1980 Dallas Cowboys season

Last updated

1980 Dallas Cowboys season
Owner Clint Murchison, Jr.
General manager Tex Schramm
Head coach Tom Landry
Home field Texas Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place2nd NFC East
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Rams) 34–13
Won Divisional Playoffs
(at Falcons) 30–27
Lost NFC Championship
(at Eagles) 7–20
The Cowboys playing the Eagles in the 1980 NFC Championship Game 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 05 - Wilbert Montgomery.jpg
The Cowboys playing the Eagles in the 1980 NFC Championship Game

The 1980 Dallas Cowboys season was their 21st in the league. The team improved to 12-4 following Roger Staubach's retirement after the 1979 season. [1] They qualified for the 1980 NFL postseason as an NFC Wild Card, yet ultimately lost in the Conference Championship game.

Contents

Going into the final week of the season, Dallas (11–4) played Philadelphia (12–3) at Texas Stadium. Under that season's NFL tiebreakers, Dallas had to beat the Eagles by 25 points or greater to win the NFC East, entering the NFC postseason as the number two seed while Philadelphia would be a wildcard team. The Eagles win NFC East should the Cowboys lose, tie or win by 24 points or fewer.

Dallas was leading the final regular season game 35–10 in the fourth quarter; however, the Eagles scored 17 unanswered points to pull within 35–27. Dallas had to play an extra week in the Wild Card round and as visitors in the following week road game in Atlanta in the Divisional Round. Dallas lost at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Games

Offseason

NFL Draft

1980 Dallas Cowboys draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
378 Bill Roe   LB Colorado
380 James Jones   RB Mississippi State
4105 Kurt Petersen   OG Missouri
5133 Gary Hogeboom   QB Central Michigan
6162 Timmy Newsome   FB Winston-Salem State
7189 Lester Brown   RB Clemson
8216 Larry Savage   LB Michigan State
9246 Jackie Flowers   WR Florida State
10273 Matthew Teague   LB Prairie View A&M
11300 Gary Padjen   LB Arizona State
12330 Norm Wells   DE Northwestern
      Made roster        Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1980 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Mike BrockOffensive Line Alabama
Dextor Clinkscale Safety South Carolina State
Roy DeanWide receiverAlabama
Anthony Dickerson Linebacker SMU
Mike GlennOffensive Line Utah State
Richard GrimmettOffensive tackle Illinois
Jim HimicOffensive Line West Virginia
Jay HowlettDefensive Line Holy Cross
Kevin KellyOffensive Line Duke
Bill LeerOffensive Line Colorado State
Mike MancusoQuarterback Nebraska–Omaha
Don Smerek Defensive end Nevada
Roosevelt SmithRunning back Michigan

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteAttendanceRecap
1 September 8at Washington Redskins W 17–31–0 RFK Stadium 55,045 Recap
2 September 14at Denver Broncos L 20–411–1 Mile High Stadium 74,919 Recap
3 September 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 28–172–1 Texas Stadium 62,750 Recap
4 September 28at Green Bay Packers W 28–73–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 54,776 Recap
5 October 5 New York Giants W 24–34–1Texas Stadium59,126 Recap
6 October 12 San Francisco 49ers W 59–145–1Texas Stadium63,399 Recap
7 October 19at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–175–2 Veterans Stadium 70,696 Recap
8 October 26 San Diego Chargers W 42–316–2Texas Stadium60,639 Recap
9 November 2at St. Louis Cardinals W 27–247–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,701 Recap
10 November 9at New York Giants L 35–387–3 Giants Stadium 68,343 Recap
11 November 16 St. Louis Cardinals W 31–218–3Texas Stadium52,567 Recap
12 November 23 Washington Redskins W 14–109–3Texas Stadium58,809 Recap
13 November 27 Seattle Seahawks W 51–710–3Texas Stadium57,540 Recap
14 December 7at Oakland Raiders W 19–1311–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,194 Recap
15 December 15at Los Angeles Rams L 14–3811–4 Anaheim Stadium 65,154 Recap
16 December 21 Philadelphia Eagles W 35–2712–4Texas Stadium62,548 Recap

Division opponents are in bold text

Game summaries

Week 1 at Redskins

Week One: Dallas Cowboys (0–0) at Washington Redskins (0–0)
Quarter1234Total
Cowboys730717
Redskins00033

at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Game information

Week 2

1234Total
Cowboys0103720
Broncos71714341

Week 3

1234Total
Bucs7100017
Cowboys777728
  • Date: Sunday Sept 21, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny; 86 °F (30 °C)
  • Referee: Chuck Heberling
  • TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Week 4

