Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh and Dallas Raise the Stakes
LEGENDS OF PITTSBURGH · Steelers · 1979
The Steelers beat the Cowboys 35–31 on January 21, 1979.
The Pittsburgh story
The Pittsburgh–Dallas championship matchup returned with a more prolific final score. Super Bowl XIII added another chapter to a rivalry that already carried a Super Bowl result. The teams' familiarity gives the game an extra layer: this was a contest with an earlier championship meeting in its background.
Why it belongs in the conversation
A rematch lets fans compare without pretending the two games are identical. Personnel, circumstances, and the flow of a contest can change even when the uniforms do not. That makes old championship rivalries an appealing topic for debate. Does one team impose its identity again, or does the opponent force a different kind of game? Start with the score, then look at how the contest developed. The point of revisiting a rivalry is not just to celebrate another win. It is to see what changed and what remained difficult.
A question for the Porch
Which creates a better championship story: a new opponent or a rematch with an established rival?
Who won Super Bowl XIII?
The Steelers beat the Cowboys 35–31 on January 21, 1979.
Sources and more Pittsburgh sports
Historical facts: Pittsburgh Steelers — Super Bowl history. Commentary and discussion are The Sports Porch’s perspective.
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