NFL game summary for 01/02/1972:
George Andrie's interception of a screen pass and an 80-yard scoring drive engineered by Roger Staubach moved the Dallas Cowboys into the Super Bowl with a 14-3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game. Andrie picked off a John Brodie pass intended for Ken Willard and returned it to the 49ers' 2 in the second period. Calvin Hill scored on a diving plunge from the one.
After yielding a 28-yard field goal by Bruce Gossett in the third quarter, the Cowboys put the game away in the final period with another 80-yard drive in 14 plays, climaxed by Duane Thomas' 2-yard run. Staubach hit with key passes to Dan Reeves, Billy Truax and Mike Ditka in the long drive. Lee Roy Jordan and Cliff Harris also intercepted Brodie passes and the Cowboys defense held the 49ers to 61 yards rushing. Staubach ran for 55 yards to top the Dallas running game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 152.1 (9) | 184.1 (4) | 336.1 (3) | 42 |
| DEFENSE | 119.1 (9) | 143.6 (7) | 262.8 (6) | 31 | |
 | OFFENSE | 160.6 (3) | 199.0 (2) | 359.6 (1) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 81.7 (2) | 166.0 (19) | 247.7 (3) | 51 |
Line: Cowboys by 7½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers (10-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Dallas Cowboys (13-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) DAL Calvin Hill 1 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
( 3- 7) SF Bruce Gossett 28 yard field goal
( 3-14) DAL Duane Thomas 2 yard rush (Mike Clark kick)
SF DAL
First Downs: 9 16
Rushes-yards: 16-61 46-172
Yards/rush: 3.8 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-30-184-3 9-18-103-0
Sacked-yards: 1-6 6-31
Net pass yards: 178 72
Net yards/pass: 5.7 3.0
Total net yards: 239 244
Total plays: 47 (34% run) 70 (65% run)
Yards/play: 5.1 3.5
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 3 1
Penalties-yards: 1-12 2-30
Attendance: 63,409
Passing:
SF: John Brodie, 14 of 30 for 184 yards (3 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 18 for 103 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 10 for 58 yards; Ken Willard, 6 for 3 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 15 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 14 for 52 yards; Calvin Hill, 9 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Roger Staubach, 8 for 55 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 4 for 88 yards; Ted Kwalick, 4 for 52 yards; Vic Washington, 3 for 28 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 6 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Billy Truax, 2 for 43 yards; Bob Hayes, 2 for 22 yards; Lance Alworth, 1 for 17 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 17 yards; Duane Thomas, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for -8 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 35 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 21 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Johnny Fuller, 2 for 10 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 3 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DAL: Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 23 yards; George Andrie, 1 for 7 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
SF: Steve Spurrier, 6 for 229 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2 DAL: Mike Clark, 0/3
SF: John Brodie, 14 of 30 for 184 yards (3 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 9 of 18 for 103 yards
Rushing:
SF: Vic Washington, 10 for 58 yards; Ken Willard, 6 for 3 yards DAL: Duane Thomas, 15 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Walt Garrison, 14 for 52 yards; Calvin Hill, 9 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Roger Staubach, 8 for 55 yards
Receiving:
SF: Gene Washington, 4 for 88 yards; Ted Kwalick, 4 for 52 yards; Vic Washington, 3 for 28 yards; Ken Willard, 1 for 6 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 6 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Billy Truax, 2 for 43 yards; Bob Hayes, 2 for 22 yards; Lance Alworth, 1 for 17 yards; Dan Reeves, 1 for 17 yards; Duane Thomas, 1 for 7 yards; Mike Ditka, 1 for 5 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for -8 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 35 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for 21 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Johnny Fuller, 2 for 10 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 1 for 3 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DAL: Lee Roy Jordan, 1 for 23 yards; George Andrie, 1 for 7 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
SF: Steve Spurrier, 6 for 229 yards DAL: Ron Widby, 6 for 270 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Bruce Gossett, 1/2 DAL: Mike Clark, 0/3