1234Total
Cowboys777728
Packers07007

Week 5

1234Total
Giants00033
Cowboys3140724
  • Date: Sunday Oct 5, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)

Week 6

1234Total
49ers070714
Cowboys142414759
  • Date: Sunday Oct 12, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny; 86 °F (30 °C)
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • Television network: CBS

Week 7

1234Total
Cowboys730010
Eagles0100717
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Veterans Stadium
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,696
  • Game weather: Sunny; 69 °F (21 °C)
  • Referee: Cal Lepore
  • TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Week 8

1234Total
Chargers3210731
Cowboys7721742
  • Date: Sunday Oct 26, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear; 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • Television network: ABC

Week 9

1234Total
Cowboys01031427
Cardinals737724

Week 10

1234Total
Cowboys71414035
Giants72101038
  • Date: Sunday Nov 9, 1980
  • Location: Giants Stadium
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Overcast; 44 °F (7 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Roger Staubach

Week 11

1234Total
Cardinals1470021
Cowboys7107731
  • Date: Sunday Nov 16, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C), wind 18 mph (29 km/h)
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Roger Staubach

Week 12

1234Total
Redskins030710
Cowboys700714
  • Date: Sunday Nov 23, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C), wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Week 13

1234Total
Seahawks00077
Cowboys92102151
  • Date: Thursday Nov 27, 1980
  • Location: Texas Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Week 14

1234Total
Cowboys793019
Raiders733013

Week 15

1234Total
Cowboys0001414
Rams72110038

Week 16

1234Total
Eagles00101727
Cowboys7147735

[2]

Playoffs

RoundDateOpponentResultGame SiteAttendanceRecap
Wild Card December 28, 1980 Los Angeles Rams (5)W 34–13 Texas Stadium 64,533 Recap
Divisional January 4, 1981at Atlanta Falcons (1)W 30–27 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 60,022 Recap
NFC Championship January 11, 1981at Philadelphia Eagles (2)L 7–20 Veterans Stadium 70,696 Recap

Wildcard Round

1234Total
Rams 670013
Cowboys31014734

Divisional Round

1234Total
Cowboys3702030
Falcons 1077327

Conference Championship

1234Total
Cowboys07007
Eagles 7010320
  • Date: January 11, 1981
  • Location: Veterans Stadium
  • Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,696
  • Game weather: Sunny; 17 °F (−8 °C)
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
Veterans Stadium during the 1980 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, January 11, 1981. VeteransStadium1981.jpg
Veterans Stadium during the 1980 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, January 11, 1981.

Standings

NFC East
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Philadelphia Eagles (2)1240.7506–29–3384222L1
Dallas Cowboys (4)1240.7506–29–3454311W1
Washington Redskins 6100.3754–45–7261293W3
St. Louis Cardinals 5110.3132–64–10299350L2
New York Giants 4120.2502–63–9249425L2

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1980 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

Rookies in italics
46 active, 4 inactive

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Cowboys</span> National Football League franchise in Arlington, Texas

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team is headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and has played its home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, since its opening in 2009. The stadium took its current name prior to the 2013 season, following the team's decision to sell the stadium's naming rights to telecommunications company AT&T. In January 2020, Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach of the Cowboys. He is the ninth in the team's history. McCarthy follows Jason Garrett, who coached the team from 2010 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NFC Championship Game</span> Semifinal championship football game in the NFL

The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the NFC postseason's first two rounds. The NFC champion then advances to face the winner of the AFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971–72 NFL playoffs</span> American football tournament

The National Football League playoffs for the 1971 season began on December 25, 1971. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24–3, on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979–80 NFL playoffs</span> American football tournament

The National Football League playoffs for the 1979 season began on December 23, 1979. The postseason tournament concluded with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV, 31–19, on January 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980–81 NFL playoffs</span> American football tournament

The National Football League playoffs for the 1980 season began on December 28, 1980. The postseason tournament concluded with the Oakland Raiders defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV, 27–10, on January 25, 1981, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The History of the Philadelphia Eagles begins in 1933. In their history, the Eagles have appeared in the Super Bowl four times, losing in their first two appearances but winning the third, Super Bowl LII, in 2018, and losing their fourth, Super Bowl LVII, in 2022. They won four out of the five NFL Championships they have been in, with the first three appearances happening in a row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Green Bay Packers</span>

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team that has played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) since 1921. The team was founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, and for the next two years played against local teams in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. In 1921, the Packers joined the American Professional Football Association, the precursor to the NFL, with Curly Lambeau as their coach. After falling into financial trouble, the Green Bay Football Corporation, now known as Green Bay Packers, Inc., was formed in 1923. The Packers became a publicly owned football team run by a board of directors elected each year. The team went on to win six NFL championships from 1929 to 1944, including three straight (1929–1931). Along the way, Curly Lambeau, with the help of receiver Don Hutson, revolutionized football through the development and utilization of the forward pass.

