DMN Blog: Five plays in Cowboys history you wish had never happened

[Alexander]

My list will be from 1993 on, since that's when I started watching football. And all 5 on my list helped kill a season (which is why Leon Lett on Thanksgiving doesn't belong).

1) Any one of our turnovers at the beginning of the '95 NFC Championship game.

2) Crayton's drop vs. NYG.

3) Romo's botched hold vs. Seattle.

4) Galloway getting hurt in the 2000 opener, right after we dished out 2 #1s for him.

5) The 2nd long TD run by Baltimore to close out Texas Stadium.

This is now officially the most overrated "bad play" in team history.

 

[DallasEast]

I stopped reading after "1. Jackie Smith's drop in SB XIII".

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Five plays in Cowboys history you wish had never happened
12:09 PM Thu, Jul 16, 2009
Jean-Jacques Taylor/Columnist

This is a great topic from loyal reader Russell Maybin. If you could change any five plays in Cowboys' history, what would they be:

Here's my list:

1. Jackie Smith's drop in SB XIII
2. The catch
3. Michael Irvin injuring his neck at the Vet
4. Don Meredith's fourht-down interception in the 1966 NFL championship game against Green Bay
5. Patrick Crayton's drop against the Giants in the 2007 divisional playoff game

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My choices:

1. The Catch (or Drew being dragged down from behind)
2. Bart Starr's goalline sneak
3. Jim O'Brien's field goal
4. Jackie Smith's drop
5. Romo's Seattle blunder

Honorable mention: Billy Waddy's TD, Deion interfering with Irvin, Crayton's drop.

1. Moreso than "the catch" for me is the fact that Pearson? got finger tackled(jersey) on the cowboy drive after the catch. I think the 49ers had one more down anyways. We could have really crushed them with that score.

2. Anyone of the turnovers vs 49ers in NFC title game.

3. Craytons drop. Another nail in the coffin like my #1 on this list. Damn.

4. Anytime we lose to the lombardi-less Eagles.

5. Loss to the Colts in SB. Bad call turnover etc.

 

[Alexander]

3. Craytons drop. Another nail in the coffin like my #1 on this list. Damn.

This is now officially the most overrated "bad play" in team history.

 

[Nav22]

This is now officially the most overrated "bad play" in team history.

Wrong.

It was a 3rd and 14. The play would've netted 50+ yards, maybe a TD.

That would've put us up 10.

The drop ended our possession. We punted, they got a big return, then ended up scoring the game-winning TD on the ensuing possession.

It was an enormous play, and if it went the other way we'd have likely been hosting the NFC title game a week later. Against a QB utterly incapable of winning in Texas Stadium.

Hardly an "overrated bad play".

 

[Wrangler87]

Wrong.

It was a 3rd and 14. The play would've netted 50+ yards, maybe a TD.

That would've put us up 10.

The drop ended our possession. We punted, they got a big return, then ended up scoring the game-winning TD on the ensuing possession.

It was an enormous play, and if it went the other way we'd have likely been hosting the NFC title game a week later. Against a QB utterly incapable of winning in Texas Stadium.

Hardly an "overrated bad play".

I agree. I won't even get into the whole thing about finishing pass routes that occured later on.

 

[links18]

1. The "NO Danny, NO!" play. Living in DC, you never hear the end of that one.
2. The Second bomb to Santana Moss to spoil the triplets induction into the ring of honor. Living in DC you never hear the end of that one either.
3. "The Catch." I think that play is responsible for my lifelong anxiety disorder
4.) The bomb to Rice in the 1994 Championship game right before half-time. That play was as much responsible for our demise in that game as the turnovers or Deion's PI non-call
5.) Drew Bledsoe's brain dead INT to Sam Madison right before half in the first 2006 Giants game. If he doesn't throw that pick we don't get stuck with Tony Turnover. (OK, I am joking on this one guys. For all of you with broken sarcasm meters: Really, I'm not serious)

 

[tyke1doe]

Oh boy, this could sting a little. The first one isn't a play, but it pisses me off more than any play.

1. "Any of 500 guys could coach this team. I could get Barry Switzer, what do you think about that?" He never would have gotten drunk. They never would have had words. Egos never would have been more important than the team. I think with Jimmy at the helm this team wins 4 in a row and maybe 5. I don't think the discipline begins to falter and players getting into trouble at every turn. Worst day in Cowboys History IMO.

2. Jerry Kramer moved early on Bart Starr's QB sneak in the Ice Bowl. At the very least, throw a flag. If they beat us on the next play from the 5 yard line so be it.

3. Dave Manders recovered a Duane Thomas fumble in Super Bowl V, but the Colts claimed they had it and the refs gave it to them. Forget the fact pictures clearly show Manders with the football.

4. Benny Barnes did not interfere with Lynn Swann. Fred Swearingen is a blind friggin' fool. If anything Swann pushed Barnes to the ground. Offensive Interference. Then I don't even have to worry about Jackie's drop.

