Biggest defensive play in Dallas Cowboys history?

[Chief]

Bob Lilly sacking Bob Griese for a 30 yard loss in Super Bowl VI deserves some credit. It may be the defensive play that launched the franchise into the limelight.

When I think of a great Cowboys defensive play, that's the one I always think of.

That was the signature play of a dominant defensive performance against an incredibly talented offense. They held Griese, Warfield, Kiick, Morris, Csonka, Little, Kuechenberg, Langer and Company to 3 points. THREE POINTS!

For all of Griese's smarts, I'm surprised that he kept spinning and running backwards. Lilly and Cole looked like a couple of P.E. teachers trying to corral a kid on the playground.

 

[jazzcat22]

Biggest play..? Does a non-play count..?

Jethro Pugh's failure to stop Bart Starr's QB sneak on 3 and 1 with 16 seconds on the clock and no GB timeouts to win the game for GB..NFL Championship Game '66.

That play still lives on in football history as a legendary play that will live for ever.

I hate it, but that's probably the biggest defensive non-play in Cowboy history and it wasn't pretty.

parcellswaterboy

Didn't one of the Packers' OL move, and the penalty wasn't called on that play also?

 

[jem88]

Hostetler....Holt....pass into the endzone....incredible interception....birth of a legend.

 

[CooterBrown]

Didn't one of the Packers' OL move, and the penalty wasn't called on that play also?

Yes, Jerry Kramer was moving, but only a fraction of a split second before the ball was snapped. I know, moving is moving, but officials will rarely make a call in that situation if it is that close.

Ken Norton's stop was big and I knew it had to be number one when I saw the thread.

Second had to be Lilly's sack on Griese. It was an amazing play and I have never been able to understand what Griese was thinking. I believe he was just scared as a rabbit hunting a hole and wasn't thinking at all. But, the Cowboys were so much better than the Dolphins that this game was never in doubt. The 24-3 score reflects Landry's sportsmanship. It could have been a real blowout. (of course, in the NFL a 21 point victory pretty much is a blowout.) Lilly's play did not swing the momentum the way Norton's did, so I have to give the nod to Norton.

Oh, and Larry Brown. All he did was play his spot in the zone and catch the ball that was thrown to him. They were big plays, but not great plays.

 

[CooterBrown]

Hostetler....Holt....pass into the endzone....incredible interception....birth of a legend.

Please fill in the blanks. I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[Hostile]

Yes, Jerry Kramer was moving, but only a fraction of a split second before the ball was snapped. I know, moving is moving, but officials will rarely make a call in that situation if it is that close.

Ken Norton's stop was big and I knew it had to be number one when I saw the thread.

Second had to be Lilly's sack on Griese. It was an amazing play and I have never been able to understand what Griese was thinking. I believe he was just scared as a rabbit hunting a hole and wasn't thinking at all. But, the Cowboys were so much better than the Dolphins that this game was never in doubt. The 24-3 score reflects Landry's sportsmanship. It could have been a real blowout. (of course, in the NFL a 21 point victory pretty much is a blowout.) Lilly's play did not swing the momentum the way Norton's did, so I have to give the nod to Norton.

Oh, and Larry Brown. All he did was play his spot in the zone and catch the ball that was thrown to him. They were big plays, but not great plays.

I believe I can help you out there.


Bob Griese >>> :eekmouse:

 

[Hostile]

When I think of a great Cowboys defensive play, that's the one I always think of.

That was the signature play of a dominant defensive performance against an incredibly talented offense. They held Griese, Warfield, Kiick, Morris, Csonka, Little, Kuechenberg, Langer and Company to 3 points. THREE POINTS!

For all of Griese's smarts, I'm surprised that he kept spinning and running backwards. Lilly and Cole looked like a couple of P.E. teachers trying to corral a kid on the playground.

Exactly.

That offense featured 5 Hall of Famers and a 5th guy who should already be in, coached by a Hall of Fame Head Coach widely regarded as the best ever.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

No Larry Brown? I thought his 3 picks in 95-96 were alright.

Without a doubt it has to be Larry Brown and his 2 INT's on SBXXX.

Without those INT's for th ultimate prize(SB) we lose that game.

Just my opinion... I know some like to lessen the effect of his two INT's and say that we would have won anyways.. I disagree....