This article contains an in-depth explanation of the history of the Dallas Cowboys, a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

The 2003 Dallas Cowboys season was the 44th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and the first under head coach Bill Parcells. For the first time since 1989, Emmitt Smith was not on the opening day roster, culminating with for the first time since 1987, neither Michael Irvin (1988-1999), Aikman (1989-2000) on the roster either. Coming off three consecutive 5–11 seasons, Dallas hired former New York Giants, New England Patriots, and New York Jets coach Bill Parcells. In a scheduling coincidence, the Cowboys faced all three said teams in the 2003 regular season. The team was vastly improved and posted a 10–6 record, clinching their first winning season since 1998 and clinching their first playoff berth since 1999. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs the team lost to the eventual NFC champion Carolina Panthers 29–10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Washington Redskins season</span> NFL team season (won Super Bowl)

The 1987 season was the Washington Redskins' strike-shortened 56th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 52nd in Washington, D.C., and their seventh under head coach Joe Gibbs. The season was a shortened season due to the 1987 NFL strike.

The 1991 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 62nd season in the National Football League, their 58th as the Detroit Lions. It stands as one of the team's best seasons since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, and the first time when the Lions made it to the NFC Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Philadelphia Eagles season</span> NFL team season

The 1980 Philadelphia Eagles season was the team's 48th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles won twelve of their sixteen games, winning their division for the first time in twenty years. The Eagles started the season winning eleven of their first twelve games, only to finish the season losing three of their final four. Still, the 12–4 record was good enough to win the NFC East division title for the first time in franchise history since the NFC East had been formed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 Philadelphia Eagles season</span> NFL team season

The 1988 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's fifty-sixth season in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboys–Eagles rivalry</span> National Football League rivalry

The Cowboys–Eagles rivalry is a 63 year-long intra-divisional rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL), with the two teams contained in the same division since 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Dallas Cowboys season</span> 55th season in franchise history

The 2014 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 55th season in the National Football League (NFL), the sixth playing their home games at AT&T Stadium and the fourth full season under head coach Jason Garrett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Dallas Cowboys season</span> Sports season

The 2021 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 62nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 33rd under the ownership of Jerry Jones, and their 13th playing home games at AT&T Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Dallas Cowboys season</span> 63rd season in franchise history

The 2022 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 63rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Mike McCarthy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Philadelphia Eagles season</span> 90th season in franchise history; fourth Super Bowl appearance

The 2022 season was the Philadelphia Eagles' 90th in the National Football League (NFL), their 20th playing home games at Lincoln Financial Field, their second under head coach Nick Sirianni, and seventh under general manager Howie Roseman since he returned to the position. The Eagles started 8–0 for the first time in franchise history, before their winning streak was snapped with a 32–21 upset loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 10. They improved on their 9–8 record from last year after a 40–33 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. With a 48–22 road win over the division rival New York Giants in Week 14, the Eagles clinched their second straight playoff berth, and their fifth in six seasons. After a 25–20 road win over the Chicago Bears in Week 15, the Eagles matched their franchise-best 13–1 start in the 2004 season and secured their third 13-win season win in franchise history, after 2004 and 2017. With a 22–16 win over the Giants in Week 18, the Eagles won the NFC East for the first time since 2019, and clinched the NFC's #1 seed for the first time since 2017. The Eagles also reached 14 regular season wins, a franchise record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Dallas Cowboys season</span> 64th season in franchise history

The 2023 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 64th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 35th under the ownership of Jerry Jones, and their fourth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The Cowboys matched their 12–5 record from the previous two seasons and won the NFC East division for the first time since the 2021 season and the second time in three seasons. They ended up in a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC at 12–5. However, they lost the conference tiebreaker to the 49ers but won the head to head tiebreaker over the Lions, giving them the second seed in the playoffs. Although the Cowboys lost to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, they clinched their third straight playoff berth before taking the field when the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, respectively. This marked the Cowboys' first run of three consecutive postseason appearances since appearing in six straight from 1991 to 1996.

References