Most important play in Cowboy history

[Plankton]

Because it decided the game, I have to go with this one by a nose, just ahead of Lilly's sack of Griese.

To me, the Lilly sack was more symbolic than anything else. That sack didn't decide the game - the Cowboys running for 252 yards did. Lilly's play was symbolic of the fact that this Cowboy team wasn't going to be Next Year's Champions, but That Year's Champions.

Dare I be perceived a negative nelly, I would submit two plays as being amongst the most important plays in Cowboys history - Mike Hegman deflecting a pass into Billy Waddy's hands for the game winning touchdown in a loss to the Rams - Roger Staubach's last game. It was a foreshadowing of the Doomsday Defense collapsing late in big games, most famously seen two years later. Danny White's fumble in that same game against San Francisco that clinched the win for the 49ers sent the Cowboys on a spiral downward that resulted in Landry getting fired is another one.

Tough plays, but they do have importance.

As far as positive plays that were meaningful, I would submit Chuck Howley recovering Larry Csonka's fumble early in Super Bowl VI - this helped set the tone for the first Cowboy championship.

 

[plasticman]

Lol.....This post makes me realize that if you were to ask the same question of every other team in the NFL, half of them would be plays they made against the Cowboys......

For me, the most importamt play was Chuck Howley's INT off Bob Griese which he ran back 41 yards.

That play all but guaranteed that the Cowboys would no longer br regarded as the team that " couldnt win the Big One."They were going to win their first Supet Bowl.

The previous seasons were heart breakers. First, two consecutive losses in the NFL Championship game on the last play to the Packers. Then tough back to back losses to the Browns in divisional rounds.

But the worst was the previous Super Bowl, which the Cowboys lost in the final minute by three points. The Colts rookie kicker made a field goal after Craig Morton threw a horrendous INT deep in Cowboy territory.

Interestingly, Chuck Howley was the Super Bowl MVP in that loss but a strong argument could have been made that he was the MVP in the Super Bowl they won. He also forced a fumble and was all over the field.

But that INT came at a juncture where the outcome was in question, the Dolphins appeared to be making a comeback and a loss would have been absolutely devastating. I don't think Landry would have lasted past 1974.

 

[Jason 82 Witten]

I think each generation will have their own opinion. Some might say it was Romo's fumbled snap that's resulted in the Cowboys recent downward spirals since

 

[Jerryrage]

Drafting: Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter

 

[marchetta]

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

Crap! You beat me to it. Great minds think alike I see. ;-)

 

[marchetta]

I think each generation will have their own opinion. Some might say it was Romo's fumbled snap that's resulted in the Cowboys recent downward spirals since

On that note, how about Crayton's dropping the game winner against the Giants.

 

[marchetta]

Drafting: Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter

Or Barbie Carpenter.

 

[marchetta]

Off the top of my head...
Drafting Emmitt Smith instead of James Francis (LB Baylor)
Drafting DeMarcus Ware instead of Sean Merriman
Drafting Travis Frederick instead of Shariff Floyd
Drafting Zach Martin instead of Manziel
Drafting Zeke instead of Ramsey

 

[TX Cowboy]

The 74 Thanksgiving day game against Washedupington when Longley shocked the world
rallying Dallas from behind to win

 

[coogrfan]

(No, it wasn't actually a pick six. Nice job, NFL).

This play was the beginning of the end of the Dallas Cowboys.

If Neil O'Donnell doesn't throw the ball right to Larry Brown we probably don't win that game. If we don't win, Jerry isn't able to delude himself into believing that he's a football guy who can win a Super Bowl without Jimmy Johnson.

 

[MichaelValentino]

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.

Chuck,

You're one of my favorite posters. I enjoy your stories of the Cowboys from the 70s. The above post is a great example of what I like about your contribution here.

But I do have to correct you. It was the 1970 team, not the '71 SB winning team, that saw a streak of around 25 straight quarters without allowing an offensive TD. I think the streak ended in the 3rd quarter of the NFC championship when John Brodie threw a TD pass.

The '70 team was a defensive juggernaut heading into the playoffs. But you won't see hardly a peep about how good they were. The '74 Steelers had a similar streak of around 25-27 quarters without allowing a TD (and they pitched five shutouts that year), and they're regarded as Pittsburgh's greatest defensive team of the 70s. The '70, '71, '77 and '92 Cowboys were all among the league's best defensively.

Just wanted to give props to the '70 team. That team certainly deserved a better fate in Miami's Orange Bowl against Baltimore.

