Five Super Bowls. 10 conference championships. 23 division titles. 17 Hall of Famers. A lifetime of goosebumps. America’s Team.
Despite the existence of an entire generation of DFW 20-somethings that have yet to witness it with their own eyes, the Dallas Cowboys were once a successful, superior organization.
They’re still proud. Still relevant. Just, let’s be honest, no longer very good.
Our Heroes Have Always Been Were Once Cowboys.
Last Super Bowl appearance 24 years ago. No road playoff wins in almost 10,000 days. Only teams with a longer drought from an NFC Championship Game: Redskins and Lions.
God used to watch his favorite team through the hole in the roof. But these days, like the rest of us, he’s merely scouring YouTube for clips of the glory (bygone) days.
As the Cowboys embark on their 60th season, we’re rebooting the warm-’n-fuzzies with their 60 best all-time moments. In today’s fourth part of the series, we list Nos. 24-13 in the countdown:
- RUNNIN’ OF THE RAMS – Oct. 23, 2011: DeMarco Murray shreds the Rams for a 91-yard touchdown and a franchise-record 253 rushing yards in a 34-7 win. The unprecedented doubleheader is punctuated by the Texas Rangers beating the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series just across the street in Arlington.
- SPRINT TO GLORY – Dec. 12, 1967: Bob Hayes catches an 86-yard touchdown pass and sets up two other scores with 60-plus-yard punt returns as the Cowboys (Capitol Division champs) defeat the Browns (Century Division champs), 52-14, in the NFL Eastern Championship Game before a crowd of 70,786 at the Cotton Bowl. With the win, the Cowboys advanced to the NFL Championship Game for the first time.
- CELEBRATED CENTURIONS – Oct. 14, 1962: For the first time in NFL history, two 100-yard runs are made by the same team in the same quarter, much less the same game. Cowboys kick returner Amos Marsh scores on a 101-yard kickoff return before Dallas’ Mike Gaechter bookends the feat with a 100-yard interception return.
- MONUMENTAL MONIKER – Feb 12, 1978: NFL Films, searching for a title for the Cowboys’ season highlights film in wake of their Super Bowl victory, gets a suggestion from team public relations director Doug Todd. Playing off the Cowboys’ unparalleled success and popularity, Todd offers: “Call it America’s Team.” Talk about a nickname that has stuck.
- BIRTHPLACE OF HISTORY – Jan. 28, 1960: In response to the threat posed by Lamar Hunt and the newly formed AFL, the NFL awards Clint Murchison the Dallas expansion franchise. Game on.
- ROCKET MAN – Sept. 12, 1999: In an exhilarating season opener at Washington, the Cowboys overcome a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat the Redskins 41-35 in overtime on Troy Aikman’s 76-yard bomb to Rocket Ismail. The comeback ruins the debut of smarmy Redskins’ new owner Dan Snyder.
- STEALING THE HOLE SHOW – Oct. 24, 1971: Enigmatic running back Duane Thomas christens new $35-million Texas Stadium with its first touchdown, a 56-yard run that paves the way for the Cowboys’ 44-21 victory over the Patriots. Dallas’ Doomsday defense records six sacks, one by Bob Lilly while wearing only one shoe.
- SACRED STAR – Sept. 24, 2000: Cowboys journeyman safety George Teague instantly becomes an eternal hero when he slams 49ers receiver Terrell Owens off Texas Stadium’s midfield star. Owens twice caught touchdowns in San Francisco’s 41-24 victory, and infamously went to celebrate on the most sacred star in sports.
- UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS – Nov. 28, 1985: With a 35-17 over the Cardinals, the Cowboys improve to 9-4 and clinch their NFL record 20th consecutive winning season under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys, who finish 10-6, produce the third longest streak in sports history behind only the New York Yankees (39 years) and Montreal Canadiens (32 years).
- THE ’BOYS ARE BACK – Dec. 29, 1991: Just two years removed from a 1-15 disaster, the Cowboys waltz into frigid Soldier Field and beat the Bears 17-13 in the NFC wild card game for their first playoff win in nine years and inaugural in the new era. Backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein shines and veteran Bill Bates picks off Jim Harbaugh to seal the deal.
- RECORD RUN – Oct. 27, 2002: Emmitt Smith darts left, then up the middle for a diving, 11-yard gain that breaks Walter Payton’s NFL all-time rushing mark of 16,726 yards. Though the Cowboys lose to the Seahawks 17-14, Smith enjoys an awkward post-game coronation and eventually finishes his career with a still-standing 18,355 yards.
- AMERICA’S (TEAM) GOT TALENT – Dec. 2, 1963: In one of the most impressive days in the history of the NFL Draft, the Cowboys and savvy general manager Tex Schramm select three future Hall of Famers in cornerback Mel Renfro (Round 2), receiver Bob Hayes (Round 7) and quarterback Roger Staubach (Round 10).
(In tomorrow’s series finale, Richie Whitt counts down the top 12 of the 60 best moments in Cowboys history. See if you agree with his No. 1.)