1979 Dallas Cowboys season
| 1979 Dallas Cowboys season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Tom Landry |
| General manager | Tex Schramm |
| Owner | Clint Murchison, Jr. |
| Home field | Texas Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 1st NFC East |
| Playoff finish | Lost Division Round |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redskins | Mark Moseley 24-yard field goal | Redskins 3–0 | |
| 1 | Redskins | Joe Theismann 1-yard run (Mark Moseley kick) | Redskins 10–0 | |
| 2 | Redskins | Benny Malone 55-yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) | Redskins 17–0 | |
| 2 | Cowboys | Ron Springs 1-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | Redskins 17–7 | |
| 2 | Cowboys | Preston Pearson 26-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) | Redskins 17–14 | |
| 3 | Cowboys | Robert Newhouse 2-yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 21–17 | |
| 4 | Redskins | Mark Moseley 24-yard field goal | Cowboys 21–20 | |
| 4 | Redskins | John Riggins 1-yard run (Mark Moseley kick) | Redskins 27–21 | |
| 4 |
6:54
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Redskins | John Riggins 66-yard run (Mark Moseley kick) | Redskins 34–21 |
| 4 | Cowboys | Ron Springs 26-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) | Redskins 34–28 | |
| 4 |
:39
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Cowboys | Tony Hill 8-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 35–34 |
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| Scoring summary | ||||
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| 1 | Dal | Safety, Randy White tackled Ferragamo in end zone | Cowboys 2–0 | |
| 2 | LA | Wendell Tyler 32 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Frank Corral kick) | Rams 7-2 | |
| 2 | Dal | Rafael Septien 33 yard field goal | Rams 7-5 | |
| 2 | LA | Ron Smith 43 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Frank Corral kick) | Rams 14-5 | |
| 3 | Dal | Ron Springs 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick) | Rams 14-12 | |
| 4 | Dal | Jay Saldi 2 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 19-14 | |
| 4 | LA | Billy Waddy 50 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Frank Corral kick) | Rams 21-19 | |
The 1979 Dallas Cowboys season was their 20th in the league. The team was unable to improve on their previous output of 12–4, winning only eleven games. They qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the Divisional round.
The Cowboys still possessed a great offense, but suffered defensive losses as defensive tackle Jethro Pugh and safety Mark Washington retired, safety Charlie Waters missed the season with injury, Ed "Too Tall" Jones left the team while he embarked on a professional boxing career (Jones would return in 1980), and Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson was cut in November for erratic play and behavior. The season began 8–2 before a three-game losing streak placed the season in jeopardy (one of the three being a 30–24 loss to Houston in which Oilers coach Bum Phillips declared the Oilers as "Texas's Team"). The team rallied to win their final three to finish at 11–5 and gain the number one seed in the NFC.
In the season's final regular season game against the Redskins, with the NFC East Title at issue, Roger Staubach rallied the Cowboys from a 34–21 deficit in the last four minutes to win, 35–34. It turned out to be Staubach's last win. The Cowboys were upset at home in the divisional playoff by the Rams and Staubach retired after the season.
Flashback, Cowboys vs Redskins – 1979
It was December 16, 1979, when the Washington Redskins came to Texas Stadium tied with the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East with 10-5 records. This game would turn out to be one of Roger Staubach's finest moments as well as his last great comeback in his Cowboys career.
The NFC East showdown between these heated rivals did not start out the way the Cowboys had wanted. On the Cowboys first two possessions of the game they fumbled and the Redskins took full advantage of the recoveries
It took only two plays on the Cowboys first possession before rookie Ron Springs fumbled at the Cowboys 34 yard line. The Redskins took over and drove to the Cowboys three yard line. On third and goal Larry Cole sacked Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann and forced the Redskins to kick a field goal by Mark Mosley for an early 3-0 lead.
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