Hats off to Larry... back then, today and and everyday:starspin

 

[bbgun]

Roy's MNF int in Philly was dramatic, but not the biggest. There wasn't enough on the line. I think of the Lilly/Griese sack, Jeffcoat's int return to seal the East in '85, Larry Brown's two well-timed picks, Norton's goalline stuff, and Cole's tackle of Riggo.

 

[ROMOSAPIEN9]

Agreed!

 

[bbgun]

Norton had an incredible game that day:

1) goalline stuff
2) sack that knocked Kelly out of the game
3) fumble return for td

 

[royhitshard]

*Just a side note. Guys, when you are using the word "to" as in "also" or "to an excessive degree" as in "too many plays", please use the word "too". I love the Cowboys too. Sometimes I spend way too much time on my Cowboy's obsession.
That conclude's our English lesson for the day........:laugh2:

I agree, to.

 

[bbgun]

Originally Posted by Cogan
*Just a side note. Guys, when you are using the word "to" as in "also" or "to an excessive degree" as in "too many plays", please use the word "too". I love the Cowboys too. Sometimes I spend way too much time on my Cowboy's obsession.
That conclude's our English lesson for the day.

Nothing's more annoying than your/you're mistakes. People should have that figured out by the third grade.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

*Just a side note. Guys, when you are using the word "to" as in "also" or "to an excessive degree" as in "too many plays", please use the word "too". I love the Cowboys too. Sometimes I spend way too much time on my Cowboy's obsession.
That conclude's our English lesson for the day........:laugh2:

I no whut ya mean... I luv the cowboyz 2.

 

[jcblanco22]

No Larry Brown? I thought his 3 picks in 95-96 were alright.

littlewebs, I think some might think you're only referring to the two against O'Donnell in the Super Bowl, but let me see if we're on the same page here. You say three, and I'm assuming the third, which was actually the first in a chronological sense, is the one no one ever seems to speak of from the '95 postseason, but it was HUGE: His 4th quarter pick of Favre in the NFC Championship when we were only up by 4 and they were driving. That one was a beauty, he cut in front of I believe Robert Brooks at the last second and made a great play.

 

[jcblanco22]

Not incredibly significant in the grand scheme of things, but I remember Victor Scott making a pick of Simms that I always thought gave us the NFC East in '85. However, I saw that earlier in this thread someone else said it was a Jeffcoat pick, and now I'm unsure.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

littlewebs, I think some might think you're only referring to the two against O'Donnell in the Super Bowl, but let me see if we're on the same page here. You say three, and I'm assuming the third, which was actually the first in a chronological sense, is the one no one ever seems to speak of from the '95 postseason, but it was HUGE: His 4th quarter pick of Favre in the NFC Championship when we were only up by 4 and they were driving. That one was a beauty, he cut in front of I believe Robert Brooks at the last second and made a great play.

Thanks jc, I didnt even remember that one... but good recap... brought back memories of what we were and what we will soon be again...

 

[Wiggie McGee]

Actually, if you watch that play carefully from the endzone camera you can see that it is MLB Lee Roy Jordan who blows it. He is not blocked but totally reads the play incorrectly and goes to the wrong hole. Had he gone to his left instead of his right he would have been in position to stuff Starr before he crossed the goalline.

If he was cueing in on the QB like he should have then he should have filled the gap created by the wedge block on Pugh.

I've never understood why Pugh gets the blame while being doubleteamed by Bowman and Kramer on a sheet of ice yet Jordan gets a pass when he was untouched. Watch for Jordan the next time you see that play and you'll see what I'm talking about, he totally misreads it.


The Larry Cole play was the first one that came to my mind when I read the question.

Cliff Harris mentioned this one in the DMN today. Apparently Landry was riding Jordan 5 years later about this misread.

 

[bbgun]

Not incredibly significant in the grand scheme of things, but I remember Victor Scott making a pick of Simms that I always thought gave us the NFC East in '85. However, I saw that earlier in this thread someone else said it was a Jeffcoat pick, and now I'm unsure.

Too Tall tipped the pass, then Jeffcoat caught it and ran it back.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I saw James Washington in Super Bowl, his fumble recovery and TD turned the game.

Then of course Larry Brown's two INTs in our last SB win.