Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

x – clinched wild card berth, y – clinched division title

Note: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings

AFC East
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-Baltimore Colts 11 2 1 .846 321 234
x-Miami Dolphins 10 4 0 .714 297 228
New York… More Jets 4 10 0 .286 255 286
Buffalo Bills 3 10 1 .231 204 337
Boston Patriots 2 12 0 .143 149 361
AFC Central
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-Cincinnati Bengals 8 6 0 .571 312 255
Cleveland Browns 7 7 0 .500 286 265
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 9 0 .357 210 272
Houston Oilers 3 10 1 .231 217 352
AFC West
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-Oakland Raiders 8 4 2 .667 300 293
Kansas City Chiefs 7 5 2 .583 272 244
San Diego Chargers 5 6 3 .455 282 278
Denver Broncos 5 8 1 .385 253 264
NFC East
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-Dallas Cowboys 10 4 0 .714 299 221
New York Giants 9 5 0 .643 301 270
St. Louis Cardinals 8 5 1 .615 325 228
Washington Redskins 6 8 0 .429 297 314
Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 1 .231 241 332
NFC Central
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-Minnesota Vikings 12 2 0 .857 335 143
x-Detroit Lions 10 4 0 .714 347 202
Green Bay Packers 6 8 0 .429 196 293
Chicago Bears 6 8 0 .429 256 261
NFC West
Team W L T PCT PF PA
y-San Francisco 49ers 10 3 1 .769 352 267
Los Angeles Rams 9 4 1 .692 325 202
Atlanta Falcons 4 8 2 .333 206 261
New Orleans Saints 2 11 1 .154 172 347
Tiebreakers
Green Bay finished ahead of Chicago in the NFC Central based on better division record (2–4 to Bears' 1–5).
Playoffs
Main article: 1970–71 NFL playoffs
Note: Although the home teams in these playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation, the home club coincidentally happened to be the one with the better record in every game. Had the playoffs been seeded, the only difference would have been that the #4 wild card Lions, ineligible to play the Vikings, would have played at the #2 49ers and the #3 Cowboys would have played at the #1 Vikings in the NFC divisional playoffs.
Divisional Playoffs Conf. Championship Games Super Bowl V
December 27 – Oakland Coliseum
Miami Dolphins 14
January 3 – Memorial Stadium
Oakland Raiders 21
Oakland Raiders 17
December 26 – Memorial Stadium
Baltimore Colts 27
Cincinnati Bengals 0
January 17 – Miami Orange Bowl
Baltimore Colts 17
Baltimore Colts 16
December 26 – Cotton Bowl
Dallas Cowboys 13
Detroit Lions 0
January 3 – Kezar Stadium
Dallas Cowboys 5
Dallas Cowboys 17
December 27 – Metropolitan Stadium
San Francisco 49ers 10
San Francisco 49ers 17
Minnesota Vikings 14

This bracket view talk edit
Awards Less

xO73

DEXd

National Football Conference

Week Eastern Central Western Wild Card
1 Dallas 1–0–0 3 teams 1–0–0 3 teams 1–0–0 4 teams 1–0–0
2 Dallas 2–0–0 3 teams 2–0–0 2 teams 2–0–0 3 teams 2–0–0
3 St. Louis* 2–1–0 Detroit 3–0–0 Los Angeles 3–0–0 6 teams 2–1–0
4 St. Louis* 3–1–0 Detroit* 3–1–0 San Francisco* 3–1–0 4 teams 3–1–0
5 St. Louis 4–1–0 Detroit* 4–1–0 Los Angeles 4–1–0 Minnesota 4–1–0
6 St. Louis* 4–2–0 Detr… Moreoit* 5–1–0 San Francisco 4–1–1 Minnesota 5–1–0
7 St. Louis* 5–2–0 Minnesota 6–1–0 San Francisco 5–1–1 3 teams 5–2–0
8 St. Louis 6–2–0 Minnesota 7–1–0 San Francisco 6–1–1 Los Angeles 5–2–1
9 St. Louis 7–2–0 Minnesota 8–1–0 San Francisco 7–1–1 N.Y. Giants 6–3–0
10 St. Louis 7–2–1 Minnesota 9–1–0 San Francisco 7–2–1 Los Angeles 6–3–1
11 St. Louis 8–2–1 Minnesota 9–2–0 Los Angeles* 7–3–1 San Francisco 7–3–1
12 St. Louis 8–3–1 Minnesota 10–2–0 Los Angeles* 8–3–1 San Francisco 8–3–1
13 N.Y. Giants* 9–4–0 Minnesota 11–2–0 San Francisco 9–3–1 Dallas* 9–4–0
14 Dallas 10–4–0 Minnesota 12–2–0 San Francisco 10–3–1 Detroit 10–4–0
American Football Conference