 

[KJJ]

The 74 Thanksgiving day game against Washedupington when Longley shocked the world
rallying Dallas from behind to win

Everyone has their own opinion on this topic and it's all based on opinion but don't know how the Clint Longely game could enter this discussion.

 

[KJJ]

Off the top of my head...
Drafting Emmitt Smith instead of James Francis (LB Baylor)
Drafting DeMarcus Ware instead of Sean Merriman
Drafting Travis Frederick instead of Shariff Floyd
Drafting Zach Martin instead of Manziel
Drafting Zeke instead of Ramsey

None of those are plays some of you don't even understand the topic. The OP was referring to plays on the field, not personnel moves and trades.

 

[Plankton]

Chuck,

You're one of my favorite posters. I enjoy your stories of the Cowboys from the 70s. The above post is a great example of what I like about your contribution here.

But I do have to correct you. It was the 1970 team, not the '71 SB winning team, that saw a streak of around 25 straight quarters without allowing an offensive TD. I think the streak ended in the 3rd quarter of the NFC championship when John Brodie threw a TD pass.

The '70 team was a defensive juggernaut heading into the playoffs. But you won't see hardly a peep about how good they were. The '74 Steelers had a similar streak of around 25-27 quarters without allowing a TD (and they pitched five shutouts that year), and they're regarded as Pittsburgh's greatest defensive team of the 70s. The '70, '71, '77 and '92 Cowboys were all among the league's best defensively.

Just wanted to give props to the '70 team. That team certainly deserved a better fate in Miami's Orange Bowl against Baltimore.

One correction - it was the 1976 Steelers that had 25 consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown, as well as five shutouts on the season (3 in a row during the 25 quarter streak). Were it not for Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier getting injured against the Colts in the divisional round, the Steelers may have been able to three peat - their defense was that dominant.

 

[Doomsday101]

1961 Billy Howton 45 yard TD catch from Eddie LeBaron for the Cowboys 1st ever win in Franchise History vs Pitts

 

[TX Cowboy]

Everyone has their own opinion on this topic and it's all based on opinion but don't know how the Clint Longely game could enter this discussion.

The most important play in Cowboys history? this could vary from any moment in Cowboys
history drafting, to? a rallying win even a moment during the super bowl

 

[KJJ]

The most important play in Cowboys history? this could vary from any moment in Cowboys
history drafting, to? a rallying win even a moment during the super bowl

The OP was clearly referring to a play on the field. The most important play in Cowboys history comes down to ones own personal opinion, it's all based on opinion.

 

[Swanny]

This is tough. I can't help but feel like the Jackie Smith drop is the most important play in Cowboys history. It's not a good play but I still thinks it's the most important. That play drops Landry from the greatest coach of all time, arguably drops the Cowboys from the greatest franchise in the NFL, drops the Cowboys from having the most Super Bowl wins (now), with that catch Staubach is still in talks about the greatest QB all time. One season later Roger retired. It's was KINDA the turning point of the Great Tom Landry to the "NFL has passed him by Tom Landry". Don't jump on my back I'm not saying the Cowboys or Landry sucked after 1978. Just saying it was KINDA the turning point of this franchise. It started the ball rolling to Jerry Jones buying this team what 10 years later? If only I was only alive to experience the heart break of this play.

But then again there was still time left in that game for the Cowboys to come back and win.

Old timers correct me if I'm wrong. But just thinking back on most important plays this unfortunately ranks high.

 

[thinwhiteduke]

This is tough. I can't help but feel like the Jackie Smith drop is the most important play in Cowboys history. It's not a good play but I still thinks it's the most important. That play drops Landry from the greatest coach of all time, arguably drops the Cowboys from the greatest franchise in the NFL, drops the Cowboys from having the most Super Bowl wins (now), with that catch Staubach is still in talks about the greatest QB all time. One season later Roger retired. It's was KINDA the turning point of the Great Tom Landry to the "NFL has passed him by Tom Landry". Don't jump on my back I'm not saying the Cowboys or Landry sucked after 1978. Just saying it was KINDA the turning point of this franchise. It started the ball rolling to Jerry Jones buying this team what 10 years later? If only I was only alive to experience the heart break of this play.

But then again there was still time left in that game for the Cowboys to come back and win.

Old timers correct me if I'm wrong. But just thinking back on most important plays this unfortunately ranks high.

lol I was going to say this and you are the last post in thread.

Dallas is nationally popular but will always be a step below Pitt and Green Bay and the Colts and the Giants because of that drop

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Herschel Walker trade

You forgot to drop your mic.