When you think of football, you likely think of the Dallas Cowboys. They are a professional American football team that plays in the National Football League, and are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Whether you are a Cowboys fan, or someone who is just interested in sports in general, you will want to learn all you can about this team.
1992 season
The 1992 season of the Dallas Cowboys was a historic one. They defeated two Super Bowl participants, won the NFC East and finished as the #2 seed in the playoffs.
Dallas Cowboys were led by future Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. Their defense was solid and led the league in sacks. And their offense was explosive.
Dallas Cowboys had a young, elite core of players. Four starters were rookies and four were second-year players. Even the backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, was a good performer.
The Cowboys’ defense had speed and depth. Dallas ranked in the top five in sacks and total defense. Despite a poor start, they won 11 of their next 12 games.
The Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in the Super Bowl. Troy Aikman was named the Super Bowl MVP. He threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Novacek.
1993 season
Dallas Cowboys went 12-4-0 in 1993, and finished first in the NFC East. They also made it to the Super Bowl. However, they failed to win it.
The Dallas Cowboys were a very young team, with a lot of young talent. They had a great quarterback in Emmitt Smith. He had won the NFL rushing title the year before. His rushing stats remained strong, and he was eventually named Super Bowl MVP.
But Dallas’ playoff run got off to a rocky start. Smith was held out of the first two games because of a contract dispute. He would later return to the Cowboys lineup after being worked back into the mix.
In their regular season finale against the New York Giants, Emmitt had a separated shoulder. He was expected to be out for the rest of the game, but he made it through the toughest of times.
1994 season
The 1994 season of the Dallas Cowboys was a good year for the franchise. They finished the regular season 12-4, won the NFC East, and made it to the playoffs. However, they fell short of their Super Bowl aspirations, losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Conference Championship.
In the NFL, the year was the 75th anniversary of the league’s founding. In 1994, Dallas was the top team in the league in points differential.
With quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith, Dallas had a dynamic offense. However, the Dallas defense struggled in the first half, allowing the Niners to score a 21-0 lead.
The offense exploded in the second half, completing 26 straight passes for a touchdown. In fact, the Cowboys piled up 36 points in the second half, including two rushing scores by quarterback Jason Garrett.
1995 season
The Dallas Cowboys had a strong season in 1995, finishing 12-4 and winning the NFC East. But, they had to overcome adversity.
In Week 10, they played the 49ers in San Francisco, and lost 38-20. It was the Cowboys first loss to the 49ers in three seasons.
The game was also the team’s second straight loss. This time, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t play well. They were outrushed 244-110. Their defense, however, did an excellent job. During the second quarter, they came up with a 65-yard Pick-6 by Larry Brown.
In week 5, Dallas played Washington. Despite losing to the Redskins, the Cowboys still had a good chance of clinching the division title. However, Dallas had to overcome an injury to their quarterback, Troy Aikman, and a couple of turnovers.
In the NFC Divisional Round, Dallas traveled to Philadelphia. At 8-5, the Cowboys had a good shot at securing the first-round bye.
1996 season
The 1996 season of the Dallas Cowboys started with a five game suspension of star wide receiver Michael Irvin. However, the Cowboys remained a contender on and off the field. They posted a 10-6 record, finishing as the top team in the NFC East.
At the start of the season, the Cowboys lost three games in a row. But then they won three straight, and they were back in the conversation for the Super Bowl.
Despite their success, the Cowboys lacked consistency. They were 5-2 in one score games.
Troy Aikman was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he didn’t lead the Cowboys to a championship. He had a disappointing 6.7 yards per pass attempt. Several key players were injured, including running back Emmitt Smith.
The defense held the Giants to 55 yards. However, the Cowboys turned the ball over five times. And Troy Aikman was intercepted twice. Nevertheless, the Cowboys won the turnover battle 4-2.
On the offensive side of things, it was Herschel Walker who provided the winning touch. Walker had ten carries for 83 yards. In addition, he had 27 kick returns for 779 yards.
1997 season
The 1997 season of the Dallas Cowboys was a tale of two halves. Despite an early 2-0 start, the Cowboys would go on to lose five of their final seven games, including their first road loss of the year. This would prove to be the season that Barry Switzer finally put the cowboys out of his misery.
