to pull the deficit to 6 points. Then Marv Hubbard recovered the ensuing onside kick with 9 seconds remaining to give Oakland one last attempt to win the game. Cliff Branch then caught a 37-yard reception, but he was stopped at the Pittsburgh 15-yard line before he could get out of bounds and the clock ran out. Harris had a superb performance, rushing for 79 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 5 passes for 58 yards

*Scoring
**PIT - field goal Gerela 36 PIT 3-0
**PIT - Harris 25 run (Gerela kick) PIT 10-0
**OAK - Siani 14 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick) PIT 10-7
**PIT - Stallworth 20 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed) PIT 16-7
**OAK - field goal Blanda 41 PIT 16-10

NFC: Dallas Cowboys 37, Los Angeles Rams 7

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cowboys
R1=7
R2=14
R3=13
R4=3
RT=37
Home=Rams
H1=0
H2=0
H3=0
H4=7
HT=7

"at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles"

*TV: CBS

Quarterback Roger Staubach threw for 220 yards and 4 touchdown passes while also rushing for 54 yards as the Cowboys upset the favored Rams. The first passing attempt by Los Angeles quarterback James Harris, who was soon to be benched in favor of Ron Jaworski, was intercepted by Dallas linebacker D.D. Lewis. This set up Staubach's first touchdown pass, a screen to running back Preston Pearson for 18 yards. A 4-yard touchdown reception by Golden Richards and a diving catch in the end zone by Preston Pearson put the Cowboys up 21-0 by halftime. Dallas scored again on their first drive of the second half on a shovel pass to Preston Pearson for his third touchdown reception of the game. Toni Fritsch later added three field goals. Only John Cappelletti's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter prevented the Rams from being shut out (and the Rams were helped on that drive by a controversial pass interference call on cornerback Mark Washington). Pearson finished the game with 7 receptions for 123 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 20 rushing yards. The Dallas defense allowed only 118 yards, a mere 22 on the ground, and sacked Jaworski 5 times.

*Scoring
**DAL - Pearson 18 pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick) DAL 7-0
**DAL - Richards 4 pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick) DAL 14-0
**DAL - Pearson 15 pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick) DAL 21-0
**DAL - Pearson 19 pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick) DAL 28-0
**DAL - field goal Fritsch 40 DAL 31-0
**DAL - field goal Fritsch 26 DAL 34-0
**LA - Cappelletti 1 run (Dempsey kick) DAL 34-7
**DAL - field goal Fritsch 26 DAL 37-7

uper Bowl

Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) 21, Dallas Cowboys (NFC) 17, at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Bracket

:*Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round.Round8
RD1=Divisional Playoffs
RD2=Conf. Championship Games
RD3=Super Bowl X
December 28 - Metropolitan Stadium |4) Dallas Cowboys|17|1) Minnesota Vikings|14
December 27 - L.A. Memorial Coliseum |3) St. Louis Cardinals|23|2) Los Angeles Rams|35
December 28 - Oakland Coliseum |4) Cincinnati Bengals|28|2)* Oakland Raiders|31
December 27 - Three Rivers Stadium |3) Baltimore Colts|10|1)* Pittsburgh Steelers|28
January 4 - L.A. Memorial Coliseum |4) Dallas Cowboys|37|2) Los Angeles Rams|7
January 4 - Three Rivers Stadium |2) Oakland Raiders|10|1) Pittsburgh Steelers|16
January 18 - Miami Orange Bowl |N4) Dallas Cowboys|17|A1) Pittsburgh Steelers|21

References

*"Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League" (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
*"The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995" (ISBN 0-89204-523-X)