27 Years Ago Today

[Hostile]

Today in Cowboys History (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-12-16&e=182&c=1).

Roger Staubach engineered perhaps his greatest comeback in the last regular season game he'd ever play in. It was the most exciting comeback I've ever seen to this day. The reason is there was more on the line than any other game I can remember.

The game had a lot on the line between the Redskins and Cowboys. The winner of the game was going to be the NFC East Champion while the loser was out of the playoffs. The loser was not even going to be the wildcard team in the playoffs because the Eagles (who couldn't win the division) would have a better record.

Down by 13 points in the 4th quarter and less than 4 minutes left Roger engineered 2 touchdown drives that stole victory from the jaws of defeat and ripped the hearts out of the Redskins, 35-34.

[ConcordCowboy]

What a Great game.

My brother-in law was giving me crap all day about how the Redskins were going to win.

The shock on his face when Staubach hit Hill was priceless!:D

[Clove]

Anytime we can rip the heart out of the deadskins, I love it. That was a sign of things to come, and to this day, we still rip the heart out of the deadskins.

Nice story.

[Boyzmamacita]

My God. Have 27 years gone by? I remember that game well. The Ron Springs TD and of course Tony Hill's (my favorite Cowboy) catch for the win. It was a wild scene at Texas Stadium. The rowdiest I ever remember that place being. It was Roger Staubach's last win and it was one of the greatest in Cowboys history.

[fiveandcounting]

Today in Cowboys History (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-12-16&e=182&c=1).

Roger Staubach engineered perhaps his greatest comeback in the last regular season game he'd ever play in. It was the most exciting comeback I've ever seen to this day. The reason is there was more on the line than any other game I can remember.

The game had a lot on the line between the Redskins and Cowboys. The winner of the game was going to be the NFC East Champion while the loser was out of the playoffs. The loser was not even going to be the wildcard team in the playoffs because the Eagles (who couldn't win the division) would have a better record.

Down by 13 points in the 4th quarter and less than 4 minutes left Roger engineered 2 touchdown drives that stole victory from the jaws of defeat and ripped the hearts out of the Redskins, 35-34.


actually you are understating this somewhat becuase it was TWO great comebacks. They came from far behind to get close or tie or take the lead, i forget which exactly, but after that Washington went on another roll and took another huge lead, which lead to the 2nd and later comeback you describe above

[4miler]

I believe that was the game that Larry Cole rolled around on the ground
during the celbration. Also Harvey Martin tossed the wreath of death into
the Redskins locker room after the game.

[Clove]

My God. Have 27 years gone by? I remember that game well. The Ron Springs TD and of course Tony Hill's (my favorite Cowboy) catch for the win. It was a wild scene at Texas Stadium. The rowdiest I ever remember that place being. It was Roger Staubach's last win and it was one of the greatest in Cowboys history.Geesh, ya'll are some old folks, oh wait.......

[CalCBFan]

Larry Cole had a GREAT deal to do w/ that victory. Wasn't it he who sacked Theisman 3 STRAIGHT times to get us the ball back for the final drive?

I also remember Ken Houston's body language: He blitzed and got about half-way to Roger, then relaized what was going on (Hill was going to where Houston was supposed to have gone), and sort of paused, started a glance over his left shoulder, turned back slumped his shoulders, shook his head and tried w/ all his might to run that last 5 yards, but by then the ball was gone and the playoffs w/ it.

The 'Skins tried to come back and I think they could have gotten close enough for a FG (Mosley was a great kicker) but they got a fast-shuffle w/ the clock: Theisman kept trying to call TO, but some how the clock just wouldn't seem to stop! I realized then why they call it "home field advantage"...

[DallasCowpoke]

It was a wild scene at Texas Stadium. The rowdiest I ever remember that place being.

That's quite a feat, considering by about 6:00 left in the 4th qtr, it was like low 30's with a 15 mph misty-wind blowing through the place, and I'd estimate 35% of the crowd had headed for the parking lot.

;)

[jazzcat22]

Today in Cowboys History (http://cowboyszone.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&day=2006-12-16&e=182&c=1).

