The underrated great teams in Cowboys history by decade

[Bobhaze]

In the Cowboys storied 60 year history, we all know about the 5 Super bowl winning teams and of their greatness- the 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993 and 1995 teams all hoisted Lombardis at the end of the season and each of those teams were greatness.

But I want to highlight some teams of each decade in Cowboys history that were truly great but did not reach as far as they could have. Some might surprise you. I will highlight points scored, point differential, and avg score per game.

THE 1960s GREAT TEAMS THAT ARE UNDERRATED

1. The 1966 Team- One of the best offenses in Cowboys history led by QB Dandy Don Meredith, Bob Hayes and Don Perkins.

• Record: 10-3-1 (Best record in NFL East conf- there were no divisions yet)
• Total points scored (14 game season)- 445 Points
  
• Points allowed- 239 points
• Point differential: +206
• Avg score vs opponent: 32- 15
  
• Playoffs- Lost in Conference Final to Packers 34-27.
• Comments- This was the emergence of the Landry era. The Cowboys became dominant from 1966-1983. This was the beginning.

2. The 1968 Team- This might be the best team the Cowboys had that underachieved. This was Don Meredith’s last season and this offense and defense were completely dominant.

• Record: 12-2 (Capitol Division Champ)
• Total points scored: 431 (in 14 games)
• Total points allowed: 186
• Point differential: +245 (WOW!) Most in Cowboys history.
• Avg score vs opponent: 31-13
• Playoffs- Lost in division round to Cleveland 31-20 in huge upset.
• Comments- This team was the best team we had in the 60s. They dominated the regular season yet played a completely flat game against the browns in the playoff game.

THE 1970s GREAT TEAM THAT IS UNDERRATED

The 70s were the most dominant decade for the Cowboys. They played in 7 conference championship games in the decade winning 5 and winning 2 SBs. I have one team from the 70’s:

3. The 1978 team- Probably the last GREAT team Roger Staubach led. Many will disagree with me, but I think this was the second best team we had in the 70s, behind the ‘71 SB winner. This team had Roger, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright on offense, Randy White, Cliff Harris, Hollywood Henderson on defense. They were loaded.

• Record: 12-4 (First 16 game season- NFC East champ)
• Points scored: 384
• Points allowed: 208 (incredible for 16 games)
• Point differential: +176
• Avg score vs opponent: 24-13
• Playoffs- win divisional round vs Atlanta 27-20, won NFC championship 28-0 vs rams, lost in SB 13 35-31 to Steelers.
  
• Comments- The loss to Steelers in SB 13 is the most disappointing loss for me ever as a Cowboys fan. This was a truly GREAT team.

THE 1980s GREAT TEAM THAT WAS UNDERRATED

4. The 1980 Team- this was Danny White’s first year to take over for Roger Staubach. This team was still loaded with talent- Drew Pearson, Tony D, Tony Hill, Randy White. They had the #1 offense in the league that year. They had enough to win a SB.

• Record: 12-4 (Wild card team)
• Points scored: 454
• Points allowed: 311
• Point differential: +144
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-19
• Playoffs: Won Wild card game vs rams 34-14, won divisional round vs Atlanta 30-27, lost NFC championship game vs Philly- 20-7
• Comments- the Cowboys had tied the e-girls for 1st in NFC east, but the only reason the Cowboys didn’t win the division was they lost a home game vs Philly on a 58 yard FG by Tony Franklin.

THE UNDERRATED 90s TEAM

5. The 1994 team- the first season without Jimmy, and first with Barry S. They were still loaded on all sides of the ball.

• Record: 12-4 (Won NFC East)
• Points scored: 414
• Points allowed: 248
• Point differential +166
• Avg score vs opponent: 26-16
• Playoffs: Won divisional round vs Pack 35-9, lost NFC championship game 38-28 to niners
• Comments: This should have been our 3rd straight SB win. The bad start to niners game killed us.

THE UNDERRATED (OR UNDERACHIEVING)TEAM OF 2000-10
The 21st century has not been that great for the Cowboys. The playoff appearances and wins have been few and far between.

6. The 2007 Team- Probably the most talented team Tony Romo ever had. They won the #1 seed in the NFC that year, but....

• Record: 13-3 (NFC east champs, #1 seed in NFC)
• Points scored: 455
• Points allowed : 325
• Point differential: +130
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-20
• Playoffs: lost in the heartbreaker in the divisional round 21-17 to the giants.
• Comments: this team should played in the SB. It was the best team Romo ever had.

These teams were all great but did not finish as champs. Of these six teams, I think the 1978 team is the most underrated in my opinion. They were so close to greatness.

