It was 24 years ago that a red-headed backup quarterback from Princeton authored one of the most amazing holiday scripts in Dallas Cowboys history.
Thanksgiving Day, 1994. With Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete out with injuries, Dallas’ third-stringer stepped in and promptly fell behind the Green Bay Packers 17-3 at Texas Stadium. But in a performance that was as amazing as it was surprising, the quarterback threw for 311 yards, tossed long touchdowns to Alvin Harper and Michael Irvin, and led the Cowboys to a team-record 36 second-half points in a rousing 42-31 victory.
The quarterback that day was the head coach tomorrow: Jason Garrett.
Ah, the magic of Thanksgiving.
The turkey. The dressing. The relatives and the heartburn, neither of which will leave. The Salvation Army’s red kettle. The classic opponents, including this year’s Washington Redskins. The grandiose halftime show, this Thursday featuring Meghan Trainor. And — usually, anyway – the Cowboys victory.
Dallas is 30-19-1 all-time on Turkey Day. Some of them — for better or for worse — you might remember . . .
- 11.22.2012 Redskins 38, Cowboys 31 – Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III essentially burned the turkey and spilled the dressing with three second-quarter touchdown passes en route to a bewildering 28-3 halftime lead.
- 11.26.87 Vikings 44, Cowboys 38 (OT) – Darrin Nelson’s game-ending run overcomes Danny White’s five touchdowns and drops 5-6 Dallas out of the playoffs.
- 11.24.05 Broncos 24, Cowboys 21 (OT) – After Billy Cundiff misses a 34-yard field goal late in regulation, Denver’s Ron Dayne sets up the heartbreak loss with a 55-yard rumble.
- 11.24.2016 Cowboys 31, Redskins 26 – Dallas pushes its win streak to 10 by getting a combined four touchdowns from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, and surviving a wild 34-point fourth quarter by recovering a late onside kick.
- 11.26.98 Vikings 46, Cowboys 36 – Rookie receiver Randy Moss haunts the team that passed over him in the draft with three touchdowns and 163 yards receiving.
- 11.25.2011 Cowboys 20, Dolphins 19 – A 10-play drive fueled by Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray eats up the final five minutes and sets up Dan Bailey’s game-winning 28-yard field on the game’s final play.
- 11.23.89 Eagles 27, Cowboys 0 – Philly’s Buddy Ryan adds to the “Bounty Bowl” humiliation with a $200 reward for one of his players taking out Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas.
- 11.24.94 Cowboys 42, Packers 31 – With Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete sidelined with injuries and his team trailing 17-3, Jason Garrett steps in and throws for 311 yards and leads Dallas to a record 36 second-half points.
- 11.25.93 Dolphins 16, Cowboys 14 – Ice storm. Leon Lett. Grumble mumble . . .
- 11.28.74 Cowboys 24, Redskins 23 – Replacing an injured Roger Staubach, Abilene Christian rookie Clint Longley — making his first NFL appearance — orchestrates a dramatic and improbable rally, climaxed by a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds remaining.