Had Norwood successfully scored it would have likely given the Bills a 22–20 victory, and it would also have been the first Super Bowl to be decided by a game-ending field goal since Jim O'Brien's 32-yard kick which gave the Baltimore Colts a 16–13 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
The outcome of the game was dependent on Norwood's successful kick, which would have given the Bills a victory and made it the first Super Bowl decided by a field goal since Jim O'Brien's kick in Super Bowl V.