5. Deion Sanders would have been flagged for interference on Michael Irvin. Without that cushion I honestly think Dallas could have come back in that game. Maybe that's pie in the sky thinking but I'll stick to it.

Good call.

Mine:

1. The 49ers defense back grabbing on to Drew Pearson's jersey during the Catch game. If Pearson had a break-away jersey or had the defender missed that tackle, we're not talking about the Catch.

2. The Catch. I still can't watch that play.

3. Duane Thomas' "fumble" near the goal line.

4. The phantom interference against Benny Barnes.

5. Bart Starr's goalline sneak for TD.

 

[dogberry]

The Duane Thomas "fumble."

 

[joseephuss]

Leon Lett's involved in two of them.

That is harsh. Dallas still won Superbowls in both those years that Lett made his dumb plays, so I can't put them close to the top of the list of plays I would change.

These are 5 plays I would change. They are not in any type of order.

1. The play where Irvin breaks is collar bone against the Panthers in the playoffs in 1996. I think Dallas wins with him still in the game and then goes to face GB in the NFC Championship game the following week. Who knows what happens after that?

2. The play where Emmit Smith pulls his hamstring against the Saints in 1994 on MNF. He was not a factor in the playoffs. A healthy Smith could have been a big factor while facing the 49ers in the NFC Championship game that year.

3. Randy White fumbling the kick off return in SB13. He had a cast on his arm. If he just kneels down after fielding the squib kick Dallas would have good field position instead of turning it over to the Steelers.

4. The reverse that Dallas ran early in SB13. Dorsett went to give the ball to Drew Pearson and they put the ball on the ground. Just run the ball and maintain control and it could have changed the whole game.

5. If Percy Howard could somehow come down with an amazing catch near the end of SB10 Dallas would have another championship.

 

[Longboysfan]

The Cowboys are like the Kennedy family of the NFL: equal parts triumph and tragedy.

Please don't go there.

 

[adbutcher]

1. The Catch
2. Jackie Smith's drop
3. The pickle juice game
4. Deion no call
5. Romo slick ball fumble in Seattle

 

[bbgun]

1. The Catch
2. Jackie Smith's drop
3. The pickle juice game
4. Deion no call
5. Romo slick ball fumble in Seattle

No fair. You gotta pick one play. :spanking:

 

[thechosen1n2]

1.montana to clark (beginning of the end for that era)
2.emmitt pulling his hamstring in 94.
3.irvin at veto
4.romo in seattle
5.crayton slowing down in the endzone.

dang i forgot about the deion interference on mike.

 

[Alexander]

Why is the Emmitt Smith pulled hamstring keep coming up?

 

[bbgun]

Why is the Emmitt Smith pulled hamstring keep coming up?

Or Irvin's injury in Philly. It was a scary moment to be sure, but he wasn't paralyzed, it didn't cost him a place in the HOF, and we weren't going anywhere that year anyway (with or without him).

 

[ArmyCowboy]

The catch

The noncatch by Jackie Smith

"No, Danny, no Danny no!"

Jethro Pugh is pushed half a yard back

The non-bump/touching by Deion on Michael Irvin in enemy territory by the bay.

The bobble by Romo did not bother me because that team had no chance in hell of going deep into the playoffs.

That play may have turned our whole season around in '83.

15th game of the season versus Washington, we're 12-2. We're down 14-10 in the third quarter at our own 48, 4th and one.

Danny White is just supposed to try to draw the Commanders offsides and if that fails, punt.

White audibles and a run up the gut gets stuffed (I believe it was Ron Springs). We go on to lose 31-10, lose the following week and end up second in the division.

We got beat by the Rams in the wildcard game after that.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

1. Jackie Smith's drop in SB XIII
2. The catch
3. Michael Irvin injuring his neck at the Vet
4. Don Meredith's fourht-down interception in the 1966 NFL championship game against Green Bay
5. Patrick Crayton's drop against the Giants in the 2007 divisional playoff game


Those 5 work just fine for me.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

pickle juice game, opening onside kick

 

[DWhite Fan]

1. Tom Landry's press conference proior to the start of the 1984 season announcing Hogeboom as the starting QB. Absolutely the worst choice Landry ever made concerning the Cowboys.
2. Danny White getting sacked in the game against the Giants game in 1986. White's wrist broke and so did a season that I think could have been very special.
3. Bogus tipped pass to Mackey in SB V. RENFRO DID NOT TOUCH THAT BALL!!!!!!
4. Roger's INT right before the half in SB XIII. That turnover allowed the Steelers to take the lead. A 14-point swing (Dallas misses a chance at 7 and Pitts scores 7)
5. The press conference where Jimmy announces he will no longer be the coach of the Cowboys. With him, there is no doubt in my mind that Dallas wins 4 straight SBs.