Week Eastern Central Western Wild Card
1 2 teams 1–0–0 3 teams 1–0–0 Denver 1–0–0 3 teams 1–0–0
2 4 teams 1–1–0 3 teams 1–1–0 Denver 2–0–0 6 teams 1–1–0
3 Baltimore* 2–1–0 2 teams 2–1–0 Denver 3–0–0 2 teams 2–1–0
4 Baltimore* 3–1–0 Cleveland 3–1–0 Denver 3–1–0 Miami 3–1–0
5 Baltimore* 4–1–0 Cleveland 3–2–0 Denver 4–1–0 Miami 4–1–0
6 Baltimore 5–1–0 Cleveland 4–2–0 Denver 4–2–0 Miami 4–2–0
7 Baltimore 6–1–0 Cleveland 4–3–0 Oakland 3–2–2 Denver 4–3–0
8 Baltimore 7–1–0 Cleveland* 4–4–0 Oakland 4–2–2 Kansas City 4–3–1
9 Baltimore 7–1–1 Cleveland* 4–5–0 Oakland 5–2–2 Kansas City 5–3–1
10 Baltimore 7–2–1 Cleveland 5–5–0 Oakland 6–2–2 Kansas City 5–3–2
11 Baltimore 8–2–1 Cleveland* 5–6–0 Oakland* 6–3–2 Kansas City 6–3–2
12 Baltimore 9–2–1 Cleveland* 6–6–0 Oakland* 7–3–2 Kansas City 7–3–2
13 Baltimore 10–2–1 Cincinnati 7–6–0 Oakland 8–3–2 Miami 9–4–0
14 Baltimore 11–2–1 Cincinnati 8–6–0 Oakland 8–4–2 Miami 10–4–0 Less

Baltimore Colts Position Dallas
Offense
Eddie Hinton WR Bob Hayes‡
Bob Vogel LT Ralph Neely
Glenn Ressler LG John Niland
Bill Curry C Dave Manders
John Williams RG Blaine Nye
Dan Sullivan RT Rayfield Wright‡
John Mackey‡ TE Pettis Norman
Roy Jefferson WR Reggie Rucker
Johnny Unitas‡ QB Craig Morton
Norm Bulaich RB Duane Thomas
Tom Nowatzke RB Walt Garrison
Defense
Bubba Smith LE Larry Cole
Billy Ray Smith LT Jet… Morehro Pugh
Fred Miller RT Bob Lilly‡
Roy Hilton RE George Andrie
Ray May LLB Dave Edwards
Mike Curtis MLB Lee Roy Jordan
Ted Hendricks‡ RLB Chuck Howley
Charlie Stukes LCB Herb Adderley‡
Jim Duncan RCB Mel Renfro‡
Jerry Logan LS Cornell Green
Rick Volk RS Charlie W Less

"We figured we could win if our offense didn't put us into too many holes", said 35-year-old Colts lineman Billy Ray Smith, who was playing in his last NFL game, "Let me put it this way, they didn't put us into any holes we couldn't get out of".[16]

Colts defensive end Bubba Smith would later refuse to wear his Super Bowl V ring because of the "sloppy" play.[17]

Don McCafferty became the first rooki… Moree head coach to win a Super Bowl. The feat was not repeated until George Seifert led the San Francisco 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XXIV. McCafferty was also the first Super Bowl-winning coach who did not wear coat and tie, opting for a short-sleeved t-shirt with a mock turtleneck.

