In June 2011, Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine decided to count down the best of the best, the top 25 plays in franchise history. Obviously, this wasn't the easiest of tasks, but some 30,000-plus words later, we feel pretty good about the results. Now here in a 25-part summer series, we share our list for one and all. Without further ado, we continue with No. 7 and a snippet from the Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine story:
7) A Super Sack, Jan. 16, 1972:
On a day where the "Doomsday Defense," dominated in every way imaginable, still the only unit not to allow a touchdown in a Super Bowl, there is one signature play. It also served as the defining play of Bob Lilly's Pro Football Hall of Fame career, and this is saying something since he's considered one of the premier defensive players in the history of the game.
The play in question is Lilly's 29-yard takedown of Miami quarterback Bob Griese, the longest sack in not only Super Bowl history, but believed to be the longest in any NFL game.
The play was a wreck from the get-go, almost looked like there were multiple missed assignments on the Miami offensive line, a busted play perhaps. Lilly immediately sprang loose, as did Cowboys defensive end Larry Cole.
"Not sure what happened, but two of Miami's linemen ran into each other and Larry and I just chased him down," Lilly said. "He was trying to avoid us going back and forth. Bob [Griese] will still mention it when we see each other. It's replayed a lot."
On the video, which the majority of Cowboys fans have seen countless times, Griese literally spins around three times in trying to avoid Lilly's grasp. If not for the pursuit of Cole on the other side, he likely would've at some point bought enough time to have at least thrown the ball away, but with both of them, he never really had the chance.
"It was the hugest relief, that sack and the win, just to finally win that big game, no more 'Next Year's Champions,'" Lilly said.
Dallas won Super Bowl VI, 24-3, and dominated the Dolphins up front on both ends of the football.
Follow Jeff Sullivan: @SullyBaldHead
