1981 Dallas Cowboys season

1981 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 Conference Championship
← 1980 Cowboys seasons 1982 →

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 7 7 0 0 14 • Cowboys 7 0 20 0 27 Date: November 9 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 8:00 p.m. Game attendance: 62,583 Game weather: 50°F; Wind 20 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell

Scoring summary 1 BUF Jerry Butler 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) BUF 7–0 1 DAL Doug Cosbie 12 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Tied 7–7 2 BUF Curtis Brown 9 yard pass from Joe Cribbs (Nick Mike-Mayer kick) BUF 14–7 3 DAL Tony Dorsett 73 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) Tied 14–14 3 DAL Tony Hill 37 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 21–14 3 DAL Rafael Septien 47 yard field goal DAL 24–14 3 DAL Rafael Septien 31 yard field goal DAL 27–14

Scoring summary
1		BUF	Jerry Butler 16 yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)	BUF 7–0
1		DAL	Doug Cosbie 12 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Tied 7–7
2		BUF	Curtis Brown 9 yard pass from Joe Cribbs (Nick Mike-Mayer kick)	BUF 14–7
3		DAL	Tony Dorsett 73 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	Tied 14–14
3		DAL	Tony Hill 37 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 21–14
3		DAL	Rafael Septien 47 yard field goal	DAL 24–14
3		DAL	Rafael Septien 31 yard field goal	DAL 27–14

1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 0 7 3 0 10 • Cowboys 7 3 7 7 24 Date: November 22 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 3:00 p.m. Game attendance: 64,587 Game weather: 51°F; wind 7 TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier and Roger Staubach

Scoring summary 1 DAL Butch Johnson 28 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 7–0 2 DAL Rafael Septien 25 yard field goal DAL 10–0 2 WSH Nick Giaquinto 7 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) DAL 10–7 3 WSH Mark Moseley 26 yard field goal Tie 10–10 3 DAL Doug Cosbie 10 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 17–10 4 DAL Ron Springs 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) DAL 24–10

Scoring summary
1		DAL	Butch Johnson 28 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 7–0
2		DAL	Rafael Septien 25 yard field goal	DAL 10–0
2		WSH	Nick Giaquinto 7 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)	DAL 10–7
3		WSH	Mark Moseley 26 yard field goal	Tie 10–10
3		DAL	Doug Cosbie 10 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 17–10
4		DAL	Ron Springs 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick)	DAL 24–10

The 1981 Dallas Cowboys season was their 22nd in the league. The team matched their previous output of 12–4, winning their fifth division title in six years. They lost the Conference Championship game for the second straight season.

The season began with four straight victories, followed by two losses (including a surprising 45–14 blowout loss to the 49ers in week six). The Cowboys rebounded to win 8 of their 9 games to clinch the NFC East but had to settle for the conference's number two seed behind the 49ers.

The Cowboys easily defeated Tampa Bay in the divisional playoff to earn a rematch with the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The game was much closer this time, and the Cowboys still held a 27–21 lead with less than a minute to play. However, Joe Montana led a late drive and hit Dwight Clark in the famous "Catch" to give San Francisco a 28–27 lead. On the ensuing Cowboys possession, Danny White completed a pass to Drew Pearson, and was only an arms length away from breaking free from Eric Wright and most likely scoring a touchdown. Jim Stuckey recovered a White fumble on the next play, then the 49ers ran out the clock for the win.

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