The Dallas Cowboys finally broke through their run of 8-8 records in the regular season and are in the NFL playoff dance for the first time in years. With the Cowboys returning to levels of pride and excellence that had been unseen in recent years, there’s no better time to take a look back at some of the franchise’s finest moments.
With that in mind, let’s take a walk down memory lane and count down the five of the best Dallas Cowboys wins since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
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Top Five Dallas Cowboys Wins Ever
5. NFC Playoff Game vs. Atlanta Falcons (1980)
[sc:NFL240banner ]Let’s call this the Danny White Game because that’s what it really was. The quarterback took over Dallas’ starting gig after the retirement of the great Roger Staubach during the offseason. It goes without saying that Staubach’s playoff heroics were a tough act to follow, and the pressure was on for White to deliver in a playoff game that saw the ‘Boys fall behind the Falcons by double digits in the fourth quarter of their divisional round matchup.
But White was up to the task, throwing for three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to help erase the Falcons’ 10-point lead and complete the Cowboys’ come-from-behind, 30-27 victory.
4. Thanksgiving Matchup vs. Green Bay Packers (1994)
Here’s a more recent one. Cowboys fans remember this game very well, not only because the Cowboys beat the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, but also because this is the only game people recall Jason Garrett playing. With Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete injured, the Cowboys had no choice but to give the quarterbacking chores to Garrett, who would be starting opposite a Packers player by the name of Brett Favre.
Garrett struggled early on and the Packers took a 17-6 lead at the half. It was a different story, however, in the second half, as the Cowboys uncorked 36 points, featuring two touchdowns passes by their current head coach and an Emmitt Smith rushing score. Garrett finished with 311 yards as the Cowboys win, 42-31.
3. Week 2 Barn Burner vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2008)
You won’t find this game in the portfolio of either team’s defensive coordinators. And for a good reason. The score itself is a testament to the amount of attention both the Cowboys and the Eagles paid to playing defense—that is, none—as Dallas won a wild shootout, 41-37.
The game is still considered as one of the most electrifying in the history of the NFL. Take a moment to absorb the following: the game had eight lead changes, seven total touchdowns, 717 combined total yards, and 118 total plays.
Can’t get enough of them Cowboys? Click here to read our preview of the Cowboys vs. Packers’ NFC Divisional Round matchup.
2. Hail Mary vs. Minnesota Vikings (1975)
The phrase “Hail Mary” became an ubiquitous football term because of this game. The play in question helped the Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings, 17-14, in the 1975 NFC playoffs, and the game is considered as amongst the most memorable ever for it.
With only 32 seconds remaining in the ball game and the Cowboys trailing by four points, quarterback Roger Staubach unleashed his cannon of an arm and threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson to give Dallas the lead and the win.
1. Comeback Divisional Title Game vs. Washington Redskins (1979)
It’s a regular season matchup, but one that was heavily coated with the feel of a playoff game because on the line was the right to take home the NFC East title. With less than five minutes left in the game, the Cowboys were trailing the Washington Redskins, 34-21. Enter Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, who engineered two touchdown drives to lead the Cowboys to a 35-34 win and clinch a spot in the playoffs—at the expense of their hated rivals, no less.
