1963 Dallas Cowboys season

1963 Dallas Cowboys season
Head coach	Tom Landry
Owner	Clint Murchison, Jr.
Home field	Cotton Bowl
Results
Record	4–10
Division place	5th NFL Eastern
Playoff finish	did not qualify
← 1962 Cowboys seasons 1964 →

1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 0 0 14 14 • Cowboys 0 7 0 10 17 Date: October 13 Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas Game weather: 76°F; wind 8

Scoring summary Q2 DAL Clarke 11 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 7–0 Q4 DAL Baker 13 yard field goal DAL 10–0 Q4 DET Cogdill 30 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick) DAL 10–7 Q4 DAL Marsh 41 yard run (Baker kick) DAL 17–7 Q4 DET Cogdill 70 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick) DAL 17–14

Scoring summary
Q2		DAL	Clarke 11 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 7–0
Q4		DAL	Baker 13 yard field goal	DAL 10–0
Q4		DET	Cogdill 30 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick)	DAL 10–7
Q4		DAL	Marsh 41 yard run (Baker kick)	DAL 17–7
Q4		DET	Cogdill 70 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick)	DAL 17–14

1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 0 10 3 7 20 • Cowboys 7 7 7 14 35 Date: November 3 Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas Game weather: 57°F; wind 16

Scoring summary Q1 DAL Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 7–0 Q2 WSH Dugan 41 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 WSH Khayat 12 yard field goal WSH 10–7 Q2 DAL Clarke 13 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 14–10 Q3 WSH Khayat 49 yard field goal DAL 14–13 Q3 DAL Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 21–13 Q4 WSH Dugan 19 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick) DAL 21–20 Q4 DAL Stiger 7 yard run (Baker kick) DAL 28–20 Q4 DAL Clarke 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 35–20

Scoring summary
Q1		DAL	Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 7–0
Q2		WSH	Dugan 41 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick)	Tie 7–7
Q2		WSH	Khayat 12 yard field goal	WSH 10–7
Q2		DAL	Clarke 13 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 14–10
Q3		WSH	Khayat 49 yard field goal	DAL 14–13
Q3		DAL	Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 21–13
Q4		WSH	Dugan 19 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick)	DAL 21–20
Q4		DAL	Stiger 7 yard run (Baker kick)	DAL 28–20
Q4		DAL	Clarke 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 35–20

1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 6 0 7 7 20 • Cowboys 7 10 7 3 27 Date: November 17 Location: Cotton Bowl Game attendance: 23,694 Game weather: 72°F; wind 18

Scoring summary Q1 DAL Norman 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 7–0 Q1 PHI McDonald 26 yard pass from Hill (kick failed) DAL 7–6 Q2 DAL Perkins 2 yard run (Baker kick) DAL 14–6 Q2 DAL Baker 33 yard field goal DAL 17–6 Q3 DAL Clarke 14 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 24–6 Q3 PHI Brown 24 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick) DAL 24–13 Q4 DAL Baker 27 yard field goal DAL 27–13 Q4 PHI Retzlaff 16 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick) DAL 27–20

Scoring summary
Q1		DAL	Norman 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 7–0
Q1		PHI	McDonald 26 yard pass from Hill (kick failed)	DAL 7–6
Q2		DAL	Perkins 2 yard run (Baker kick)	DAL 14–6
Q2		DAL	Baker 33 yard field goal	DAL 17–6
Q3		DAL	Clarke 14 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 24–6
Q3		PHI	Brown 24 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick)	DAL 24–13
Q4		DAL	Baker 27 yard field goal	DAL 27–13
Q4		PHI	Retzlaff 16 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick)	DAL 27–20

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys 0 14 0 14 28 Cardinals 0 14 10 0 24 Date: December 15 Location: Busch Stadium Game weather: 6°F; wind 11

Scoring summary Q2 DAL Meredith 1 yard run (Baker kick) DAL 7–0 Q2 STL Randle 62 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 STL Triplett 16 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick) STL 14–7 Q2 DAL Lilly 42 yard fumble return (Baker kick) Tie 14–14 Q3 STL Wilson 35 yard run (Bakken kick) STL 21–14 Q3 STL Bakken 11 yard field goal STL 24–14 Q4 DAL Norman 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) STL 24–21 Q4 DAL Clarke 25 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) DAL 28–24

Scoring summary
Q2		DAL	Meredith 1 yard run (Baker kick)	DAL 7–0
Q2		STL	Randle 62 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)	Tie 7–7
Q2		STL	Triplett 16 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)	STL 14–7
Q2		DAL	Lilly 42 yard fumble return (Baker kick)	Tie 14–14
Q3		STL	Wilson 35 yard run (Bakken kick)	STL 21–14
Q3		STL	Bakken 11 yard field goal	STL 24–14
Q4		DAL	Norman 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	STL 24–21
Q4		DAL	Clarke 25 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick)	DAL 28–24

The 1963 Dallas Cowboys season was their fourth in the league. The Cowboys became the only professional football team in Dallas, when the Texans of the AFL announced their move to Kansas City. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 5–8–1, winning only four games. The Cowboys didn't qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

The Cowboys were expecting to turn their fortunes around and have a good year, but won only 3 of their first 10 games. The assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, stands out as a pivotal moment in the season. Not only was the nation's psyche impacted by this event, but also the image of the city of Dallas was tarnished. On November 24, just two days after this historic event, the NFL decided to play its normal schedule of games, with the Cowboys traveling to face the Cleveland Browns. On game day when the team was introduced, the public address announcer would not say the Dallas Cowboys, they were just the Cowboys. The crowd also vented their frustration and pain at the players during the contest. The Cowboys lost that day 17–27 and would go on to have only one more win in the remaining 3 games.

On September 29, 1963, Billy Howton became the NFL's all-time receiving leader, breaking Don Hutson's record for career receptions and receiving yards. He retired at the end of the year, after playing in 12 seasons with 503 catches, 8,459 yards and 61 touchdowns.

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