The Cowboys finished the 1985 season with a record of ten wins and six losses, good for first place in the NFC East, and earning a trip to the playoffs (the final postseason appearance for the Cowboys under Tom Landry), where they lost in a divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams.
Tom Landry's team got off to another fast start, opening the season with a 44–14 trouncing of their longtime nemesis, the Redskins, and later defeating the Steelers (their first victory over Pittsburgh since 1972) to give the team a 5–1 record and an early two-game lead over the rest of the division. However, the team was up and down the rest of the way, finishing out the season 5–5 and allowing both the Giants and Redskins to catch up with them at 10–6. Two wins each over both the Giants and Redskins allowed the Cowboys to win the division based on the tie-breaking rules. During the inconsistent stretch toward the end of the season, the Cowboys suffered two of the most embarrassing defeats in team history. On November 17, the undefeated Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and gave the Cowboys a 44–0 beating that was the worst loss in team history, and it was also the first time in 218 games that the Cowboys had not scored. Three weeks later the team traveled to Cincinnati, where the Bengals handed them a 50–24 loss, piling up 570 yards in the process, the most yards the Cowboys had given up in team history. The Cowboys proved to be a resilient bunch however, winning a crucial game at home against the Giants the following week that gave them their first division title since 1981, and the final for Tom Landry. That game would prove to be the last highlight of the season, as the team was shut out in the playoffs for the first time in team history, 20–0, by the Rams in Anaheim, California, which would prove to be the final playoff appearance for the Cowboys under Landry.
With the previous season's quarterback controversy behind him, Danny White led the Cowboys' passing game to number three overall in the league. Wide receiver Tony Hill posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards, and Mike Renfro blossomed in his second season with the Cowboys. Tight end Doug Cosbie had another pro bowl season. Turnovers proved to be a problem though, as White and backup quarterback Gary Hogeboom combined to throw 24 interceptions. Running back Tony Dorsett was the only reliable ball carrier on the roster, rushing for 1,307 yards on the season, and going over 10,000 yards for his career. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys registered 62 sacks and 33 interceptions, with cornerback Everson Walls becoming the first player to ever lead the league in interceptions three times, with nine. The big plays covered up a pass defense that ranked 27th in the league, and a defense that ranked 23rd overall. The secondary allowed big plays through the air throughout the season, and the defense allowed running back Eric Dickerson to rush for a playoff record 248 yards in their playoff game against the Rams.
1985 NFL Draft
Roster
| Dallas Cowboys 1985 roster |
| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics
45 Active, 0 Inactive |
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Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | NFL Recap | Attendance |
|---|
| 1 | September 9, 1985 | Washington Redskins | W 44–14 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 62,292 |
| 2 | September 15, 1985 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–26 | Pontiac Silverdome | Recap | 72,985 |
| 3 | September 22, 1985 | Cleveland Browns | W 20–7 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 61,456 |
| 4 | September 29, 1985 | at Houston Oilers | W 17–10 | Astrodome | Recap | 49,686 |
| 5 | October 6, 1985 | at New York Giants | W 30–29 | Giants Stadium | Recap | 74,981 |
| 6 | October 13, 1985 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 27–13 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 63,062 |
| 7 | October 20, 1985 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–16 | Veterans Stadium | Recap | 70,114 |
| 8 | October 27, 1985 | Atlanta Falcons | W 24–10 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 57,941 |
| 9 | November 4, 1985 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 10–21 | Busch Memorial Stadium | Recap | 49,347 |
| 10 | November 10, 1985 | at Washington Redskins | W 13–7 | RFK Stadium | Recap | 55,750 |
| 11 | November 17, 1985 | Chicago Bears | L 0–44 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 63,855 |
| 12 | November 24, 1985 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 34–17 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 54,047 |
| 13 | November 28, 1985 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 35–17 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 54,125 |
| 14 | December 8, 1985 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 24–50 | Riverfront Stadium | Recap | 56,936 |
| 15 | December 15, 1985 | New York Giants | W 28–21 | Texas Stadium | Recap | 62,310 |
| 16 | December 22, 1985 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 16–31 | Candlestick Park | Recap | 60,114 |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Redskins |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
| • Cowboys |
3 |
14 | 13 | 14 |
44 |
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| Scoring summary |
|---|
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| 1 |
| Cowboys | Rafael Septien 53 yard field goal | Cowboys 3–0 |
|
| 2 |
| Cowboys | Timmy Newsome 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 10–0 |
|
| 2 |
| Redskins | John Riggins 1 yard run (Mark Moseley kick) | Cowboys 10–7 |
|
| 2 |
| Cowboys | Mike Renfro 55 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 17–7 |
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| 3 |
| Cowboys | Rafael Septien 39 yard field goal | Cowboys 20–7 |
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| 3 |
| Cowboys | Rafael Septien 43 yard field goal | Cowboys 23–7 |
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| 3 |
| Cowboys | Tony Dorsett 9 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 30–7 |
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| 4 |
| Cowboys | Victor Scott 26 yard interception return (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 37–7 |
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| 4 |
| Redskins | Clint Didier 19 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) | Cowboys 37–14 |
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| 4 |
| Cowboys | Dennis Thurman 21 yard interception return (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 44–14 |
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Week 15
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Giants |
0 |
14 | 0 | 7 |
21 |
| • Cowboys |
7 |
14 | 0 | 7 |
28 |
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Standings
Playoffs
Divisional playoffs
January 4, 1986
NFC: Los Angeles Rams 20, Dallas Cowboys 0
| Game information |
- Scoring
- RAMS – field goal Lansford 33 RAMS 3–0
- RAMS – Dickerson 55 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 10–0
- RAMS – field goal Lansford 34 RAMS 13–0
- RAMS – Dickerson 40 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 20–0
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Awards
- The Cowboys sent four players to the pro bowl following the 1985 season. Wide receiver Tony Hill went to his first since 1979, tight end Doug Cosbie was named to his third consecutive game, cornerback Everson Walls achieved his fourth, and defensive tackle Randy White was named to his ninth consecutive pro bowl. Randy White was named to the associated press All-NFL first team, while Everson Walls was named to the second team.
- Everson Walls, NFL Leader, Interceptions, (9)
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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