 

[Established1971]

well thought out, good post
that 1976 team was really good too, even without a standout runner. It was such a shame they got beat by 2 points in the divisional round

 

[cej757]

That Giants loss in 07 had me depressed until that next Sunday. I had to get in the car and go for a drive after the game. I just knew we were getting that rematch with New England.

 

[Diehardblues]

In the Cowboys storied 60 year history, we all know about the 5 Super bowl winning teams and of their greatness- the 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993 and 1995 teams all hoisted Lombardis at the end of the season and each of those teams were greatness.

But I want to highlight some teams of each decade in Cowboys history that were truly great but did not reach as far as they could have. Some might surprise you. I will highlight points scored, point differential, and avg score per game.

THE 1960s GREAT TEAMS THAT ARE UNDERRATED

1. The 1966 Team- One of the best offenses in Cowboys history led by QB Dandy Don Meredith, Bob Hayes and Don Perkins.

• Record: 10-3-1 (Best record in NFL East conf- there were no divisions yet)
• Total points scored (14 game season)- 445 Points
  
• Points allowed- 239 points
• Point differential: +206
• Avg score vs opponent: 32- 15
  
• Playoffs- Lost in Conference Final to Packers 34-27.
• Comments- This was the emergence of the Landry era. The Cowboys became dominant from 1966-1983. This was the beginning.

2. The 1968 Team- This might be the best team the Cowboys had that underachieved. This was Don Meredith’s last season and this offense and defense were completely dominant.

• Record: 12-2 (Capitol Division Champ)
• Total points scored: 431 (in 14 games)
• Total points allowed: 186
• Point differential: +245 (WOW!) Most in Cowboys history.
• Avg score vs opponent: 31-13
• Playoffs- Lost in division round to Cleveland 31-20 in huge upset.
• Comments- This team was the best team we had in the 60s. They dominated the regular season yet played a completely flat game against the browns in the playoff game.

THE 1970s GREAT TEAM THAT IS UNDERRATED

The 70s were the most dominant decade for the Cowboys. They played in 7 conference championship games in the decade winning 5 and winning 2 SBs. I have one team from the 70’s:

3. The 1978 team- Probably the last GREAT team Roger Staubach led. Many will disagree with me, but I think this was the second best team we had in the 70s, behind the ‘71 SB winner. This team had Roger, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright on offense, Randy White, Cliff Harris, Hollywood Henderson on defense. They were loaded.

• Record: 12-4 (First 16 game season- NFC East champ)
• Points scored: 384
• Points allowed: 208 (incredible for 16 games)
• Point differential: +176
• Avg score vs opponent: 24-13
• Playoffs- win divisional round vs Atlanta 27-20, won NFC championship 28-0 vs rams, lost in SB 13 35-31 to Steelers.
  
• Comments- The loss to Steelers in SB 13 is the most disappointing loss for me ever as a Cowboys fan. This was a truly GREAT team.

THE 1980s GREAT TEAM THAT WAS UNDERRATED

4. The 1980 Team- this was Danny White’s first year to take over for Roger Staubach. This team was still loaded with talent- Drew Pearson, Tony D, Tony Hill, Randy White. They had the #1 offense in the league that year. They had enough to win a SB.

• Record: 12-4 (Wild card team)
• Points scored: 454
• Points allowed: 311
• Point differential: +144
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-19
• Playoffs: Won Wild card game vs rams 34-14, won divisional round vs Atlanta 30-27, lost NFC championship game vs Philly- 20-7
• Comments- the Cowboys had tied the e-girls for 1st in NFC east, but the only reason the Cowboys didn’t win the division was they lost a home game vs Philly on a 58 yard FG by Tony Franklin.

THE UNDERRATED 90s TEAM

5. The 1994 team- the first season without Jimmy, and first with Barry S. They were still loaded on all sides of the ball.

• Record: 12-4 (Won NFC East)
• Points scored: 414
• Points allowed: 248
• Point differential +166
• Avg score vs opponent: 26-16
• Playoffs: Won divisional round vs Pack 35-9, lost NFC championship game 38-28 to niners
• Comments: This should have been our 3rd straight SB win. The bad start to niners game killed us.

THE UNDERRATED (OR UNDERACHIEVING)TEAM OF 2000-10
The 21st century has not been that great for the Cowboys. The playoff appearances and wins have been few and far between.

6. The 2007 Team- Probably the most talented team Tony Romo ever had. They won the #1 seed in the NFC that year, but....

• Record: 13-3 (NFC east champs, #1 seed in NFC)
• Points scored: 455
• Points allowed : 325
• Point differential: +130
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-20
• Playoffs: lost in the heartbreaker in the divisional round 21-17 to the giants.
• Comments: this team should played in the SB. It was the best team Romo ever had.

