The Dallas Cowboys are a franchise rich in tradition thanks, in part, to their winning culture. Throughout their history, they were part of some of the best games in the National Football League lore.
Here are five games that Dallas Cowboys fans will never forget:
1. Hail Mary (12/28/1975)
Trailing 14 – 10, the only thing standing in the Cowboys way of defeating the Minnesota Vikings is 80 yards. QB Roger Staubach looks desperately to find Drew Pearson. Staubach finds Pearson, Pearson catches the ball, moving the Cowboys up to mid-field. There is 24 seconds left in the game and in one effortless catch, Pearson wins the game for Dallas.
Post-game, Paul Krause complained to a field judge that an interference penalty should have been called on Pearson. Vikings fans threw debris on to the field and at the Dallas Cowboys players, enraged that no penalty was called on the play. Staubach was quoted saying, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.”
2. Duel in Dixie (1/4/1981)
In the 1980 season, the Dallas Cowboys are entering the season without their legendary quarterback Roger Staubach, as he retired from the game that spring. They did well with Staubach’s successor, Danny White, as the Cowboys reached the NFC Championship round in three straight years during the early 80’s. But nothing is more memorable than the Cowboys comeback win against the Falcons.
After trailing 10-24, the Cowboys scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to come from behind and win 30-27. Pearson performed spectacularly when he scored three touchdowns during the comeback. The game is known in the Cowboys’ lore as “the Atlanta Comeback”.
3. Changing of The Guard (1/17/1993)
Entering the 90’s, the 49ers had already established a dynasty during the previous decade. Led by Joe Montana’s successor Steve Young, they have the personnel to continue building on that success. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are starting to return to elite status.
Dallas forced four critical turnovers, helping them earn the NFC Championship for the first time in 10 years. The combination of QB Troy Aikman (322 YDs, 2 TDs with no INT) and RB Emmitt Smith (24 carries and 114 yards, caught 7 passes for 59 yards, and 2 touchdowns) were phenomenal in the Cowboys 30-20 win. The game was the “changing of the guard” and the “birth of the dynasty”.
4. Completing a Dynasty (1/28/1996)
Speaking of the “birth of the dynasty”, the Cowboys were coming in to Super Bowl XXX having won two championships in the last three years. Super Bowl XXX marked the third time they faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the big game—the most between any two NFL teams.
Dallas’ Larry Brown helped his team win, 27-17, and became the first cornerback to be named Super Bowl MVP. His two interceptions in the second half were converted into two touchdowns to prevent a Steelers comeback.
This was the last time the Cowboys won the Super Bowl, and their third in four years.
5. Romo’s First Playoff Win (1/3/2010)
QB Tony Romo was tasked with contiuing the long tradition of great playmakers in Dallas in the 2000’s. Although he was able to bring his team to the postseason often, he struggled in the playoffs.
That stopped in a 2010 wildcard round game when the Cowboys defeated the Eagles, 34-14.
Romo finally won his first playoff game of his career after three previous tries. Most importantly, the Cowboys won a playoff game for the first time since 1996. It came at the expense of their rivals in Philly, who eliminated them from playoff contention in the final week of 08-09 season. The game is remembered for both teams combined to set an NFL record for the most penalty yards in a playoff game (23 times for 228 yards).
Conclusion:
The Cowboys have played many legendary games over the years. Will any of their games in 2013 stand out as a memorable? Tune in to Top Bet sports to stay updated on odds during the course of the Dallas Cowboys season.
More on the Cowboys:
- The Dallas Cowboy’s: America’s Team
- Game by Game Betting Predictions for 2013
- Dallas Cowboys: A Brief History
- Five Places a Cowboys Fan Should Never Go
- Dallas Cowboys: Bitter Rivalries
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