1971 Dallas Cowboys season

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1971 Dallas Cowboys season
Owner Clint Murchison, Jr.
General manager Tex Schramm
Head coach Tom Landry
Home field Cotton Bowl
Texas Stadium
Results
Record11–3
Division place1st NFC East
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(at Vikings) 20–12
Won NFC Championship
(vs. 49ers) 14–3
Won Super Bowl VI
(vs. Dolphins) 24–3

The 1971 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League (NFL), the first at the new Texas Stadium in suburban Irving, Texas and the 12th season under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys led the NFL with 406 points scored. Their defense allowed 222 points.

Contents

For the sixth consecutive season, the Cowboys had a first-place finish. They won their second-consecutive NFC championship, then defeated the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI to capture their first Super Bowl championship. They were the first team from the NFC to win a Super Bowl since the 1970 merger of the NFL and the American Football League (AFL), and subsequently, the first team from the NFC East division to win the title.

NFL Draft

The 1971 NFL Draft was one of the worst in the history of the franchise, although the Cowboys recovered draft choices by trading Tody Smith and Ike Thomas to other teams. Third-round selection Bill Gregory played seven seasons with the Cowboys, winning two Super Bowl rings. Eighth-round selection Ron Jessie was cut after the Cowboys acquired San Diego Chargers All-Pro Lance Alworth, but went on to enjoy a long and successful NFL career with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

1971 Dallas Cowboys draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
125 Tody Smith   DE USC
251 Ike Thomas   DB Bishop
369 Sam Scarber   RB New Mexico
377 Bill Gregory   DT Wisconsin
480Joe Carter  TE Grambling State
4103Adam Mitchell  OT Ole Miss
5129 Ron Kadziel   LB Stanford
6155Steve Maier  WR Northern Arizona
7181Bill Griffin  OT Catawba
8206 Ron Jessie  *  WR Kansas
9233 Honor Jackson   DB Pacific
10259 Rodney Wallace   OT New Mexico
11285Ernest Bonwell  DT Lane
12311 Steve Goepel   QB Colgate
13337 James Ford   RB Texas Southern
14363Tyrone Couey  DB Utah State
15389Bob Young  TE Delaware
16415John Brennan  OT Boston College
17440John Bomer  C Memphis
      Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[1]

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteAttendanceRecap
1August 6at Los Angeles Rams W 45–211–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 87,187 Recap
2August 14 New Orleans Saints W 36–212–0 Cotton Bowl 73,560 Recap
3August 20 Cleveland Browns W 16–153–0 Cotton Bowl 69,099 Recap
4August 26at Houston Oilers W 28–204–0 Houston Astrodome 49,078 Recap
5September 3at Baltimore Colts W 27–145–0 Memorial Stadium 22,291 Recap
6September 11 Kansas City Chiefs W 24–176–0 Cotton Bowl 74,035 Recap

Season recap

The Cowboys opened the new Texas Stadium with a 44–21 win over the New England Patriots on Oct. 24. Duane Thomas scored the first touchdown, a 56-yard run two minutes and 16 seconds after the start of the game. Attendance was 65,708 persons.

The team entered the season still having the reputation of "not being able to win the big games" and "next year's champion". The Super Bowl V loss added more fuel to that widely held view. As in the previous season, Dallas had a quarterback controversy as Roger Staubach and Craig Morton alternated as starting quarterback (in a loss to the Bears in game 7, Morton and Staubach alternated plays). [2] The Cowboys were 4–3 at the season midpoint. But after head coach Tom Landry settled on Staubach, the Cowboys won their last seven regular season games to finish with an 11–3 record.

Cowboys' running back Duane Thomas rushing the ball for a touchdown in Super Bowl VI. 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 01 - Duane Thomas.jpg
Cowboys' running back Duane Thomas rushing the ball for a touchdown in Super Bowl VI.