These teams were all great but did not finish as champs. Of these six teams, I think the 1978 team is the most underrated in my opinion. They were so close to greatness.

I wouldn’t consider under rated making it to championship, Super Bowl or title game. Disappointing certainly but not under rated.

I would agree with 1968 and 2007. I would add 1969 and 1979.

 

[WillieBeamen]

The 07 team is definitely not underrated. It is widely known, that was our best team since the last SB win.


Id go with the 09 team. We actually had an elite defense to go with a good offense.

 

[cowboyec]

1980,'81 and '85 are among my favorites.
the '80 and '81 teams were so much fun to watch.

great job as always bullet.
too bad Dandy didn't win a world title...he deserved one in my biased opinion.

 

[nalam]

In the Cowboys storied 60 year history, we all know about the 5 Super bowl winning teams and of their greatness- the 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993 and 1995 teams all hoisted Lombardis at the end of the season and each of those teams were greatness.

THE UNDERRATED 90s TEAM

5. The 1994 team- the first season without Jimmy, and first with Barry S. They were still loaded on all sides of the ball.

• Record: 12-4 (Won NFC East)
• Points scored: 414
• Points allowed: 248
• Point differential +166
• Avg score vs opponent: 26-16
• Playoffs: Won divisional round vs Pack 35-9, lost NFC championship game 38-28 to niners
• Comments: This should have been our 3rd straight SB win. The bad start to niners game killed us.

THE UNDERRATED (OR UNDERACHIEVING)TEAM OF 2000-10
The 21st century has not been that great for the Cowboys. The playoff appearances and wins have been few and far between.

6. The 2007 Team- Probably the most talented team Tony Romo ever had. They won the #1 seed in the NFC that year, but....

• Record: 13-3 (NFC east champs, #1 seed in NFC)
• Points scored: 455
• Points allowed : 325
• Point differential: +130
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-20
• Playoffs: lost in the heartbreaker in the divisional round 21-17 to the giants.
• Comments: this team should played in the SB. It was the best team Romo ever had.

These teams were all great but did not finish as champs. Of these six teams, I think the 1978 team is the most underrated in my opinion. They were so close to greatness.

Most vivid I remember is the 2007 loss in the divisional round. freaking WRs, cornerbacks screwed that game for us , probably lot of strategic errors, changing MB III as lead back and running him all 1st half and OL dominance to establish run game etc.. would have worked if we had a comfortable lead, instead that 37 sec score ( or something like that) by Eli and Brandon Jacobs to tie the game killed us, and freaking Patrick Crayton , dropping a sure third down and more and a TD which would made the game. Mistake to go into the game with both WRs Owens and Glen gimpy ... years of neglecting secondary all hurt us .

 

[Ebnorice]

That Giants loss in 07 had me depressed until that next Sunday. I had to get in the car and go for a drive after the game. I just knew we were getting that rematch with New England.

Dude I left my house and went for drive. I was so down for at least a week as well.

freaking Patrick Clayton dropping those game winning Tds

 

[acr731]

Dude I left my house and went for drive. I was so down for at least a week as well.

freaking Patrick Clayton dropping those game winning Tds

And then to add insult to injury, Wade flippin' Phillips proclaimed that the loss wasn't so bad - that the bye week was the same as a win in his mind. I hated that %#&$^#$&^* from that moment until the day he was finally fired.

 

[Bobhaze]

I wouldn’t consider under rated making it to championship, Super Bowl or title game. Disappointing certainly but not under rated.

I would agree with 1968 and 2007. I would add 1969 and 1979.

That ‘68 team was incredible- look at that point differential- +245! Best in Cowboys history. They just slaughtered people by an avg score of 31-13! They dominated everyone until that playoff game. The ‘68 team was Don Meredith’s last hurrah. I still believe if they had done better in the playoffs that year, he would have played another year or two.

BTW Greggo- my working definition for “underrated” for this thread is teams that were close to greatness we don’t talk about much. I probably shouldn’t have included the 2007 team because it’s talked about a lot. Heck, we haven’t had many teams this century that were really very good anyway.

 

[Fmart322]

The Cowboys have had a lot of very good/ great teams that haven't finished as super bowl champions.

True.

I'm sure most teams have those teams as well. I'm just fortunate to have seen most of those great season by the Cowboys. The only super bowl I don't remember was the great 1971 Cowboys team. I was only 3.
I feel bad for fans 30 and under.

