If you could change the outcome

[OmerV]

I think #2. we should have won that game if not for the drop in the endzone.

Still a few minutes left in the 3rd quarter and all the 4th quarter left to play, so that play alone wasn't the problem.

Ice Bowl created 'can't win the big one' and 'next years team'. Throw in the 68 Cleveland game where we were big favorites to beat a team we'd already beaten and the Colts SB loss and you'll understand why Bob Lilly threw his helmet after Super Bowl V 40 yards down the field.

Lilly throwing his helmet is the most vivid memory I have of that game.

 

[Alexander]

2007 Divisional Playoffs
2014 Divisional Playoffs
2016 Divisional Playoffs

We were good enough to advance to the SB each of those years.

How so? If a team couldn't make it out of the divisional round, they quite simply were not good enough.

2007 - lost to the eventual champions. If they won, they would have hosted GB, not a certain win.
2014 - lost to GB who eventually lost to Seattle. I know people point to Dallas' earlier win in Seattle, but winning twice against that team on their turf two times in the season would have been difficult.
2016 - another loss to GB and may have not been able to compete with the Falcons score for score. Half the people around here were doubting it even at the time.

All in all, the losses in the conference championship games are more coulda, shoulda, woulda. At least in those cases they were one game away, not losing in the divisional, twice of which to teams who didn't make the Super Bowl.

 

[CPanther95]

^^^^This, all of this.^^^^ Rooney got his and the league made sure of it!

Damn you Jackie Smith ... luv ya man !

Jackie Smith gets far more hate than he should. SB XIII wasn't nearly as close as the scoreboard would indicate.

If there's one goat to point at for the Cowboys/Steelers SBs in the 70's it's Cliff Harris in SB X, which the Cowboys defense had fully under control, who fired up the Steelers defense. Honorable mention to Pearson for not stopping the clock on the final drive.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I think the answer is pretty obviously:
1. Reverse any of the Super Bowl losses (duh)
2. After that 94 Championship change is easy Super Bowl win since 49ers obliterated the Chargers (82 was much less certain as the 49ers barely beat the Bungles and we would have had White running our Joe Montana moment instead of Dodger).

 

[OmerV]

Jackie Smith gets far more hate than he should. SB XIII wasn't nearly as close as the scoreboard would indicate.

If there's one goat to point at for the Cowboys/Steelers SBs in the 70's it's Cliff Harris in SB X, which the Cowboys defense had fully under control, who fired up the Steelers defense. Honorable mention to Pearson for not stopping the clock on the final drive.

This is true. It took an a onside kick and a TD with about 20 seconds left in the game to make it as close as it was.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

No 2.

First of all, win that one and the Cowboys and Steelers tie for the most SB wins in the decade, at 3, and players like Pearson, Harris, Martin and Too Tall make the HOF, voters can't point to the "well the Steelers beat Dallas both times in the SB, obviously their players were better" excuse.

Second, few would remember Jackie Smith's td pass drop, would be nothing more than a footnote in his career, and Dallas' history.

Third, Dallas would be tied with Pitts and SF for most SB wins, instead of one behind the Steelers.

Fourth, Roger would have 3 SB wins, same as Bradshaw.

Lastly, Landry would have a winning SB w-l record, instead of 2-3...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

As much as that Jackie Smith drop hurt (and it did hurt - I still remember the anguish), it was only late 3rd quarter and the Cowboys were only 4 points down, so that play did not kill the Cowboys chance to win.

No, but late in the game, if he'd have caught the pass (all other things remained the same), Dallas wouldn't have had to try to get a td on their last drive, only a fg. Big difference, given the pass defense rules in place at the time, much more difficult to pull off a late td drive....

 

[CPanther95]

1.94 game because that was the SB winner

If I were a Cowboys fan, that would be my choice. It's tempting to reverse a Super Bowl, but being a gambler I'd rather reverse the 94 NFCCG and take the chance (a very good chance) that they win that SB.

No matter how many SBs other teams may accumulate, having 4 in a row is something that is most likely to stand alone for decades to come. It also most likely to make that group stand out as the best team in history when viewed against any other dynasty.

 

[OmerV]

No, but late in the game, if he'd have caught the pass (all other things remained the same), Dallas wouldn't have had to try to get a td on their last drive, only a fg. Big difference, given the pass defense rules in place at the time, much more difficult to pull off a late td drive....

We don't actually know that because the game may have played differently altogether - either for the better or the worse. One very likely thing is the Steelers defense may have played differently in the last 5-6 minutes of the game had the lead been 14 points instead of 18.

 

[CPanther95]

No, but late in the game, if he'd have caught the pass (all other things remained the same), Dallas wouldn't have had to try to get a td on their last drive, only a fg. Big difference, given the pass defense rules in place at the time, much more difficult to pull off a late td drive....

All other things wouldn't have remained the same though. If the Steelers weren't up 31-17 with 6 minutes and change left in the game, they wouldn't have been celebrating on the sidelines and kept the pedal to the metal instead.

