1980 Dallas Cowboys season

1980 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	2nd NFC East
Playoff finish	Lost NFC Championship (Eagles)
← 1979 Cowboys seasons 1981 →

1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 7 3 0 0 10 • Eagles 0 10 0 7 17 Date: October 19 Location: Veterans Stadium Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 70,696 Game weather: Sunny; 69°F Referee: Cal Lepore

Scoring summary Q1 DAL Hegman recovered fumble in end zone (Septien kick) DAL 7–0 Q2 PHI Franklin 35 yard field goal DAL 7–3 Q2 PHI Carmichael 5 yard pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) PHI 10–7 Q2 DAL Septien 33 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q4 PHI Smith 15 yard pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) PHI 17–10

Scoring summary
Q1		DAL	Hegman recovered fumble in end zone (Septien kick)	DAL 7–0
Q2		PHI	Franklin 35 yard field goal	DAL 7–3
Q2		PHI	Carmichael 5 yard pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)	PHI 10–7
Q2		DAL	Septien 33 yard field goal	Tie 10–10
Q4		PHI	Smith 15 yard pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)	PHI 17–10

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys 7 9 3 0 19 Raiders 7 3 3 0 13 Date: December 7 Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game attendance: 53,194 Game weather: 48 F, wind 8 mph Referee: Jerry Markbreit

1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 0 0 10 17 27 • Cowboys 7 14 7 7 35 Date: December 21 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 3:00 p.m. Game weather: 28°F, wind 9 mph Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Scoring summary 1 DAL Danny White 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 7–0 2 DAL Tony Hill 36 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 14–0 2 DAL Preston Pearson 9 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 21–0 3 PHI Louie Giammona 1 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) Cowboys 21–7 3 DAL Drew Pearson 11 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 28–7 3 PHI Tony Franklin 29 yard field goal Cowboys 28–10 4 DAL Billy Joe DuPree 15 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Cowboys 35–10 4 PHI Rodney Parker 30 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) Cowboys 35–17 4 PHI Tony Franklin 19 yard field goal Cowboys 35–20 4 PHI Wilbert Montgomery 6 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) Cowboys 35–27

Scoring summary
1		DAL	Danny White 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 7–0
2		DAL	Tony Hill 36 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 14–0
2		DAL	Preston Pearson 9 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 21–0
3		PHI	Louie Giammona 1 yard run (Tony Franklin kick)	Cowboys 21–7
3		DAL	Drew Pearson 11 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 28–7
3		PHI	Tony Franklin 29 yard field goal	Cowboys 28–10
4		DAL	Billy Joe DuPree 15 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Cowboys 35–10
4		PHI	Rodney Parker 30 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick)	Cowboys 35–17
4		PHI	Tony Franklin 19 yard field goal	Cowboys 35–20
4		PHI	Wilbert Montgomery 6 yard run (Tony Franklin kick)	Cowboys 35–27

1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 0 7 0 0 7 • Eagles 7 0 10 3 20 Date: January 11 Location: Veterans Stadium Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 70,696 Game weather: Sunny; 17°F Referee: Jerry Markbreit

Scoring summary Q1 PHI Montgomery 42 yard run (Franklin kick) PHI 7–0 Q2 DAL Dorsett 3 yard run (Septien kick) Tie 7–7 Q3 PHI Franklin 26 yard field goal PHI 10–7 Q3 PHI Harris 9 yard run (Franklin kick) PHI 17–7 Q4 PHI Franklin 20 yard field goal PHI 20–7

Scoring summary
Q1		PHI	Montgomery 42 yard run (Franklin kick)	PHI 7–0
Q2		DAL	Dorsett 3 yard run (Septien kick)	Tie 7–7
Q3		PHI	Franklin 26 yard field goal	PHI 10–7
Q3		PHI	Harris 9 yard run (Franklin kick)	PHI 17–7
Q4		PHI	Franklin 20 yard field goal	PHI 20–7

The 1980 Dallas Cowboys season was their 21st in the league. The team improved their previous output of 11–5, winning twelve games. They qualified for the playoffs as an NFC Wild Card, but lost in the Conference Championship.

The season featured a very unusual end to the regular season. Going into the final week of the season, Dallas (at 11–4) played Philadelphia (12–3) at Texas Stadium. Under the NFL's tiebreaking rules, if Dallas could beat the Eagles by 25 points, they would earn the NFC's number one seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. However, if they lost (or won by less than 25) then Philadelphia would get the number one seed and (since they played in the same division) Dallas would be a wildcard team. Dallas led 35–10 in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles rallied to lose only 35–27. This forced Dallas to play an extra week in the playoffs and a road game in Atlanta in the divisional round. Dallas ultimately lost at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game.

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