1985 Dallas Cowboys season

Last updated

1985 Dallas Cowboys season
Owner Bum Bright
General manager Tex Schramm
Head coach Tom Landry
Home field Texas Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place1st NFC East
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Rams) 0–20
Pro Bowlers 4
The Cowboys defensive backs in action against the Bengals in December 1985. 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 40 - Larry Kinnebrew.jpg
The Cowboys defensive backs in action against the Bengals in December 1985.

The 1985 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League. The Cowboys improved on their 9-7 record from 1984 and made the playoffs after a one-year absence. This marked the final postseason appearance for the Cowboys under Tom Landry and Bum Bright, where they were shutout 20–0 in the divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams. The team holds the record for consecutive winning seasons with 20.

Contents

Summary

The Cowboys' defense attempting to stop Rams' running back Eric Dickerson (29) in the 1985-86 NFC Divisional Playoffs Game. 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 23 - Eric Dickerson and Barry Redden.jpg
The Cowboys' defense attempting to stop Rams' running back Eric Dickerson (29) in the 1985-86 NFC Divisional Playoffs Game.

Tom Landry's team got off to a fast start, opening the season with 44–14 trouncing of their longtime nemesis, the Redskins, and later defeating the Steelers (their first victory over Pittsburgh since 1972) to give the team a 5–1 record and an early two-game lead over the rest of the division. However, the team was up and down the rest of the way, finishing out the season 5–5 and allowing both the Giants and Redskins to catch up with them at 10–6. Two wins each over both the Giants and Redskins allowed the Cowboys to win the division based on the tie-breaking rules. During the inconsistent stretch toward the end of the season, the Cowboys suffered two of the most embarrassing defeats in team history. On November 17, the undefeated Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and gave the Cowboys a 44–0 beating that was the 2nd worst loss in team history, and it was also the first time in 218 games that the Cowboys had not scored. Three weeks later the team traveled to Cincinnati, where the Bengals handed them a 50–24 loss, piling up 570 yards in the process, the most yards the Cowboys had given up in team history. The Cowboys proved to be a resilient bunch however, winning a crucial game at home against the Giants the following week that gave them their first division title since 1981, and the final for Tom Landry. That game would prove to be the last highlight of the season, as the team was shut out in the playoffs for the first time in team history, 20–0, by the Rams in Anaheim, California, which would prove to be the final playoff appearance for the Cowboys under Landry.

With the previous season's quarterback controversy behind him, Danny White led the Cowboys' passing game to number three overall in the league. Wide receiver Tony Hill posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards, and Mike Renfro blossomed in his second season with the Cowboys. Tight end Doug Cosbie had another Pro Bowl season. Turnovers proved to be a problem though, as White and backup quarterback Gary Hogeboom combined to throw 24 interceptions. Running back Tony Dorsett was the only reliable ball carrier on the roster, rushing for 1,307 yards on the season, and going over 10,000 yards for his career. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys registered 62 sacks and 33 interceptions, with cornerback Everson Walls becoming the first player to ever lead the league in interceptions three times, with nine. The big plays covered up a pass defense that ranked 27th in the league, and a defense that ranked 23rd overall. The secondary allowed big plays through the air throughout the season, and the defense allowed running back Eric Dickerson to rush for a playoff record 248 yards in their playoff game against the Rams.

NFL Draft

1985 Dallas Cowboys draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
117 Kevin Brooks   DE Michigan
244 Jesse Penn   LB Virginia Tech
376 Crawford Ker   OG Florida
4103 Robert Lavette   RB Georgia Tech
5114 Herschel Walker  *  RB Georgia
5119 Matt Darwin   C Texas A&M He chose not to sign and enter the 1986 Draft
6144 Kurt Ploeger   DE Gustavus Adolphus
6157 Matt Moran   OG Stanford
7178 Karl Powe   WR Alabama State
7184 Jim Herrmann   DE Brigham Young
8216 Leon Gonzalez   WR Bethune-Cookman
9243 Scott Strasburger   LB Nebraska
10270 Joe Jones   TE Virginia Tech
11297 Neal Dellocono   LB UCLA
12324Karl Jordan  LB Vanderbilt
      Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1985 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Bryan Wagner Punter Cal State Northridge

