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Morrall had a terrific season, true, but this crew-cut Cinderella was fast approaching midnight. It should not have been a shocker that Morrall didn’t play well in the Super Bowl. It’s not like the Jets were in awe of him. Jets cornerback Johnny Sample, an ex-Colt, told his Jets teammates about what [Johnny] Unitas could do, especially under fire. “I knew we’d be in trouble if he started,” Sample said. But he didn’t start. Morrall started.

An Inside LOOK at the COLTS’ First HALF Scoring Chances

Colts first possession: First Quarter (10:55 remaining)

On Baltimore’s first offensive play, Morrall hit John Mackey for a nineteen-yard completion. Tom Matte ran for ten yards, and another first down. Jerry Hill ran a sweep for seven more. The Colts worked their way to New York’s nineteen-yard line. On first down, Morrall’s pass was dropped. On second down, Morrall’s pass was overthrown, incomplete. On third down, Morrall was lucky to get back to the line of scrimmage, avoiding a rush. On fourth down, Lou Michaels missed a short, twenty-seven-yard field goal attempt.

Colts second possession: First Quarter (3:05 remaining)

Baltimore ran three plays, then punted. The Colts’ punt was downed on the Jets’ four-yard line.

Colts third possession: First Quarter (0:14 remaining)

The Colts managed to force a turnover, as Lenny Lyles made George Sauer cough up the ball following a reception. Baltimore overtook New York at the twelve-yard line. Hill lost a yard, running off-tackle on first down. On second and eleven, Matte gained seven yards on a sweep. On third and four, Morrall’s pass to Mitchell was intercepted by New York corner Randy Beverly in the end zone for a touchback.

Colts fourth possession: Second Quarter: (9:03 remaining, Jets up 7-0)

Morrall found Matte for thirty yards on second and ten, and the Colts had the ball in New York territory. Two more rushes and one incomplete pass later, Lou Michaels missed a forty-six-yard field goal attempt.

Colts fifth possession: Second Quarter: (4:13 remaining, Jets up 7-0)

After a fifty-eight-yard run by Matte, the Colts had a first down at the New York sixteen-yard line. One running play later, Johnny Sample intercepted Morrall at the two-yard line.

Colts sixth possession: Second Quarter (0:43 remaining, Jets up 7-0)

Baltimore took over at the New York forty-two-yard line. Morrall completed a one-yard pass. And then, the famous “flea-flicker.” Matte lateraled back to Morrall, and Earl never saw a wide-open Jimmy Orr. Instead, Morrall was intercepted for a third time. And so ended the first half. Shula always defended Morrall for not seeing Orr in the end zone. He would say repeatedly that the Baltimore Colts’ band got out of the stands, was going behind the end zone, and the colors blended in.

It is clear that the Colts’ offensive ineptitude killed any chance they had of winning the game. It is puzzling, though, that at halftime Shula could have chosen to make two vital adjustments, but made neither. I truly believe that Shula made the worst coaching decision in Super Bowl history by not starting Johnny Unitas at quarterback. Unitas was out for most of the season with an injured elbow, but was—according to Shula’s words at the time—80% healthy. Starting Unitas was debatable, considering the success the team enjoyed with Morrall. But after Morrall threw three interceptions in the second quarter, Shula compounded his poor decision. He started Morrall in the second half, despite his problems in the first half. (Shula would learn his lesson, however. Four years later, he started Bob Griese in Super Bowl VII, despite Morrall quarterbacking the Dolphins to eleven consecutive victories following a Griese injury).

The Jets had only scored seven points in the first half, but they’d moved the ball well (179 yards) and had had some missed opportunities of their own (losing a fumble and missing a field goal). The Colts’ left defensive end, Bubba Smith, told author Jeff Miller in Going Long, his 2003 oral history of the American Football League: “At