Most important play in Cowboy history

[Bay10]

The biggest play in Dallas Cowboy history in my opinion is Aikman to Harper slant 92 NFC Championship. Tell me yours.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Herschel Walker trade

 

[perrykemp]

Herschel Walker trade

Absolutely.

 

[DogFace]

I'll third that^^^

 

[theebs]

impossible question but it was certainly long before the 90's run.

 

[DallasEast]

It's not a play but Roger Staubach being named as the sole first-string quarterback would be my choice. The Cowboys had already begun establishing themselves as an NFL force before that point but the franchise's legend really took off afterwards.

 

[Garrettop]

 

[gimmesix]

It's hard to boil Dallas' success down to one play, but two events had probably the biggest impact: The hiring of Tom Landry as coach, then the firing of Landry and replacing him with Jimmy Johnson. Both of those show us how important it is to have the right coach leading the franchise. The plays are important, the players more important, but without the right leadership, many franchises have gone astray ... including this one.

 

[Plankton]

Clint Murchison giving Tom Landry a 10 year contract extension in 1964 when he had a career record of 13-38-1 at that point in his career. That decision, widely ridiculed at the time, resulted in a unprecedented run of winning seasons.

 

[CooterBrown]

The biggest play in Dallas Cowboy history in my opinion is Aikman to Harper slant 92 NFC Championship. Tell me yours.

Norton's stuff of Davis in SB. changed the momentum of the game and boosted the swagger that lasted a few years. Yes, that was only 3rd down, but Buffalo folded after that play.

 

[CooterBrown]

The biggest play in Dallas Cowboy history in my opinion is Aikman to Harper slant 92 NFC Championship. Tell me yours.

I assumed this thread was about an on-the-field play.

 

[theebs]

Norton's stuff of Davis in SB. changed the momentum of the game and boosted the swagger that lasted a few years. Yes, that was only 3rd down, but Buffalo folded after that play.

In 91 he stuffed Barry Sanders on a 4th and 1. They got blown out but it was still a great play! Norton was such an amazing player. Its still hard to understand why jerry played hardball with him but later on just gives money away to guys like hardy.

 

[RS12]

Yup. Thoroughly demoralized Miami on the 29 yard sack in giving them any hopes of coming back in SB6. Still the sweetest victory in Cowboy history IMO. Young fans dont know what they missed.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

For my generation (people in their 20s) it was the Dez play in Green Bay

 

[slick325]

The original Hail Mary ranks up there...big play in a playoff game on the road. Roger to the original 88.

 

[dupree89]

All very good answers. That pass to Harper showed some big stones. Anyway, for me, I can't name just one..but I can name the most exciting play..and that was the hail mary to Drew Pearson (Nate Wright) in Minnesota, 1975. The next week they went to L.A. and blew out the Rams. But then of course a not-so-good Staubach game against the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Had Dallas won that Super Bowl, I would say clearly that the hail mary would be the answer.

 

[dupree89]

The original Hail Mary ranks up there...big play in a playoff game on the road. Roger to the original 88.

you beat me to it.

 

[Chuck 54]

Lilly's 29 yard sack of Griese in the first SB victory by the Cowboys.
The longest sack in SB history and probably the history of the NFL by one of the greatest players to play the game, getting a team that couldn't win the big one to its first championship in its 6th straight first place finish in the division.

Also, that 71 Cowboys team is regarded as one of the greatest teams ever in the NFL.
Walt Garrison, Duane Thomas, and Calvin Hill combined to rush for 1,690 yards in just 14 games.
Roger Staubach had a season QB rating of 104.8 when the league average was 62.2, and he had an 8.9 yards per attempt with 18 TDs to only 4 interceptions.

Offense scored 406 points while Doomsday only allowed 222. Doomsday allowed only 3 points by the Dolphins in that SB win, 24-3, but they only allowed one TD in the previous 25 quarters leading up to the SB!

Defense? Try these numbers on for size.

Just the LBs had 9 interceptions in 14 games in an era with less passing; Edwards and Jordan each had 2 ints, and my man, Chuck Howley had 5.
CB's Herb Adderley and Mel Renfro combined for 10 more ints, and the safeties--Cliff Harris and Cornell Green had another 4.

Bob Lilly led the DL which included Jethro Pugh. So I pick that sack as the play that represents one of the all time great teams in the NFL.

 

[CaptainCowboy12]

Lilly's 29 yard sack of Griese in the first SB victory by the Cowboys.
The longest sack in SB history and probably the history of the NFL by one of the greatest players to play the game, getting a team that couldn't win the big one to its first championship in its 6th straight first place finish in the division.

Also, that 71 Cowboys team is regarded as one of the greatest teams ever in the NFL.
Walt Garrison, Duane Thomas, and Calvin Hill combined to rush for 1,690 yards in just 14 games.
Roger Staubach had a season QB rating of 104.8 when the league average was 62.2, and he had an 8.9 yards per attempt with 18 TDs to only 4 interceptions.

Offense scored 406 points while Doomsday only allowed 222. Doomsday allowed only 3 points by the Dolphins in that SB win, 24-3, but they only allowed one TD in the previous 25 quarters leading up to the SB!

Defense? Try these numbers on for size.

Just the LBs had 9 interceptions in 14 games in an era with less passing; Edwards and Jordan each had 2 ints, and my man, Chuck Howley had 5.
CB's Herb Adderley and Mel Renfro combined for 10 more ints, and the safeties--Cliff Harris and Cornell Green had another 4.

Bob Lilly led the DL which included Jethro Pugh. So I pick that sack as the play that represents one of the all time great teams in the NFL.

A great post which brings back some great memories.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Several good ones already posted. Here is one that cost us a SB.