Staubach finished the regular season as the NFL's top rated passer (101.8) by throwing for 1,882 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. He was also a terrific rusher, gaining 343 yards and 2 touchdowns on 41 carries. Said Cold Hard Football Facts of Staubach's 1971 season, "Staubach finally out-jockeyed Craig Morton for the starting gig with the Cowboys in 1971 and instantly produced one of the greatest passing seasons in history. The numbers are not big and gaudy, but they were ruthlessly efficient –- the 104.8 passer rating truly amazing in a season in which the average rating was 62.2. His 8.9 [yards-per-attempt] in the regular season is phenomenal in any era of the NFL, as was his 18 [touchdowns] against a meager 4 [interceptions] (including postseason). The Cowboys did not lose a single one of Staubach's 13 starts in 1971 and –- most impressively –- he lifted the proverbial "team that couldn't win the big game" to its long-awaited first NFL championship.[...]" [3]

Dallas also had an outstanding trio of running backs, Walt Garrison, Duane Thomas, and Calvin Hill, who rushed for a combined total of 1,690 yards and 14 touchdowns during the season. Garrison led the team in receptions during the season. (Thomas, upset that the Cowboys would not renegotiate his contract after his excellent rookie year, had stopped talking to the press and to almost everyone on the team). Wide receivers Bob Hayes and Lance Alworth also provided a deep threat, catching a combined total of 69 passes for 1,327 yards and 10 touchdowns. The offensive line, anchored by all-pro tackle Rayfield Wright, Pro Bowlers John Niland and Ralph Neely, and #64 Tony Liscio who was coaxed out of retirement by Tom Landry after Ralph Neely got injured off the field, was also a primary reason for their success on offense. (Neely had broken his leg in November in a dirt-bike accident, and was replaced first by Gregg and then by Tony Liscio, who came out of retirement.)

The Dallas defense (nicknamed the "Doomsday Defense") had given up only one touchdown in the last 25 quarters prior to the Super Bowl. Their defensive line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Lilly, who excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and breaking up running plays. Dallas also had an outstanding trio of linebackers: Pro Bowler Chuck Howley, who recorded 5 interceptions and returned them for 122 yards; Dave Edwards 2 interceptions; and Lee Roy Jordan, who recorded 2 interceptions. The Cowboys secondary was led by 2 future hall of fame cornerbacks Herb Adderley (6 interceptions for 182 return yards) and Mel Renfro (4 interceptions for 11 yards). Safeties Cliff Harris and Pro Bowler Cornell Green also combined for 4 interceptions. After the 1971 season, Bob Lilly would play in the last of his last Pro Bowl games, despite being selected after the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Lilly would also score his final career touchdown in a 42–7 smashing of The Philadelphia Eagles. Lilly retired with the NFL record for scoring the most TDs by a defensive lineman with 4.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteAttendanceRecap
1 September 19at Buffalo Bills W 49–371–0 War Memorial Stadium 46,206 Recap
2 September 26at Philadelphia Eagles W 42–72–0 Veterans Stadium 65,358 Recap
3 October 3 Washington Redskins L 16–202–1 Cotton Bowl 61,554 Recap
4 October 11 New York Giants W 20–133–1 Cotton Bowl 68,378 Recap
5 October 17at New Orleans Saints L 14–243–2 Tulane Stadium 83,088 Recap
6 October 24 New England Patriots W 44–214–2 Texas Stadium 65,708 Recap
7 October 31at Chicago Bears L 19–234–3 Soldier Field 55,049 Recap
8 November 7at St. Louis Cardinals W 16–135–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,486 Recap
9 November 14 Philadelphia Eagles W 20–76–3 Texas Stadium 60,178 Recap
10 November 21at Washington Redskins W 13–07–3 RFK Stadium 53,041 Recap
11 November 25 Los Angeles Rams W 28–218–3 Texas Stadium 66,595 Recap
12 December 4 New York Jets W 52–109–3 Texas Stadium 66,689 Recap
13 December 12at New York Giants W 42–1410–3 Yankee Stadium 62,815 Recap
14 December 18 St. Louis Cardinals W 31–1211–3 Texas Stadium 66,672 Recap

Division opponents are in bold text

Standings

NFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Dallas Cowboys 1130.7867–18–3406222W7
Washington Redskins 941.6926–1–18–2–1276190L1
Philadelphia Eagles 671.4624–3–15–5–1221302W3
St. Louis Cardinals 491.3081–72–8–1231279L2
New York Giants 4100.2861–73–8228362L5

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week One: Dallas Cowboys (0–0) at Buffalo Bills (0–0)
Period1234Total
Cowboys72171449
Bills14106737

at War Memorial Stadium • Buffalo, New York

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Referee: Fred Swearingen
  • TV: CBS
  • Box Score

