NFL game summary for 01/03/1971:
Dallas middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan intercepted a John Brodie pass to set up a 13-yard touchdown run by rookie Duane Thomas that broke a 3-3 tie in the third period to springboard the Cowboys to a 17-10 victory over San Francisco and their first NFC championship. Another interception by Mel Renfro paved the way for Dallas' clinching touchdown, a five-yard pass from Craig Morton to Walt Garrison, also in the third period. Thomas rushed 27 times for 143 yards as Dallas scored its seventh consecutive victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 164.3 (1) | 153.5 (16) | 317.8 (4) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 118.3 (10) | 136.6 (3) | 254.9 (4) | 39 | |
 | OFFENSE | 112.9 (17) | 208.8 (1) | 321.6 (2) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 128.5 (18) | 155.2 (9) | 283.7 (13) | 42 |
Line: 49ers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (12-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
( 0- 3) SF Bruce Gossett 16 yard field goal ( 3- 3) DAL Mike Clark 21 yard field goal (10- 3) DAL Duane Thomas 13 yard rush (Mike Clark kick) (17- 3) DAL Walt Garrison 5 yard pass from Craig Morton (Mike Clark kick) (17-10) SF Dick Witcher 26 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
DAL SF
First Downs: 22 15
Rushes-yards: 51-229 19-61
Yards/rush: 4.5 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-22-101-0 19-30-262-2
Sacked-yards: 2-11 2-16
Net pass yards: 90 246
Net yards/pass: 3.8 7.7
Total net yards: 319 307
Total plays: 75 (68% run) 51 (37% run)
Yards/play: 4.3 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 1-0
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 7-75 5-51
Attendance: 59,625
Passing:
DAL: Craig Morton, 7 of 22 for 101 yards and 1 TD SF: John Brodie, 19 of 40 for 262 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Duane Thomas, 27 for 143 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 17 for 71 yards; Claxton Welch, 5 for 27 yards; Dan Reeves, 2 for -12 yards SF: Ken Willard, 13 for 42 yards; Doug Cunningham, 5 for 14 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 24 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards SF: Gene Washington, 6 for 88 yards; Doug Cunningham, 4 for 34 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 70 yards; Dick Witcher, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 22 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Mark Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 16 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 10 yards SF: Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 66 yards; Bill Tucker, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 8 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Mel Renfro, 1 for 19 yards; Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards SF: Steve Spurrier, 5 for 205 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mike Clark, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2
DAL: Craig Morton, 7 of 22 for 101 yards and 1 TD SF: John Brodie, 19 of 40 for 262 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Duane Thomas, 27 for 143 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 17 for 71 yards; Claxton Welch, 5 for 27 yards; Dan Reeves, 2 for -12 yards SF: Ken Willard, 13 for 42 yards; Doug Cunningham, 5 for 14 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 5 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Walt Garrison, 3 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Duane Thomas, 2 for 24 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 21 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards SF: Gene Washington, 6 for 88 yards; Doug Cunningham, 4 for 34 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 70 yards; Dick Witcher, 3 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Ken Willard, 2 for 22 yards; Ted Kwalick, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Mark Washington, 1 for 20 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 16 yards; Steve Kiner, 1 for 10 yards SF: Jimmy Thomas, 3 for 66 yards; Bill Tucker, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 8 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 0 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 2 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Mel Renfro, 1 for 19 yards; Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 241 yards SF: Steve Spurrier, 5 for 205 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mike Clark, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2