Super Bowl XLV: Home Sweet Home

**ISUFan22** · 05-22-2007, 02:12 PM

The Cowboys did what almost everyone said was too improbable - win a Super Bowl on their home field.

To top it off, these Cowboys never left the friendly confines of their new stadium during the entire playoffs. Awarded with home field advantage throughout and a first round bye, the 'Boys pummeled the Eagles in their first appearance by a score of 41-13. McFadden had 3 TD runs and Romo added 2 by air, one to Witten and the other to Todd Blythe.

In the NFC title game, Dallas smashed through another opponent at home, defeating San Francisco 34-20. Romo was the star on this day, throwing for 324 yards and 3 TDs. Barber had the other on a nifty 23 yard run in the final quarter. McFadden was held in check for the most part by the 49er defense, yet still managed 87 yards on the ground and 34 receiving. Not bad stats for a guy held in check.

Super Bowl week featured Jerry smiling wider than the state of Texas knowing that not only would his Cowboys be facing the Titans in the Super Bowl - but they'd be doing so at home.

A tall task lay ahead for the Cowboys, Vince Young had yet another spectacular season, leading his Titans to a 13-3 record and coming off a convincing victory in the AFC title game over the Broncos.

Roy Williams, quiet throughout the players, wasted no time in making a statement in the most important game of the season. Early in the 2nd quarter with the game tied at 10 a piece, he busted up the middle on a well-timed blitz and lit up Young - causing a fumble that Ware quickly snatched up and ran 38 yards for a score. Young wasn't phased, as expected and led his team on a drive late in the 2nd quarter to knot the score at 17-17.

The halftime show featured Carrie Underwood and unfortunately didn't include any wardrobe malfunctions. Oddly enough though, she was wearing her husbands #9 jersey as she debuted her remake of Toby Keith's "Should've been a Cowboy".

Knowing his wife was on stage pleasing the crowd and Cowboy faithful must have fired up Romo, as his first pass from scrimmage was a 67 yard bomb to Todd Blythe. A quick 3-and-out for the Titans gave Dallas the ball back and this time McFadden went to work. Consecutive runs of 8, 12 and 5 yards put Dallas just across midfield. On 2nd and 5, Romo hit Witten across the middle for a nice gain - eventually pushed out of bounds just inside the 20. McFadden needed just one play off and took a the ball from Romo off the right side, cut back towards the middle, embarrassed the Titan safety and hopped over the goal line for a the score. Now up 31-17, Dallas looked to be in control.

Young refused to go down without a fight, leading his team on consecutive scoring drives, one a 38 yard field goal and the other a 12 yard run by Young. The score was 31-27 with a quarter left to play.

Not to be shown up, Romo created some magic of his own. Facing 3rd and 12 from their own 34, Romo took the snap and rolled right. Not able to find an open receiver and getting pressure from the Titan defensive end, he sprinted back left. Just when it looked like he was going to go out of bounds with a minimal gain and a punt on the way - he stopped on a dime to evade a would-be-tackler juked a bit inside and sprinted down the sidelines. After picking up the first down and seeing a safety barreling down on him, he wisely stepped out of bounds. But not before a 16 yard pickup and a highlight for the ages.

After a pair of nice runs by McFadden and a short completion to Crayton, Romo found Witten in the end zone. Dallas allowed the Titans to march right back down the field, yet finally stopping them just inside the 35. On the field goal attempt, Spencer knifed through the line and made a solid block with his left hand. Just 7 plays later, Dallas once again was celebrating in the end zone after a McFadden 3 yard run. The celebration began on the sidelines as well - the Cowboys comfortably ahead in Super Bowl XLV, 45-27, with just under 4 minutes on the clock.

The Titans gave it one last effort, reaching the Cowboy 17 only to be denied after 4th and 10 incompletion. Romo killed the rest of the clock to close the deal.

They say home is where the heart is. For these Cowboys, home to them meant championship.

**Drive4cy** · 05-22-2007, 02:15 PM

Fiction can be fun.

**chadm** · 05-22-2007, 02:15 PM

This really worked well for ISU last year with this type of story.

You get an A for imagination.

**SuperCy** · 05-22-2007, 02:17 PM

Did Michael Irvin hook you up with something "pure?"

**acrozier22** · 05-22-2007, 02:18 PM

That was a big waste of my time to read that....

**rworkman83** · 05-22-2007, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by acrozier22

That was a big waste of my time to read that....

It was a waste of my time too...but I enjoyed it....gotta love the Iowa State connection in there...

**mwitt** · 05-22-2007, 02:43 PM

Not to nitpick, but the Cowboys version of Roy Williams is not a Longhorn alum. Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions went to Texas. Our Roy was an Oklahoma boy.