A slew of key players, from quarterback Troy Aikman to wide receiver Michael Irvin, were placed in high-pressure positions that did not serve them well. Several players had off-the-field issues, and one of them infamously resigned with the Cowboys. In the end, the Cowboys went 6-10, their worst season in franchise history.
While they were far from perfect, the Cowboys compiled the best record in the NFL’s East Division. They also proved to be one of the most entertaining teams in the league.
1998 season
The 1998 season of the Dallas Cowboys was a successful one. They went 10-6, winning the NFC East. Their only blemish was a 20-7 loss in the first round of the playoffs to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys also hired former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey as their fourth head coach. This meant a return to form for the running game. He was able to revitalize the team’s sagging offense and was a major factor in the Cowboys winning the NFC East.
In all, the Cowboys won ten games and finished with a point differential of 106. They also compiled an 8-0 record against NFC East opponents. However, their mediocre showing in the playoffs kept them from making the Super Bowl.
The team threw the ball for 2,330 yards and ran for 1,332 by the end of the year. They also boasted a solid defense that sacked six opposing quarterbacks in a single game.
2002 season
The 2002 season was Emmitt Smith’s last in Dallas. During the pregame warm-ups, Smith met Washington cornerback Darrell Green. He later scored his 125th career touchdown and celebrated with his teammates.
In 2002, the Cowboys were a disappointing 5-10, finishing with a point differential of minus-112. It was the 43rd season in the National Football League, and the team finished with a 1-5 record in NFC East play.
Despite the disappointing performance, the team was optimistic about the offseason. They acquired a new quarterback, Chad Hutchinson, and a veteran receiver, Antonio Bryant. Despite their struggles in the past, Dallas fans were eager to see what the team could do under a new head coach.
The offense didn’t get going until the second half. But the defense showed some resilience and helped the Cowboys score two points in the third quarter. And they were able to do so despite the loss of quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
2003 season
The 2003 season of Dallas Cowboys was the 44th season of the team. They finished 10-6, tying for the second-best record in the NFL’s East Division. A victory over the New York Giants in the last week of the regular season gave them their first playoff berth in four years. But the season ended in heartbreak when they lost to the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round.
After going 5-11 in each of the past two seasons, the Cowboys brought in new head coach Bill Parcells. He had spent 15 years as an NFL head coach. With this hire, he also reshaped the Cowboys offense. During his tenure, he signed future franchise quarterback Tony Romo through free agency, and retained Mike Zimmer as his defensive coordinator. In addition to reshaping the offense, Parcells also brought in veteran players from previous teams.
2004 season
The 2004 season of the Dallas Cowboys was the 45th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the second season under head coach Bill Parcells. The team finished the season with a 6-10 record.
A few changes were made on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Bill Parcells remained with the team, but the Cowboys chose to stick with a 4-3 defense. They ranked 27th in points allowed.
Vinny Testaverde started the season as the starting quarterback. He overcame three interceptions and threw 355 yards. However, the team lost the next three games.
Julius Jones was an early injury victim. He came back and started eight of the team’s next nine games. After an initial slow start, he scored seven touchdowns. His momentum carried over to the next game against the Seattle Seahawks.
How the Cowboys get the 1 seed?
The Cowboys can get the top seed in the NFC, including a bye and home field advantage in the playoffs with a little help.
- Cowboys must win against the Washington Commanders
- Eagles must lose to the New York Giants
- 49ers must lose to the Arizona Cardinals
- In this scenario the Cowboys would not play until the second week of the playoffs.
How the Cowboys get the 2 seed?
The Cowboys can win the NFC and get the number 2 seed if a few things break their way.
- Cowboys must win against the Washington Commanders
- Eagles must lose to the New York Giants
- 49ers win over the Arizona Cardinals
In this scenario the Cowboys would play the 7 seed in the NFC. The 7 seed is still up for grabs between the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions.
How the Cowboys get the 5 seed?
The most likely scenario for the Cowboys is that they end the season as the 5 seed in the NFC.
Here how it happens:
- If the Eagles win against the New York Giants
- If the Eagles lose against the New York Giants and Cowboys lose against Washington Commanders
In this scenario the Cowboys play Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is locked in to the 4 seed. The Cowboys would have to travel to Tampa in a rematch of the first game of the season. The Bucs beat the Cowboys 19-3.
