1978 Dallas Cowboys season

1978 Dallas Cowboys season
Head coach	Tom Landry
General manager	Tex Schramm
Owner	Clint Murchison, Jr.
Home field	Texas Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st NFC East
Playoff finish	Lost Super Bowl XIII (Steelers)
← 1977 Cowboys seasons 1979 →

1 2 3 4 Total Colts(0-1) 0 0 0 0 0 • Cowboys(1-0) 0 21 14 3 38 Date: September 4 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 8:00 p.m.(ET) Game attendance: 64,224 Game weather: 87°F, wind 8 TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith
Scoring summary 2 DAL Doug Dennison 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 7–0 2 DAL Tony Dorsett 91 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–0 2 DAL Billy Joe DuPree 8 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 21–0 3 DAL Drew Pearson 38 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 28–0 3 DAL Jay Saldi 1 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 35–0 4 DAL Rafael Septien 48 yard field goal Cowboys 38–0

Scoring summary
2		DAL	Doug Dennison 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 7–0
2		DAL	Tony Dorsett 91 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–0
2		DAL	Billy Joe DuPree 8 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–0
3		DAL	Drew Pearson 38 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 28–0
3		DAL	Jay Saldi 1 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 35–0
4		DAL	Rafael Septien 48 yard field goal	Cowboys 38–0

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys (2-0) 7 14 6 7 34 Giants (1-1) 0 7 10 7 24 Date: September 10 Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 73,265 Game weather: 61°F, wind 14 mph TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui, Tom Brookshier, and Sonny Jurgensen Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 DAL DuPree 4-yard pass from Staubach (Septien kick) Cowboys 7–0 2 DAL Newhouse 2-yard run (Septien kick) Cowboys 14–0 2 NYG Dixon 4-yard pass from Pisarcik (Danelo kick) Cowboys 14–7 2 DAL Saldi 2-yard pass from Staubach (Septien kick) Cowboys 21–7 3 NYG Hammond 11-yard run (Danelo kick) Cowboys 21–14 3 NYG Danelo 42-yard field goal Cowboys 21–17 3 DAL Newhouse 1-yard run (kick failed) Cowboys 27–17 4 DAL Dorsett 3-yard run (Septien kick) Cowboys 34–17 4 NYG Doornik 1-yard run (Danelo kick) Cowboys 34–24

Scoring summary
1		DAL	DuPree 4-yard pass from Staubach (Septien kick)	Cowboys 7–0
2		DAL	Newhouse 2-yard run (Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–0
2		NYG	Dixon 4-yard pass from Pisarcik (Danelo kick)	Cowboys 14–7
2		DAL	Saldi 2-yard pass from Staubach (Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–7
3		NYG	Hammond 11-yard run (Danelo kick)	Cowboys 21–14
3		NYG	Danelo 42-yard field goal	Cowboys 21–17
3		DAL	Newhouse 1-yard run (kick failed)	Cowboys 27–17
4		DAL	Dorsett 3-yard run (Septien kick)	Cowboys 34–17
4		NYG	Doornik 1-yard run (Danelo kick)	Cowboys 34–24

1 2 3 4 Total Giants(3-3) 0 3 0 0 3 • Cowboys(4-2) 7 7 7 3 24 Date: October 8 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 69°F • Wind 10 TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Scoring summary 1 DAL Tony Hill 17 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 7–0 2 NYG Joe Danelo 37 yard field goal Cowboys 7–3 2 DAL Billy Joe DuPree 23 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–3 3 DAL Tony Hill 30 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 21–3 4 DAL Rafael Septien 22 yard field goal Cowboys 24–3

Scoring summary
1		DAL	Tony Hill 17 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 7–0
2		NYG	Joe Danelo 37 yard field goal	Cowboys 7–3
2		DAL	Billy Joe DuPree 23 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–3
3		DAL	Tony Hill 30 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–3
4		DAL	Rafael Septien 22 yard field goal	Cowboys 24–3

1 2 3 4 Total Saints(5-7) 7 0 0 0 7 • Cowboys(8-4) 0 14 7 6 27 Date: November 19 Location: Texas Stadium, Dallas, Texas Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 53°F, wind 6 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Saints Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) Saints 7–0 2 Cowboys Tony Dorsett 2-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Tie 7–7 2 Cowboys Roger Staubach 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–7 3 Cowboys Billy Joe DuPree 24-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 21–7 4 Cowboys Rafael Septien 24-yard field goal Cowboys 24–7 4 Cowboys Rafael Septien 26-yard field goal Cowboys 27–7

Scoring summary
1		Saints	Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)	Saints 7–0
2		Cowboys	Tony Dorsett 2-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Tie 7–7
2		Cowboys	Roger Staubach 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–7
3		Cowboys	Billy Joe DuPree 24-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–7
4		Cowboys	Rafael Septien 24-yard field goal	Cowboys 24–7
4		Cowboys	Rafael Septien 26-yard field goal	Cowboys 27–7

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys (12-4) 7 3 13 7 30 Jets(8-8) 0 0 0 7 7 Date: December 17 Location: Shea Stadium • Flushing, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 43°F, wind 23 mph TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Tom Matte

Scoring summary 1 DAL Tony Dorsett 7-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 7–0 2 DAL Rafael Septien 22-yard field goal Cowboys 10–0 3 DAL Robert Newhouse 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 17–0 3 DAL Tony Dorsett 54-yard fumble return (kick failed) Cowboys 23–0 4 NYJ Jerome Barkum 9-yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick) Cowboys 23–7 4 DAL Larry Brinson 8-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 30–7

The 1978 Dallas Cowboys season was their 19th in the NFL. For the third consecutive season, the Cowboys finished in first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys scored 384 points, which ranked first in the NFC, while the defense only gave up 208 points. Twice, the Cowboys appeared on Monday Night Football.

The Cowboys became the first franchise to appear in five Super Bowls. With their loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIII, they also became the first team to lose a Super Bowl after having won it the previous year.

The defending Super Bowl champions were again led by quarterback Roger Staubach. Staubach finished the season as the top rated passer in the NFL (84.9) by throwing 231 out of 413 completions for 3,190 yards and 25 touchdowns, with 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 182 yards and another touchdown. Wide receivers Drew Pearson and Tony Hill provided the deep passing threats, combining for 90 receptions, 537 yards, and 7 touchdowns. Tight end Billy Joe Dupree contributed 34 receptions for 509 yards and 9 touchdowns. Running back Tony Dorsett had another fine season, recording a total of 1703 combined rushing and receiving yards, and scoring a total of 9 touchdowns. Fullback Robert Newhouse and halfback Preston Pearson also contributed from the offensive backfield, combining for 1,326 rushing and receiving yards, while Newhouse also scored 10 touchdowns. The Cowboys also had a superb offensive line, led by Herbert Scott and 12-time Pro Bowler Rayfield Wright

The Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" finished the season as the top-ranked defense in the league against the run by only allowing 107.6 yards per game. Pro Bowl linemen Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Harvey Martin and Randy White anchored the line, while linebackers Bob Breunig, D. D. Lewis and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson provided solid support. Their secondary, led by safeties Cliff Harris and Charlie Waters, along with cornerbacks Benny Barnes and Aaron Kyle, combined for 16 interceptions.

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