Two rule changes that were adopted before the 1974 season were:

When the defensive team commits an illegal use of hands, arms, or body foul from behind the line of scrimmage, the penalty will be assessed from the previous spot instead of the spot of the foul.
The penalties for offensive holding, illegal use of hands, and tripping were reduced from 15-yards to 10-yards.
These would have reduced the severity of the two Dallas offensive holding penalties in Super Bowl V.[18][19] Less

Fourth quarter
Three plays later, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Morrall threw an interception to Howley in the end zone to preserve the Cowboys' 13-6 lead.[12]

After forcing the Cowboys to punt, the Colts regained the ball on their own 18-yard line, still trailing 13-6. Aided by a pass interference call and a 23-yard completion, the Colts advanced into Dallas territory. The Colts then att… Moreempted to fool the Cowboys with a flea-flicker play,[6][7][13] resulting in one of the oddest plays in Super Bowl history. Running back Sam Havrilak took a handoff and ran right, intending to lateral the ball back to Morrall, but Dallas lineman Jethro Pugh stormed into the backfield and prevented him from doing so. Havrilak then threw a pass intended for Mackey, but it was caught instead by Hinton, who promptly took off for the end zone. However, as Hinton raced toward a touchdown, Cowboys defensive back Cornell Green stripped him from behind at the 11-yard line. The loose ball bounced wildly in the field of play but somehow evaded recovery. It was eventually pushed 20 yards through the back of the end zone for a touchback, thus returning the ball to the Cowboys at their 20-yard line.

Three plays after the turnover the Cowboys returned the favor. Morton threw a pass that was intercepted by Colts safety Rick Volk, who returned the ball 30 yards to the Cowboys' 3-yard line (Morrall later referred to play as the play of the game).[7] Two plays later, the Colts scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Nowatzke. O'Brien's extra point sailed through the uprights to tie the game at 13–13. (O'Brien says he was much calmer and more confident on this extra point than on the first one, which was blocked.)

The next two possessions ended in traded punts, with the Cowboys eventually taking over in excellent field position at the Colts 48-yard line with less than 2 minutes left in the game.

On the second play of this potential game-winning drive, Dallas committed a 15-yard holding penalty (its second offensive holding of the game) on the 42-yard line, which was a spot foul, pushing the team all the way back to its own 27-yard line (the NFL did not reduce the penalty for offensive holding to 10 yards until 1974).[14] Then, on second down and 35, Morton threw a pass that slipped through the hands of running back Dan Reeves and bounced for an interception into the arms of linebacker Mike Curtis, who then returned the ball 13 yards to the Cowboys' 28-yard line.

Two plays later, with 9 seconds left in the game, O'Brien kicked the go ahead 32-yard field goal, giving Baltimore a 16–13 lead.[15] O'Brien says he was "on automatic" and was so calm and concentrating so hard that he didn't hear anything and saw only the ball.[6] In an enduring image from Super Bowl V, after O'Brien's game-winning field goal Bob Lilly took off his helmet and hurled it through the air in disgust.

The Cowboys received the ball again on their 40-yard line with a few seconds remaining after O'Brien's ensuing squib kick, but Morton's pass to Garrison was intercepted by Logan at the Baltimore 29-yard line, and time expired. Less

Third quarter
The second half was a parade of turnovers, sloppy play, penalties, and missed opportunities.