Roger Staubach engineered perhaps his greatest comeback in the last regular season game he'd ever play in. It was the most exciting comeback I've ever seen to this day. The reason is there was more on the line than any other game I can remember.

The game had a lot on the line between the Redskins and Cowboys. The winner of the game was going to be the NFC East Champion while the loser was out of the playoffs. The loser was not even going to be the wildcard team in the playoffs because the Eagles (who couldn't win the division) would have a better record.

Down by 13 points in the 4th quarter and less than 4 minutes left Roger engineered 2 touchdown drives that stole victory from the jaws of defeat and ripped the hearts out of the Redskins, 35-34.

Thanks for the reminder. I remember that game. And it still brings a smile to my face. Now I can finish my last 3 hours of work smiling, before I go and get ready for tonight. Need to hit a sports bar though. Out of town, so can't watch it at home.

[Cajuncowboy]

Thanks Hos for making feel as old as CBz.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

[DavyBaby]

Minor correction

Even if Dallas had lost that game, they still would have been in the playoffs as a wildcard. However, based on the tiebreakers Washington HAD to win the game to make the playoffs.

I remember that after the game was over Harvey Martin tossed a funeral weath into the Washington lockeroom. Man --what an intense rivalry!!!!

[Rockytop6]

My God. Have 27 years gone by? I remember that game well. The Ron Springs TD and of course Tony Hill's (my favorite Cowboy) catch for the win. It was a wild scene at Texas Stadium. The rowdiest I ever remember that place being. It was Roger Staubach's last win and it was one of the greatest in Cowboys history.

What a great game that was. I don't know how many on this board were around at that time, but it always warms my heart when someone reminds me of a great game that I was privileged to witness.

[Juke99]

Great game. Thanks Hos.


I still like Staubach's comeback against the 49ers just a tiny bit more.

But this was, indeed, a great game.

[Hostile]

I believe that was the game that Larry Cole rolled around on the ground
during the celbration. Also Harvey Martin tossed the wreath of death into
the Redskins locker room after the game.You are correct about Harvey thrwoing the wreath back in the Redskins locker room.

[Juke99]

I believe that was the game that Larry Cole rolled around on the ground
during the celbration. Also Harvey Martin tossed the wreath of death into
the Redskins locker room after the game.

Cole did his roll in the San Francisco game I noted above. :)

[calico]

What a game. I was only a month old, but my dad made sure I knew about it and Roger as I grew up. I finally got a copy on DVD while in college and watch it every Cowboys/skins week. It was such a great game that skins fans even want copies of it.

Although, they still ***** and moan claiming that their field goal kicker could have made that 60+ yarder to win the game if the refs had not screwed them when they tried to call timeout as the last seconds ticked away.

[Hostile]

Minor correction

Even if Dallas had lost that game, they still would have been in the playoffs as a wildcard. However, based on the tiebreakers Washington HAD to win the game to make the playoffs.

I remember that after the game was over Harvey Martin tossed a funeral weath into the Washington lockeroom. Man --what an intense rivalry!!!!You are correct. I had forgotten we had the tie breaker over the Bears because we beat them.

Thank you.

[Juke99]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_49ers

The 49ers won their third consecutive NFC West championship in 1972 with five wins in their last six games, making them the only franchise to win their first three divisional titles after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Their opponents in the divisional playoffs would once again be the Dallas Cowboys, making it the third year in a row the teams faced each other in the playoffs.

Vic Washington took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score and the 49ers took a 21-6 lead in the second quarter. After the 49ers took a 28-13 lead in the 4th quarter, Tom Landry sent quarterback Roger Staubach, who was backing up Craig Morton, into the game. Staubach quickly led the Cowboys on a drive to a field goal bringing the score to within 28-16, and as the game wound down it appeared that that would be all the Cowboys would get. However the Cowboys would complete the comeback all in the last two minutes. Just after the two minute warning Staubach found Billy Parks for a touchdown to bring the score to 28-23. Needing an onside kick to have a realistic chance at a game-winning touchdown, Cowboys kicker Toni Fritsch executed a successful onside kick, with the ball going back to the Cowboys. With the 49ers on the ropes, Staubach completed the comeback with a touchdown pass to Ron Sellers giving the Cowboys a dramatic 30-28 victory and sending the 49ers to yet another crushing playoff defeat.

