Super Bowl History: Super Bowl VI

Super Bowl VI, held on January 16, 1972, marked the end of the 1971 NFL season. The game was held at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, and featured the Dallas Cowboys, winners of the National Football Conference (NFC) facing off against the Miami Dolphins, champions of the American Football Conference (AFC). The game was won by the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 24-3.

The game was dominated by the Cowboys' defense, which held the Dolphins to just three points, the lowest in Super Bowl history at the time. The Cowboys' offense also had a strong showing, with quarterback Roger Staubach throwing for 119 yards and a touchdown, and running back Duane Thomas rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Staubach received the MVP award, but later claimed that Thomas would have received the award had he answered questions on Super Bowl VI Media Day, Thomas sat silently until his time expired during the event.

The 1971 Cowboys team is considered one of the best in NFL history, and their Super Bowl VI win solidified their place in NFL lore. The Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" was considered one of the best in NFL history, and the team also had a powerful offense led by Staubach and Thomas.

Super Bowl VI was the last Super Bowl that was blacked out in the TV market where the game was played. At the time, the NFL's blackout rules were unconditional, meaning that even if the local team did not advance to the Super Bowl and the game was sold out, it still could not be broadcast locally.

However, the following year, the league changed its rules to allow for games to be broadcast in the local market if they were sold out 72 hours in advance. This game also marked the last Super Bowl played with hash marks set 40 feet apart and 20 yards from the sidelines. They were brought in at 18 1/2 feet, which is the width of the goalposts, and have remained so since.

​