SB X would have also not been nearly as close if it weren't for that damn blimp crash killing the Steelers momentum.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

All the ones mentioned, plus the 1994 NFC title loss against the 49ers.
But that Super Bowl 13, that was a bad one. Up until the last minute I thought Dallas would win.

We outplayed the 49ers for most of that game. Still makes me sick because we had a great chance to 3-peat.

I'd probably pick SB XIII though. Still think we were the better team.

 

[aikemirv]

I'll take 2.

The 2007 and 2014 were just playoffs - no guarantee of even getting to Super Bowl.

 

[Bobhaze]

2. By a landslide, for me.


Edit: Oh, and as to the why, because it was a BS call on Barnes and a win in that game changes history as to what we are!!!!

That call on Benny Barnes remains the worst call I’ve ever seen.

 

[Tenkamenin]

2007 Giants playoff game
2014 Packers game
1998 Arizona playoff game

Top two are self explanatory, but the 98 game hurt for me cause after that loss I knew any serious playoff run involving the triplets was over.

2007 #1 for me

1998? What about 1999, Raghib Ismail and Irvin were an awesome combo. Had Irvin not gotten injured, I think we get to the NFC Championship.

 

[Cowboys_22]

The Ice Bowl game still bugs me. That last packer drive was a killer.

 

[Doomsday101]

Colts Cowboys Super Bowl V 1971. They cheated us out of that game. Bad Fumble recovery call, phantom PI calls, holding calls, just screwed all the way around.

Not even a change of outcome really. Just call the game fair would be enough for me.

Only SB that I know of where the MVP was on the losing team Chuck Howley

 

[ghst187]

The 94 playoff loss to the niners. they dug too big of a hole and Deion got away with with murder but 4 in a row would of been great

This is it and easy choice, four in a row may never be matched.

 

[Whyjerry]

The Cowboys have been in some great playoff games in their storied history. Especially in the 60s, 70s and 90s. Some we won, some we didn’t.

One question- if you could change the outcome of ONE GAME in Cowboys history, which one would it be and why?

For me, I have three candidates, then I’ll choose one:
1. Dec, 1967-The Ice Bowl vs GB. We lost 21-17 My first “sports cry”. If we had won that, we would have had a SB win in 60s.
2. Jan, 1979- SB XIII- vs Steelers. Lost 35-31. If we had won that we would have been THE team of the 70s and first team to win 3 SBs. Still hurts.
3. Jan, 1982- NFC Championship game vs. Niners- lost 28-27 in infamous “The Catch” game. If we win that game, we would have won against Cincy in SB, and had a SB win in 70s, 80s and 90s.

My pick....the ‘82 loss to Niners. Still hurts. What woulda, coulda, shoulda!

Your pick and why?

I have 1 that I feel really strongly on. January 1995 NFC Championship vs. SF. Switzer was such a clown but that roster was so good and the aura of Jimmy was still with them. That team should have won 4 SBs in a row and would have been remembered as the greatest of all time. Instead Switzer does not have them prepared and they spot SF 21 points. That SF team was loaded up to win that season still Dallas rallies back. IMO Aikman and Irvin's best game as Cowboys. Aikman was under seige the whole game still almost was able to pull it out. Irvin showed you his greatness by beating the tar out of Deion Sanders. I think if Dallas got a pass interference call they would have pulled it out. No doubt I still think about that game.

Second choice is the Romo fumble game vs. Seattle. Ugh. That game foreshadowed Romo's career.

 

[jaybird]

2. By a landslide, for me.


Edit: Oh, and as to the why, because it was a BS call on Barnes and a win in that game changes history as to what we are!!!!

You make a strong case
I’m stuck between 2 and 3
You could add the lost to the Giants (Romo) no guareente we beat the Pats but this franchise would have been Breyer off.
or any of the SB Steelers lost.
Or the lost to the 49ers it could have been 4 in a row. All daggers in my heart

 

[fredp22]

The Cowboys have been in some great playoff games in their storied history. Especially in the 60s, 70s and 90s. Some we won, some we didn’t.

One question- if you could change the outcome of ONE GAME in Cowboys history, which one would it be and why?

For me, I have three candidates, then I’ll choose one:
1. Dec, 1967-The Ice Bowl vs GB. We lost 21-17 My first “sports cry”. If we had won that, we would have had a SB win in 60s.
2. Jan, 1979- SB XIII- vs Steelers. Lost 35-31. If we had won that we would have been THE team of the 70s and first team to win 3 SBs. Still hurts.
3. Jan, 1982- NFC Championship game vs. Niners- lost 28-27 in infamous “The Catch” game. If we win that game, we would have won against Cincy in SB, and had a SB win in 70s, 80s and 90s.

My pick....the ‘82 loss to Niners. Still hurts. What woulda, coulda, shoulda!

Your pick and why?

people remember the 67 game for weather but '66 loss was just as bad- Meredith int from the 2 yard line on final drive. Like the 94 loss to we fell behind (14-0) quickly but almost pulled it out. If we had scored we would have been in the first SB