Week 2

1234Total
• Cowboys02171442
Eagles00077
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C); wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
Scoring summary
Q2DAL Hill 1 yard run (Clark kick)DAL 7–0
Q2DAL Lilly 7 yard fumble return (Clark kick)DAL 14–0
Q2DAL Garrison 4 yard pass from Morton (Clark kick)DAL 21–0
Q3DAL Richardson 16 yard pass from Morton (Clark kick)DAL 28–0
Q4DALMorton 2 yard run (Clark kick)DAL 35–0
Q4DAL Welch 2 yard run (Clark kick)DAL 42–0
Q4PHI Nelson 102 yard field goal return (Feller kick)DAL 42–7

[4]

Week 3

Week 4

1234Total
Giants330713
•Cowboys3107020
Scoring summary
1DAL Mike Clark 42-yard field goalCowboys 3–0
1NYG Pete Gogolak 35-yard field goalTie 3–3
2DALMike Clark 41-yard field goalCowboys 6–3
2NYGPete Gogolak 20-yard field goalTie 6–6
2DAL Billy Truax 4-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 13–6
3DAL Bob Hayes 48-yard pass from Craig Morton (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 20–6
4NYG Clifton McNeil 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Pete Gogolak kick)Cowboys 20–13

[5]

Last game at the Cotton Bowl

Week 6

1234Total
Patriots7001421
•Cowboys102401044
Scoring summary
1DAL Duane Thomas 56-yard run (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 7–0
1DALMike Clark 16-yard field goalCowboys 10–0
1NE Jim Nance 1-yard run (Charlie Gogolak kick)Cowboys 10–7
2DAL Roger Staubach 2-yard run (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 17–7
2DALMike Clark 17-yard field goalCowboys 20–7
2DAL Bob Hayes 35-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 27–7
2DALBob Hayes 28-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 34–7
4DALMike Clark 12-yard field goalCowboys 37–7
4NE Randy Vataha 33-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)Cowboys 37–14
4DAL Joe Williams 2-yard run (Mike Clark kick)Cowboys 44–14
4NE Tom Beer 31-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Charlie Gogolak kick)Cowboys 44–21

[6]

Dallas' first game at Texas Stadium.

Week 7

Week 8

1234Total
• Cowboys3031016
Cardinals0100313
Scoring summary
Q1DAL Fritsch 27 yard field goalDAL 3–0
Q2STL Bakken 41 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q2STL Williams 11 yard pass from Hart (Bakken kick)STL 10–3
Q3DALFritsch 14 yard field goalSTL 10–6
Q4DAL Ditka 4 yard pass from Staubach (Reeves run)DAL 13–10
Q4STLBakken 36 yard field goalTIE 13–13
Q4DALFritsch 26 yard field goalDAL 16–13

[7]

Week 9

1234Total
Eagles00077
• Cowboys377320
Scoring summary
Q1DAL Fritsch 23 yard field goalDAL 3–0
Q2DAL Thomas 1 yard run (Fritsch kick)DAL 10–0
Q3DALThomas 13 yard run (Fritsch kick)DAL 17–0
Q4DALFritsch 46 yard field goalDAL 20–0
Q4PHI Liske 1 yard run (Feller kick)DAL 20–7

[8]

Playoffs

RoundDateOpponentResultGame SiteAttendanceRecap
Divisional December 25 at Minnesota Vikings W 20–12 Metropolitan Stadium 47,307 Recap
NFC Championship January 2 San Francisco 49ers W 14–3 Texas Stadium 63,409 Recap
Super Bowl VI January 16vs Miami Dolphins W 24–3 Tulane Stadium 81,023 Recap

NFC Divisional Playoff

Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
Period1234Total
Cowboys3314020
Vikings030912

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

NFC Championship Game

Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
Period1234Total
49ers00303
Cowboys070714

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Super Bowl VI

Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3
Period1234Total
Cowboys377724
Dolphins03003

at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1971 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Rookies in italics
45 active, 1 inactive

Awards and records

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References

  1. ↑ The Football Database. Retrieved 2015-Jul-31.
  2. ↑ Roger Staubach, "Super Bowl VI", Super Bowl: The Game of Their Lives, Danny Peary, editor. Macmillan, 1997. ISBN   0-02-860841-0
  3. ↑ "Cold Hard Football Facts: The Dandy Dozen: 12 best passing seasons in history". Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  4. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jun-30.
  5. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  6. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  7. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30-Jun-2014.
  8. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jul-01.
  9. ↑ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
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