1974 Dallas Cowboys season
1974 Dallas Cowboys season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Tom Landry |
General manager | Tex Schramm |
Owner | Clint Murchison, Jr. |
Home field | Texas Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 8–6 |
Division place | 3rd NFC East |
Playoff finish | did not qualify |
The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons and this marked the only season from 1966 to 1983 (18 seasons) that the Cowboys did not qualify.
The Cowboys began with a 1–4 start and although they went 7–2 afterwards, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.
The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day games in Cowboys history. Trailing 16–3 in the second half (and having already lost quarterback Roger Staubach to injury), little used backup Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes to lead the team to a 24–23 victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium.
1974 was also a season of transition; as it would be the final season of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers that season would be fullback Walt Garrison; and center Dave Manders. Also, this would be the final season for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who would finish his career with the San Francisco 49ers the following year); running back Calvin Hill (who departed for the Hawaiians of the World Football League); defensive end Pat Toomay (who left for the Buffalo Bills); guard John Niland (who left the following year for the Philadelphia Eagles) and quarterback Craig Morton (traded early in the season to the New York Giants) in a Cowboy uniform.
Offseason
NFL Draft
Round | Pick # | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Too Tall Jones | Defensive End | Tennessee State |
3 | 53 | Danny White | Quarterback | Arizona State |
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 15, 1974 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 24–0 | |
2 | September 23, 1974 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 13–10 | |
3 | September 29, 1974 | New York Giants | L 14–6 | |
4 | October 6, 1974 | Minnesota Vikings | L 23–21 | |
5 | October 13, 1974 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 31–28 | |
6 | October 20, 1974 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 31–24 | |
7 | October 27, 1974 | at New York Giants | W 21–7 | |
8 | November 3, 1974 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 17–14 | |
9 | November 10, 1974 | San Francisco 49ers | W 20–14 | |
10 | November 17, 1974 | at Washington Redskins | L 28–21 | |
11 | November 24, 1974 | at Houston Oilers | W 10–0 | |
12 | November 28, 1974 | Washington Redskins | W 24–23 | |
13 | December 7, 1974 | Cleveland Browns | W 41–17 | |
14 | December 14, 1974 | at Oakland Raiders | L 27–23 | |
Game summaries
Week 12
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Standings
NFC East | |||||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
St. Louis Cardinals | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 7–1 | 8–3 | 285 | 218 | W1 |
Washington Redskins | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 5–3 | 8–3 | 320 | 196 | W2 |
Dallas Cowboys | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 4–4 | 6–5 | 297 | 235 | L1 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | .286 | 3–5 | 5–6 | 242 | 217 | W3 |
New York Giants | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–7 | 1–10 | 195 | 299 | L6 |
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster | ||||||
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Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Currently vacant Rookies in italics | |||
Publications
- The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4
- Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3
- Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2