1974 Dallas Cowboys season

1974 Dallas Cowboys season
Head coach Tom Landry
General manager Tex Schramm
Owner Clint Murchison, Jr.
Home field Texas Stadium
Results
Record 8–6
Division place 3rd NFC East
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons and this marked the only season from 1966 to 1983 (18 seasons) that the Cowboys did not qualify.

The Cowboys began with a 1–4 start and although they went 7–2 afterwards, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.

The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day games in Cowboys history. Trailing 16–3 in the second half (and having already lost quarterback Roger Staubach to injury), little used backup Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes to lead the team to a 24–23 victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium.

1974 was also a season of transition; as it would be the final season of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers that season would be fullback Walt Garrison; and center Dave Manders. Also, this would be the final season for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who would finish his career with the San Francisco 49ers the following year); running back Calvin Hill (who departed for the Hawaiians of the World Football League); defensive end Pat Toomay (who left for the Buffalo Bills); guard John Niland (who left the following year for the Philadelphia Eagles) and quarterback Craig Morton (traded early in the season to the New York Giants) in a Cowboy uniform.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round Pick # Player Position College
11Too Tall JonesDefensive EndTennessee State
353Danny WhiteQuarterbackArizona State

[2]

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 15, 1974 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–0
52,332
2 September 23, 1974 at Philadelphia Eagles L 13–10
64,089
3 September 29, 1974 New York Giants L 14–6
45,841
4 October 6, 1974 Minnesota Vikings L 23–21
57,847
5 October 13, 1974 at St. Louis Cardinals L 31–28
49,885
6 October 20, 1974 Philadelphia Eagles W 31–24
43,586
7 October 27, 1974 at New York Giants W 21–7
57,381
8 November 3, 1974 St. Louis Cardinals W 17–14
64,146
9 November 10, 1974 San Francisco 49ers W 20–14
50,018
10 November 17, 1974 at Washington Redskins L 28–21
54,395
11 November 24, 1974 at Houston Oilers W 10–0
49,775
12 November 28, 1974 Washington Redskins W 24–23
63,243
13 December 7, 1974 Cleveland Browns W 41–17
48,754
14 December 14, 1974 at Oakland Raiders L 27–23
45,840

[3]

Game summaries

Week 12

1 234Total
Redskins 3 677 23
Cowboys 3 0147 24

[4]


Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
St. Louis Cardinals 10 4 0 .714 7–1 8–3 285 218 W1
Washington Redskins 10 4 0 .714 5–3 8–3 320 196 W2
Dallas Cowboys 8 6 0 .571 4–4 6–5 297 235 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 7 7 0 .286 3–5 5–6 242 217 W3
New York Giants 2 12 0 .143 1–7 1–10 195 299 L6

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Reserve Lists

Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
46 Active, 0 Inactive

Publications

The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4
Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2

References

External links

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