All-Century Dallas Cowboys: The best 5 games of the last 25 years, including one of the most memorable losses in football ever
We're getting close to the end of our post celebrating the best 25 Dallas Cowboys players, offenses, defenses, games, and moments in the last 25 years. We're doing five per category and it's time for the duels themselves.But first, a disclaimer: Because it would be unfair to regular season games to include playoff stakes, I excluded […]
We're getting close to the end of our post celebrating the best 25 Dallas Cowboys players, offenses, defenses, games, and moments in the last 25 years.
We're doing five per category and it's time for the duels themselves.
But first, a disclaimer: Because it would be unfair to regular season games to include playoff stakes, I excluded postseason showdowns to even the playing field.
5. 2014 win at Seahawks
Considering this is widely perceived as one of the best years in Cowboys post-Super Bowl history, I had to include the game that made it feel like this Dallas team was for real. No better way to do so than beating the Legion of Doom and the famous 12th man at Seattle.
Terrance Williams iconically dragged his toes to make a catch on third-and-20 after Tony Romo eluded Bruce Irvin. Dan Bailey dominated with three field goals including a 56-yarder. DeMarco Murray ran for 115 yards.
The Cowboys dropped 30 on the Seahawks to improve to 5-1 and establish themselves as legit contenders.
4. 2009 upset win at Saints
One of the best defenses in recent Cowboys memory showed what it was made of when it held the league's very best offense in points and yards to 17 points at their own stadium.
That's right, with the help of two sacks from DeMarcus Ware and a Mike Jenkins interception, the Cowboys beat the Saints 24-17 in one of the most shocking scores of the year. It was a hard-fought win and one that's difficult to forget to this day.
3. 2006 upset win vs Colts
Speaking of upsets, how about Tony Romo's Cowboys taking down Peyton Manning's Colts in his fourth career start. Indianapolis ended up winning the Super Bowl that year but in Week 10, it was Romo's day.
The defense certainly helped him as linebacker Kevin Burnett got a pick six against Manning to tie it in the third quarter. Romo later led the offense to a game-winning drive to win it 21-14.
2. 2016 statement win at Steelers
The rookies had to fight hard to get the win against Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell but that they did, improving to 8-1 with a dramatic 35-30 win.
Early on, Ezekiel Elliott went untouched for an 83-yard touchdown on a screen pass. Dez Bryant caught a 50-yard bomb courtesy of Dak Prescott. Leads changed a total of six times. With 42 seconds on the clock, Roethlisberger faked a spike and threw a 15-yard fade to Brown, who secured it to make it 30-29, Steeles.
It felt like the ballgame. But later, Prescott found Witten on a play that ended in a facemask. Right after that, Elliott broke free on a 32-yard rush after Dallas' O-line eliminated the Steelers front seven with pristine blocks.
1. 2013 loss vs Broncos
I'm sorry but a loss has to top the list for this one. I don't need to argue about it. Instead, let me show you two stat lines from the 51-48 shootout between two high-powered offenses.
- Peyton Manning: 33/42, 414 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
- Tony Romo: 25/36, 506 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception
The Cowboys had three different players—Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and Terrance Williams—catch for over 121 yards. Yes, I wish Dallas had won this one but it will always have a special place in our hearts.