In the Cowboys storied 60 year history, we all know about the 5 Super bowl winning teams and of their greatness- the 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993 and 1995 teams all hoisted Lombardis at the end of the season and each of those teams were greatness.

But I want to highlight some teams of each decade in Cowboys history that were truly great but did not reach as far as they could have. Some might surprise you. I will highlight points scored, point differential, and avg score per game.

THE 1960s GREAT TEAMS THAT ARE UNDERRATED

1. The 1966 Team- One of the best offenses in Cowboys history led by QB Dandy Don Meredith, Bob Hayes and Don Perkins.

• Record: 10-3-1 (Best record in NFL East conf- there were no divisions yet)
• Total points scored (14 game season)- 445 Points
  
• Points allowed- 239 points
• Point differential: +206
• Avg score vs opponent: 32- 15
  
• Playoffs- Lost in Conference Final to Packers 34-27.
• Comments- This was the emergence of the Landry era. The Cowboys became dominant from 1966-1983. This was the beginning.

2. The 1968 Team- This might be the best team the Cowboys had that underachieved. This was Don Meredith’s last season and this offense and defense were completely dominant.

• Record: 12-2 (Capitol Division Champ)
• Total points scored: 431 (in 14 games)
• Total points allowed: 186
• Point differential: +245 (WOW!) Most in Cowboys history.
• Avg score vs opponent: 31-13
• Playoffs- Lost in division round to Cleveland 31-20 in huge upset.
• Comments- This team was the best team we had in the 60s. They dominated the regular season yet played a completely flat game against the browns in the playoff game.

THE 1970s GREAT TEAM THAT IS UNDERRATED

The 70s were the most dominant decade for the Cowboys. They played in 7 conference championship games in the decade winning 5 and winning 2 SBs. I have one team from the 70’s:

3. The 1978 team- Probably the last GREAT team Roger Staubach led. Many will disagree with me, but I think this was the second best team we had in the 70s, behind the ‘71 SB winner. This team had Roger, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright on offense, Randy White, Cliff Harris, Hollywood Henderson on defense. They were loaded.

• Record: 12-4 (First 16 game season- NFC East champ)
• Points scored: 384
• Points allowed: 208 (incredible for 16 games)
• Point differential: +176
• Avg score vs opponent: 24-13
• Playoffs- win divisional round vs Atlanta 27-20, won NFC championship 28-0 vs rams, lost in SB 13 35-31 to Steelers.
  
• Comments- The loss to Steelers in SB 13 is the most disappointing loss for me ever as a Cowboys fan. This was a truly GREAT team.

THE 1980s GREAT TEAM THAT WAS UNDERRATED

4. The 1980 Team- this was Danny White’s first year to take over for Roger Staubach. This team was still loaded with talent- Drew Pearson, Tony D, Tony Hill, Randy White. They had the #1 offense in the league that year. They had enough to win a SB.

• Record: 12-4 (Wild card team)
• Points scored: 454
• Points allowed: 311
• Point differential: +144
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-19
• Playoffs: Won Wild card game vs rams 34-14, won divisional round vs Atlanta 30-27, lost NFC championship game vs Philly- 20-7
• Comments- the Cowboys had tied the e-girls for 1st in NFC east, but the only reason the Cowboys didn’t win the division was they lost a home game vs Philly on a 58 yard FG by Tony Franklin.

THE UNDERRATED 90s TEAM

5. The 1994 team- the first season without Jimmy, and first with Barry S. They were still loaded on all sides of the ball.

• Record: 12-4 (Won NFC East)
• Points scored: 414
• Points allowed: 248
• Point differential +166
• Avg score vs opponent: 26-16
• Playoffs: Won divisional round vs Pack 35-9, lost NFC championship game 38-28 to niners
• Comments: This should have been our 3rd straight SB win. The bad start to niners game killed us.

THE UNDERRATED (OR UNDERACHIEVING)TEAM OF 2000-10
The 21st century has not been that great for the Cowboys. The playoff appearances and wins have been few and far between.

6. The 2007 Team- Probably the most talented team Tony Romo ever had. They won the #1 seed in the NFC that year, but....

• Record: 13-3 (NFC east champs, #1 seed in NFC)
• Points scored: 455
• Points allowed : 325
• Point differential: +130
• Avg score vs opponent: 28-20
• Playoffs: lost in the heartbreaker in the divisional round 21-17 to the giants.
• Comments: this team should played in the SB. It was the best team Romo ever had.

These teams were all great but did not finish as champs. Of these six teams, I think the 1978 team is the most underrated in my opinion. They were so close to greatness.

 

[CouchCoach]

07, slowly I turned, inch by inch, step by step.......