Personnel

Staff

1985 Dallas Cowboys staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning coordinator – Bob Ward

Roster

1985 Dallas Cowboys roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Rookies in italics
45 active, 5 inactive

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteAttendanceRecap
1 September 9 Washington Redskins W 44–141–0 Texas Stadium 62,292 Recap
2September 15at Detroit Lions L 21–261–1 Pontiac Silverdome 72,985 Recap
3September 22 Cleveland Browns W 20–72–1Texas Stadium61,456 Recap
4September 29at Houston Oilers W 17–103–1 Houston Astrodome 49,686 Recap
5October 6at New York Giants W 30–294–1 Giants Stadium 74,981 Recap
6October 13 Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–135–1Texas Stadium63,062 Recap
7October 20at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–165–2 Veterans Stadium 70,114 Recap
8October 27 Atlanta Falcons W 24–106–2Texas Stadium57,941 Recap
9November 4at St. Louis Cardinals L 10–216–3 Busch Stadium 49,347 Recap
10November 10at Washington Redskins W 13–77–3 RFK Stadium 55,750 Recap
11November 17 Chicago Bears L 0–447–4Texas Stadium63,855 Recap
12November 24 Philadelphia Eagles W 34–178–4Texas Stadium54,047 Recap
13 November 28 St. Louis Cardinals W 35–179–4Texas Stadium54,125 Recap
14December 8at Cincinnati Bengals L 24–509–5 Riverfront Stadium 56,936 Recap
15 December 15 New York Giants W 28–2110–5Texas Stadium62,310 Recap
16December 22at San Francisco 49ers L 16–3110–6 Candlestick Park 60,114 Recap

Division opponents are in bold text

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
1234Total
Redskins070714
•Cowboys314131444
Scoring summary
1Cowboys Rafael Septién 53 yard field goalCowboys 3–0
2Cowboys Timmy Newsome 1 yard run (Rafael Septién kick)Cowboys 10–0
2Redskins John Riggins 1 yard run (Mark Moseley kick)Cowboys 10–7
2Cowboys Mike Renfro 55 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick)Cowboys 17–7
3CowboysRafael Septién 39 yard field goalCowboys 20–7
3CowboysRafael Septién 43 yard field goalCowboys 23–7
3Cowboys Tony Dorsett 9 yard run (Rafael Septién kick)Cowboys 30–7
4Cowboys Victor Scott 26 yard interception return (Rafael Septién kick)Cowboys 37–7
4Redskins Clint Didier 19 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)Cowboys 37–14
4Cowboys Dennis Thurman 21 yard interception return (Rafael Septién kick)Cowboys 44–14

Week 5

1234Total
• Cowboys777930
Giants3320329

[1]

Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys
Period1234Total
Steelers0301013
Cowboys01010727

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 13, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
  • Game attendance: 62,932
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [2]

Week 15: vs. New York Giants

1234Total
Giants0140721
• Cowboys7140728

Standings

NFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Dallas Cowboys (3)1060.6256–27–5357333L1
New York Giants (4)1060.6255–38–4399283W1
Washington Redskins 1060.6254–46–6297312W3
Philadelphia Eagles 790.4384–46–8286310W1
St. Louis Cardinals 5110.3131–73–9278414L2

Playoffs

RoundDateOpponentResultGame SiteAttendanceRecap
Wild Card First Round Bye
Divisional January 4, 1986at Los Angeles Rams (2)L 0–20 Anaheim Stadium 66,351 Recap

Divisional playoffs

January 4, 1986

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 20, Dallas Cowboys 0

Game summary
Period1234Total
Cowboys00000
Rams3010720

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information
  • Scoring
    • RAMS – field goal Lansford 33 RAMS 3–0
    • RAMS – Dickerson 55 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 10–0
    • RAMS – field goal Lansford 34 RAMS 13–0
    • RAMS – Dickerson 40 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 20–0

Awards

Publications

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References

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