The defeat would have a chilling effect on the 49ers as they would descend to their worst prolonged stretch as they would not make the playoffs for the next eight seasons.


From Gil Brandt...

"For me, the best comeback I've ever witnessed happened in December 1972, in the Cowboys' NFC Divisional Playoff game against the 49ers at Candlestick. We were down 28-13 going into fourth, and Roger Staubach, who had been hurt and not played during the season because of a training camp injury, came off the bench to play. We were down by 15 until we kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 28-16. Then with less than two minutes to play, we scored to make it 28-23, on-side kicked and scored again with 52 seconds remaining to give us the lead. And then we almost lost! The 49ers, with John Brodie, came back and completed a pass that would put them in field goal position, but offensive tackle Cas Banaszek was called for holding and it took them out of field-goal range. The final was 30-28 and it put us in championship game."

[CliffnMesquite]

Good Lord how time fly's. I remember it as if it was yesterday, And wasn't the headline in the Times Harold the next morning "Yeah Jack, One point"? And Larry (Bubba) Cole is to this day my all time favorite Cowboy. :)

[bbgun]

Great game. Preston's diving TD right before the half kept us in it. Dorsett didn't even play, and I think Drew Pearson was lost to injury as well.

http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-59-woo2.jpeg

[Hostile]

Great game. Preston's diving TD right before the half kept us in it. Dorsett didn't even play, and I think Drew Pearson was lost to injury as well.

http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-59-woo2.jpegGreat picture.

[Cbz40]

What a game.......What a come back........What a QB Roger was.

Thanks for taking me back to my somewhat younger years. :D

[STSINAZ]

lets hope we can duplicate this thing tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!! time for romo to become brady

[Wood]

I might be wrong here (didn't see Staubach play) but wasn't his comeback against Vikings his greatest ever?

[bbgun]

I might be wrong here (didn't see Staubach play) but wasn't his comeback against Vikings his greatest ever?

If you mean the Hail Mary game, then no. The '72 game at Frisco was a much bigger deficit to overcome.

[4miler]

Cole did his roll in the San Francisco game I noted above. :)

OK I stand corrected thanks

[Hostile]

I might be wrong here (didn't see Staubach play) but wasn't his comeback against Vikings his greatest ever?No, just the most famous because of the "Hail Mary" pass to Drew Pearson.

[Juke99]

I might be wrong here (didn't see Staubach play) but wasn't his comeback against Vikings his greatest ever?

It was an amazing last drive....

But nah...it wasn't his greatest comeback...his greatest pass, maybe...but it was more the fact that the ball was poorly thrown, that made the play possible.

[rw54]

This is the "you gotta believe game" isn't it? Charlie and Brad twenty seven years earlier.

[bbgun]

Cole did his roll in the San Francisco game I noted above. :)

A very underrated player. He destroyed Bradshaw in SB X. Terry, to his credit, got up.

http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-459-1058820673599_ORIGINAL_cca599.jpg

[stealth]

Oh man based on the thread title I thought I was gonna finally find out who my dad is.

[Arkansas]

I'm new to this site but a cowboys fan since 1960. How about the game on Thanksgiving ( 1974 ) Trailing Washington 16-3 in the third quarter, Dallas rookie quarterback Clint Longley replaced an injured Roger Staubach and lifted the Cowboys to victory with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 0:28 remaining. This is the best game that has been played on Thanksgiving. :bow:

[Hostile]

I'm new to this site but a cowboys fan since 1960. How about the game on Thanksgiving ( 1974 ) Trailing Washington 16-3 in the third quarter, Dallas rookie quarterback Clint Longley replaced an injured Roger Staubach and lifted the Cowboys to victory with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 0:28 remaining. This is the best game that has been played on Thanksgiving. :bow::welcome: to the forum.

I love saying "the Mad Bomber" to a Redskins friend of mine. Makes him want to do shooters until he forgets.