Colts returner Jim Duncan fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Dallas recovered. Then the Cowboys drove to the Colts' 1-yard line, but Mike Curtis punched the ball loose from Cowboys running back Duane Thomas before crossing the end zone, and the Colts took over at the 1 as Duncan… More was credited with the recovery–-a controversial call because when the resulting pile-up was sorted out, Dallas center Dave Manders was holding the ball. The energized Colts then drove to the Cowboys' 44-yard line but came up empty when O'Brien's 52-yard field goal attempt fell short of the goal posts. However, instead of attempting to return the missed field goal, Renfro allowed it to bounce inside their own 1-yard line where it was downed by center Tom Goode (NFL rules prior to 1974 allowed a field goal that fell short of the goal posts to be downed just like a punt; that rule is still in effect in high school football). "I thought it would carry into the end zone", Renfro explained after the game.[11]

Dallas, backed up to its own end zone, punted after three plays. The Colts would have received the ball inside Dallas territory following the punt, but a 15-yard clipping penalty pushed the Colts back to their own 39 to begin the drive. Two plays later, Morrall completed a 45-yard pass to running back Tom Nowatzke to reach the Cowboys 15-yard line. Less

Second quarter
Morton committed a 15-yard intentional grounding penalty on third down to open the 2nd quarter, pushing the Cowboys back to the 22-yard line and forcing them to settle for Clark's 30-yard field goal, stretching the score to 6-0.

On their next possession the Colts offense got a break. After two straight incompletions to open the drive, Unitas uncorked a pass to Eddie Hinton that was bo… Moreth high and behind the receiver. The ball ricocheted off Hinton's hands, was tipped by Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro,[10] then landed in the arms of tight end John Mackey, who sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys subsequently blocked Jim O'Brien's extra point attempt to keep the score tied at 6-6, with O'Brien later saying that he was "awfully nervous" and hesitated a second too long before kicking it.[6]

Six minutes into the second quarter, Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan tackled Unitas, causing him to fumble. Dallas recovered the loose ball at the Baltimore 28 and capitalized three plays later, scoring on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Morton to Thomas to establish a 13-6 lead. The next time the Colts had the ball they quickly turned it over yet again, with Unitas unleashing a fluttering interception to Renfro while being hit fiercely on a pass. Unitas was knocked out of the game permanently on the play with a rib injury and was replaced by Earl Morrall, who was widely blamed for the Colts loss in Super Bowl III. The Cowboys, starting from their own 15, were unable to score any points off the turnover. After sustaining a 15-yard pass interference penalty, they punted. After regaining possession, the Colts offense, led by Morrall, stormed all the way to the Cowboys 2-yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the half. However, the Cowboys defense stiffened. Colts running back Norm Bulaich was stuffed on three consecutive rushing attempts from inside the 2-yard line. On fourth down, Morrall threw an incomplete pass, turning the ball over on downs and ending the half with Dallas leading 13–6. Less

Chuck Howley
First quarter
The first three possessions of Super Bowl V ended quietly with each team punting after a three-and-out. Then, on the first play of the Colts' second drive, Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted a pass from Johnny Unitas and returned it 22 yards to the Colts' 46-yard line, the first of 11 combined turnovers committed by both teams. The Cowboys failed to take advantage… More of the turnover, with a 15-yard holding penalty 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage pushing them back to a 3rd-and-33 situation. Walt Garrison gained 11 yards and Dallas had to punt. However, Colts punt returner Ron Gardin muffed the return, and the loose ball was recovered by Cowboys safety Cliff Harris at the Colts' 9-yard line. The Cowboys were unable to score a touchdown and settled for kicker Mike Clark's 14-yard field goal to establish a 3–0 lead.

After a Colts punt which they failed to keep from reaching the end zone, Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton completed a 41-yard pass to Bob Hayes to reach the Colts' 12-yard line, with a roughing the passer penalty adding 6 yards (half the distance to the goal), but Dallas was denied the end zone by the Baltimore defense for a second time. Linebacker Ted Hendricks deflected Morton's pass on first down and running back Duane Thomas was tackled for a 1-yard loss on second down.Less Less