That was the year of the team and I do not speak of the Cowboys but our division opponent, the NY Football Giants. For I believe if not for them, the Patriots become the first 19-0 team in history because the Cowboys could not have handled them.

I knew the Cowboys were in for street fight when they closed out against NE in the regular season, they were not the same team the Cowboys had swept and swept easily. Too bad the Cowboys didn't realize that.

To go on the road to defeat the 13-3 Cowboys by 4 and then the other 13-3 team, the Packers, and beat them by 3 in OT and then face the team searching for history at 18-0 and looking every bit a 19-0 team but they would beat them by 3 and hold a juggernaut offense to 14 points. A truly great SB run.

 

[Bobhaze]

07, slowly I turned, inch by inch, step by step.......

That was the year of the team and I do not speak of the Cowboys but our division opponent, the NY Football Giants. For I believe if not for them, the Patriots become the first 19-0 team in history because the Cowboys could not have handled them.

I knew the Cowboys were in for street fight when they closed out against NE in the regular season, they were not the same team the Cowboys had swept and swept easily. Too bad the Cowboys didn't realize that.

To go on the road to defeat the 13-3 Cowboys by 4 and then the other 13-3 team, the Packers, and beat them by 3 in OT and then face the team searching for history at 18-0 and looking every bit a 19-0 team but they would beat them by 3 and hold a juggernaut offense to 14 points. A truly great SB run.

That 07 Cowboys team had a great offense, but the defense was not great, especially as the season wore on. The back breaker in that 07 divisional round loss to the giants was when our D allowed that TD right before the half. We had old mo going into the locker room, then boom. Eli leads them down the field in like :30 seconds.

That 07 team was talented, but mental toughness always seemed to escape them. Much like Coach Cupcake.

 

[Diehardblues]

That ‘68 team was incredible- look at that point differential- +245! Best in Cowboys history. They just slaughtered people by an avg score of 31-13! They dominated everyone until that playoff game. The ‘68 team was Don Meredith’s last hurrah. I still believe if they had done better in the playoffs that year, he would have played another year or two.

BTW Greggo- my working definition for “underrated” for this thread is teams that were close to greatness we don’t talk about much. I probably shouldn’t have included the 2007 team because it’s talked about a lot. Heck, we haven’t had many teams this century that were really very good anyway.

I think underachieving would better define than underrated.

 

[Bobhaze]

I think underachieving would better define than underrated.

Sounds like a great thread Greggo, lol.

 

[Diehardblues]

Sounds like a great thread Greggo, lol.

That 68 team loss was a huge upset in playoffs. That’s not underrated. That’s underachieving.

 

[cej757]

Most vivid I remember is the 2007 loss in the divisional round. freaking WRs, cornerbacks screwed that game for us , probably lot of strategic errors, changing MB III as lead back and running him all 1st half and OL dominance to establish run game etc.. would have worked if we had a comfortable lead, instead that 37 sec score ( or something like that) by Eli and Brandon Jacobs to tie the game killed us, and freaking Patrick Crayton , dropping a sure third down and more and a TD which would made the game. Mistake to go into the game with both WRs Owens and Glen gimpy ... years of neglecting secondary all hurt us .

A big key to that game was the bogus offsides penalty on DeMarcus Ware in the 1st quarter when the defense got them off the field on 3rd down. The ref threw the flag because it looked like Ware jumped the snap but on Replay Ware clearly timed it perfectly. The Giants got a new set of downs and Toomer scored a td on a busted play to put the Giants up 7-0.
That was a crucial play that gave the Giants some confidence early in the game.

 

[Bobhaze]

That 68 team loss was a huge upset in playoffs. That’s not underrated. That’s underachieving.

Ok...that’s your definition of underrated and that’s fine. My definition of “underrated” was simply for this thread and it was meant to mean teams that aren’t talked about much. I’m not trying to be Noah Webster here. If you want to write a thread about underachieving Cowboys teams, please do.

 

[KJJ]

Don’t see how to 78 and 94 teams could have been underrated both were coming off championships. The 94 team was coming off back to back championships. Some were predicting a threepeat even without Jimmy. If anything the Cowboys had more overrated teams than underrated. One team that was underrated was the 75 Cowboys. The team had missed the playoffs for the first time in years the previous season and was aging. No one was expecting much from the 75 team. The Cowboys had one of their greatest drafts that year known as the dirty dozen. That draft which included Randy White and Thomas Henderson added some much needed youth and helped turn around what appeared to be a declining Cowboys team into a SB team.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Soooooo. No 2016 team?

Dak and Zeke are so underrated that they don't even matter.