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1974 Dallas Cowboys season

NFL team season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamDallas Cowboys
year1974
record8–6
division_place3rd NFC East
coachTom Landry
general managerTex Schramm
ownerClint Murchison, Jr.
stadiumTexas Stadium
playoffs*Did not qualify*
pro bowlers*None*
shortnavlinkCowboys seasons

The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league, all under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games. They missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the only time in 18 seasons (1966–1983) that the Cowboys did not advance to the postseason.

The Cowboys opened the season 1–4. Although they finished 7–2, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.

The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving 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.

This was also a season of transition. It was the final season of Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers were fullback Walt Garrison and center Dave Manders. Also, it was the final season in Dallas for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who finished 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) who would later play against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1974 NFL draft

Schedule

Dallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"WeekDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"DateDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"OpponentDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"ResultDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"RecordDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"Game SiteDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"AttendanceDallas Cowboysyear=1974border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
September 15at [Atlanta Falcons](1974-atlanta-falcons-season)**W** 24–01–0Atlanta Stadium52,332[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409150atl.htm)
at **[Philadelphia Eagles](1974-philadelphia-eagles-season)****L** 10–131–1Veterans Stadium64,089[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409230phi.htm)
September 29**[New York Giants](1974-new-york-giants-season)****L** 6–141–2Texas Stadium45,841[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290dal.htm)
October 6[Minnesota Vikings](1974-minnesota-vikings-season)**L** 21–231–3Texas Stadium57,847[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410060dal.htm)
October 13at **St. Louis Cardinals****L** 28–311–4Busch Memorial Stadium49,885[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130crd.htm)
October 20**Philadelphia Eagles****W** 31–242–4Texas Stadium43,586[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200dal.htm)
October 27at **New York Giants****W** 21–73–4Yale Bowl57,381[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410270nyg.htm)
November 3**[St. Louis Cardinals](1974-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)****W** 17–144–4Texas Stadium64,146[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030dal.htm)
November 10[San Francisco 49ers](1974-san-francisco-49ers-season)**W** 20–145–4Texas Stadium50,018[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100dal.htm)
November 17at **[Washington Redskins](1974-washington-redskins-season)****L** 21–285–5RFK Stadium54,395[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411170was.htm)
November 24at [Houston Oilers](1974-houston-oilers-season)**W** 10–06–5Houston Astrodome49,775[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240oti.htm)
November 28**Washington Redskins****W** 24–237–5Texas Stadium63,243[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411280dal.htm)
[Cleveland Browns](1974-cleveland-browns-season)**W** 41–178–5Texas Stadium48,754[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412070dal.htm)
at [Oakland Raiders](1974-oakland-raiders-season)**L** 23–278–6Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum45,840[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412140rai.htm)

Division opponents are in bold text

Game summaries

Week 3 vs Giants

;Giants

  • Norm Snead 11/17, 128 Yds, TD
  • Joe Dawkins 9 Rush, 51 Yds
  • Bob Grim 1 Rec, 50 Yds ;Cowboys
  • Roger Staubach 20/37, 256 Yds, TD, 3 INT
  • Robert Newhouse 12 Rush, 47 Yds
  • Drew Pearson 6 Rec, 116 Yds

This would be the last time the Giants defeated the Cowboys until Week 10 of the 1980 season, a streak of 12 straight wins by Dallas.

Week 6 vs Eagles

;Eagles

  • Roman Gabriel 21/36, 285 Yds, 2 TD, INT
  • Po James 6 Rush, 24 Yds, TD
  • Harold Carmichael 5 Rec, 85 Yds, TD ;Cowboys
  • Roger Staubach 18/27, 224 Yds
  • Calvin Hill 26 Rush, 140 Yds, 3 TD
  • Drew Pearson 5 Rec, 77 Yds

Week 12 vs Redskins

First quarter

  • DAL – Efrén Herrera 24-yard field goal. ''Cowboys 3–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • WSH – Mark Moseley 45-yard field goal. ''Tie 3–3. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • WSH – Mark Moseley 34-yard field goal. ''Redskins 6–3. '''Drive:'''''
  • WSH – Mark Moseley 39-yard field goal. ''Redskins 9–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • WSH – Duane Thomas 9-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Mark Moseley kick). ''Redskins 16–3. '''Drive:'''''
  • DAL – Billy Joe Dupree 35-yard pass from Clint Longley (Efrén Herrera kick). ''Redskins 16–10. '''Drive:'''''
  • DAL – Walt Garrison 70-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick). ''Cowboys 17–16. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • WSH – Duane Thomas 19-yard run (Mark Moseley kick). ''Redskins 23–17. '''Drive:'''''
  • DAL – Drew Pearson 50-yard pass from Clint Longley (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:28. ''Cowboys 24–23. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • WSH – Billy Kilmer – 8/17, 112 yards, TD
  • DAL – Clint Longley – 11/20, 203 yards, 2 TD ;Top rushers
  • WSH – Duane Thomas – 18 rushes, 55 yards, TD
  • DAL – Robert Newhouse – 16 rushes, 66 yards ;Top receivers
  • WSH – Roy Jefferson – 2 receptions, 49 yards
  • DAL – Drew Pearson – 5 receptions, 108 yards, TD

Thanksgiving Day

Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game.

Standings

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster
**Quarterbacks**

Publications

  • The Football Encyclopedia
  • Total Football
  • Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes

References

References

  1. "1974 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players".
  2. "1974 NFL Draft".
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