Memorable Game – Cowboys
July 13, 2021
By Noonefromtampa
From the time of George Allen through the Norv Turner era, the Washington – Dallas matchup was one of the premier NFL’s premier rivalries. The rivalry though started prior to the Cowboys even being a team. Clint Murchison Jr. wanted to become an NFL owner and initially tried to buy the Washington Redskins from George Preston Marshall in the late 1950’s. Marshall kept making additional demands, so Murchison decided to buy the Dallas expansion team instead. The problem was that Marshall regarded the south as his territory and routinely voted against any franchise being based in that region. So, Murchison acquired the rights to “Hail to the Redskins” and traded it to Marshall for his vote on the expansion team. The feud was born at that point in 1959.
There could be twenty or even thirty games between the two teams listed here, but we are only going to cover a few of them here.
Honorable Mention
November 13, 1966 – This is the first Redskins-Cowboys game I remember attending. Don Meredith led the Cowboys to a 21-6 lead, but Sonny Jurgensen led the Redskins back to take a late 30-28 advantage, Unfortunately, the Cowboys won the game 31-30 on a late field goal. Meredith threw for 406 years and 2 touchdowns both to Bob Hayes. Jurgensen threw for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns.
November 28, 1974 – The “Thanksgiving Day Heartbreak” game, Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game early with unheralded and unknown Clint Longley coming in to quarterback the Cowboys. Longley threw a 50 yard touchdown bomb to Drew Pearson to ruin every Washington fan’s Thanksgiving meal.
December 16, 1979 – The “win and in” game in which the Redskins needed a victory over the Cowboys to make the playoffs. John Riggins scored on a 66 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Redskins up by a score of 34-21. However, Staubach led the Cowboys to two scoring drives to steal a 35-34 win and knock the Redskins out of the playoffs.
September 5, 1983 – The “Little Monkey” game, in which the 1st half was all Washington, taking a 23-3 lead, but the 2nd half was all Dallas, which led to a 31-30 loss. The remarkable point to this game was when ABC’s Howard Cosell made a controversial comment about Alvin Garret, asking “That little monkey gets loose doesn’t he?”. That ended Cosell’s tenure on Monday Night Football at the end of the season. You might also remember this game as the one in which rookie Darrell Green chased down Tony Dorsett from behind to make a touchdown saving tackle.
Timeless Classics
November 22, 2012 – “Turkey Day Win” game, for the first time in the series history, Washington beat Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. in his rookie season, Robert Griffin III led the Redskins to victory with a 19 for 27, 304 yard, four touchdown throws performance. Washington jumped out to 28-3 from due to a four touchdown second quarter. Dallas attempted to come back behind a Tony Romo 441 yard passing effort but came up short 38-31.
Week 4, 1973 – “The Tackle” game. This was a 14-7 victory on Monday night. Ken Houston tackled Walt Garrison just short of the goal line on a fourth and goal play to prevent Dallas from sending the game into overtime. Garrison, who was notoriously hard to tackle, was no match for Houston that play. Houston, who also played for the Houston Oilers, had nine interception returns for touchdowns in his career, but the play everyone remembers him for is that tackle.
September 19, 2005 – The “Monday Night Miracle” game. Trailing 13-0 with less than four minutes to go , Washington scored two touchdowns to pull out a 14-13 win. Mark Brunell hit Santana Moss with touchdown passes of 39 and 70 yards. 2005 is the last season in which a Joe Gibbs-coached Washington team won a playoff game.
October 19, 1987 – “The Strike” game, in which Washington’s replacement players faced a Dallas team with a number of starters who had crossed the picket line, including Danny White and Tony Dorsett. Led by quarterback Tony Robinson and running back Lionel Vital, Washington eked out an important 13-7 win. Washington’s replacement players won all three games, giving a 4-1 start to the eventual Super Bowl winners.
December 31, 1972 – The 1972 NFC Championship Game. This was the most important game I personally attended at RFK Stadium. Washington, behind quarterback Billy Kilmer, beat Dallas 26-3 on a dark, cold evening in a snow filled stadium. Kilmer threw two touchdown passes to Charley Taylor and Washington’s defense held the Staubach-led Cowboys to 169 yards of total offense.
All-time Memorable Game
1982 NFC Championship Game – January 22, 1983
The second NFC Championship game against Dallas occurred ten years after the first one.
After defeating the Lions 31-7 and were leading the Vikings 21-7 late in the fourth quarter, the crowd at RFK Stadium began to chant “We Want Dallas!” The fans got their wish as Dallas beat Green Bay the next day to set up the NFC Championship Game.
Earlier in the strike shortened season, Dallas handed Washington its only loss of the season, holding John Riggins to 26 yards rushing while intercepting Joe Theismann three times and sacking him seven times. This was therefore seen as a revenge game by the fans of Washington.
Washington took an early 14-3 lead behind a 19 yard touchdown pass to Charlie Brown and short rushing touchdown by John Riggins, four plays after Monte Coleman recovered a muffed put return by Rod Hill. Then the first of three pivotal points in the game happened. With 23 second left in the first half, Dexter Manley sacked Danny White, forcing him from the game with a concussion. Dallas’ little known backup, Gary Hogeboom, who had only eight pass attempts in his career, entered the game.
In the second half, Hogeboom led Dallas to a score, cutting Washington’s lead to 14-10. Mike Nelms returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards, which led to another Riggins rushing touchdown. Hogeboom responded by leading Dallas to another touchdown via a 23 yard pass to Butch Johnson. At this point, Redskins fans starting having visions of Clint Longley. Mel Kaufman intercepted Hogeboom, leading to 29 yard Mark Mosely field goal. Then the second pivotal point happened. Manley tipped a Hogeboom pass, which was intercepted by Darryl Grant and returned 10 yards for a touchdown, making the score 31-17. When Washington got the ball back after the next Dallas possession, the third pivotal point of the game happened. Much to the chagrin of Joe Gibbs, Hall of Famer Russ Grimm took over play calling duties, and the Redskins ran their “50 Gut” running play nine straight times directly at All-Pro Randy White. White and Grimm frequently battled during games and there was no love between the two. Grimm and Jeff Bostic tormented White telling before each play it was coming his was again. Washington was able to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Eight days later, Washington would defeat the Miami Dolphins behind John Riggins’ touchdown on fourth and one, using the “70 Chip” play, to claim their first of three Super Bowl Vince Lombardi trophies.