1982 Dallas Cowboys season

Offseason

Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt, proposed to the NFL competition committee a centralization of the evaluation process for the NFL draft prospects. Before this, teams had to schedule individual visits with players to run them through drills and tests. This proposition created the NFL Scouting Combine, which was first held in Tampa, Florida, in 1982.

Coincidentally, the 1982 NFL draft was one of the worst in Dallas Cowboys history. It is mostly remembered because it was the year the Cowboys drafted cornerback Rod Hill in the first round. Hill would go on to become the symbol of the team's failed draft strategy of the eighties, when the Cowboys took too many gambles. From that draft only Jeff Rohrer and Phil Pozderac made contributions.

NFL draft

Main article: 1982 NFL draft

Regular season

Schedule

Season summary

Week 1: vs Pittsburgh Steelers

First quarter

• PIT – John Stallworth 8-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). ''Steelers 6–0. '''Drive:'''''
• DAL – Drew Pearson 4-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). ''Cowboys 7–6. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
• PIT – Jim Smith 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). ''Steelers 13–7. '''Drive:'''''
• DAL – Doug Cosbie 12-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). ''Cowboys 14–13. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
• PIT – Frank Pollard 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). ''Steelers 20–14. '''Drive:'''''
• PIT – Jim Smith 15-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). ''Steelers 27–14. '''Drive:'''''
• PIT – Gary Anderson 26-yard field goal. ''Steelers 30–14. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
• PIT – Gary Anderson 43–yard field goal. ''Steelers 33–14. '''Drive:'''''
• DAL – Tony Hill 45-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). ''Steelers 33–21. '''Drive:'''''
• DAL – Billy Joe DuPree 5-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). ''Steelers 33–28. '''Drive:'''''
• PIT – Gary Anderson 40-yard field goal. ''Steelers 36–28. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
• PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 17/28, 246 yards, 3 TD
• DAL – Danny White – 25/36, 347 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
• PIT – Franco Harris – 24 rushes, 103 yards
• DAL – Tony Dorsett – 11 rushes, 30 yards ;Top receivers
• PIT – John Stallworth – 7 receptions, 137 yards, TD
• DAL – Tony Hill – 6 receptions, 130 yards, TD

Week 13: at Washington Redskins

Standings

Roster

Postseason

Main article: 1982–83 NFL playoffs

Playoff schedule

First round

• Scoring
  • DAL – field goal Septién 33 DAL 3–0
  • DAL – field goal Septién 33 DAL 6–0
  • TB – Green 60 fumble return (Capece kick)TB 7–6
  • TB – field goal Capece 32 TB 10–6
  • DAL – Springs 6 pass from D. White (Septién kick) DAL 13–10
  • DAL – field goal Septién 19 DAL 16–10
  • TB – Jones 49 pass from Williams (Capece kick) TB 17–16
  • DAL – Hunter 19 interception return (Septién kick) DAL 23–17
  • DAL – Newsome 10 pass from D. White (Septién kick) DAL 30–17

Second round

This would be the Cowboys last playoff win until they defeated the Chicago Bears in the 1991 NFC Wildcard round.

Awards

• The Cowboys sent eight players to the Pro Bowl following the 1982 season: Bob Breunig, Pat Donovan, Tony Dorsett, Ed Jones, Harvey Martin, Herbert Scott, Everson Walls, and Randy White.
• Danny White and Tony Dorsett were named to the All-NFL second team by the Associated Press at quarterback and running back, respectively. On the defensive side of the ball, end Ed Jones and tackle Randy White were named to the first team, while end Harvey Martin and cornerback Everson Walls were named to the second team.
• Everson Walls, NFL Leader, Interceptions, (7)

Publications

The Football Encyclopedia

Total Football

Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes

References

References

1. The Football Encyclopedia {{ISBN. 0-312-11435-4
2. Total Football {{ISBN. 0-06-270170-3
3. (August 23, 2022). "Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Results".
4. Crouse, Karen. (February 23, 2007). "Players Are Seen and Unseen At N.F.L. Scouting Combine". [[The New York Times]].
5. "Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys — September 13th, 1982".
6. "Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins — December 5th, 1982".
7. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301160dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]