1980 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1980 Dallas Cowboys season was their 21st in the league. The team improved their previous output of 11–5, winning twelve games.[1] They qualified for the playoffs as an NFC Wild Card, but lost in the Conference Championship.
The season featured a very unusual end to the regular season. Going into the final week of the season, Dallas (at 11–4) played Philadelphia (12–3) at Texas Stadium. Under the NFL's tiebreaking rules, if Dallas could beat the Eagles by 25 points, they would earn the NFC's number one seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. However, if they lost (or won by less than 25) then Philadelphia would get the number one seed and (since they played in the same division) Dallas would be a wildcard team. Dallas led 35–10 in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles rallied to lose only 35–27. This forced Dallas to play an extra week in the playoffs and a road game in Atlanta in the divisional round. Dallas ultimately lost at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 8, 1980 |
at Washington Redskins |
W 17–3 |
55,045 |
| 2 |
September 14, 1980 |
at Denver Broncos |
L 41–20 |
74,919 |
| 3 |
September 21, 1980 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
W 28–17 |
62,750 |
| 4 |
September 28, 1980 |
at Green Bay Packers |
W 28–7 |
54,776 |
| 5 |
October 5, 1980 |
New York Giants |
W 24–3 |
59,126 |
| 6 |
October 12, 1980 |
San Francisco 49ers |
W 59–14 |
63,399 |
| 7 |
October 19, 1980 |
at Philadelphia Eagles |
L 17–10 |
70,696 |
| 8 |
October 26, 1980 |
San Diego Chargers |
W 42–31 |
60,639 |
| 9 |
November 2, 1980 |
at St. Louis Cardinals |
W 27–24 |
50,701 |
| 10 |
November 9, 1980 |
at New York Giants |
L 38–35 |
68,343 |
| 11 |
November 16, 1980 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
W 31–21 |
52,567 |
| 12 |
November 23, 1980 |
Washington Redskins |
W 14–10 |
58,809 |
| 13 |
November 27, 1980 |
Seattle Seahawks |
W 51–7 |
57,540 |
| 14 |
December 7, 1980 |
at Oakland Raiders |
W 19–13 |
53,194 |
| 15 |
December 15, 1980 |
at Los Angeles Rams |
L 38–14 |
65,154 |
| 16 |
December 21, 1980 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
W 35–27 |
62,548 |
Game summaries
Week 16
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Eagles |
0 |
0 | 10 | 17 |
27 |
| • Cowboys |
7 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
35 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
|
| 1 |
| DAL | Danny White 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 7–0 |
|
| 2 |
| DAL | Tony Hill 36 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 14–0 |
|
| 2 |
| DAL | Preston Pearson 9 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 21–0 |
|
| 3 |
| PHI | Louie Giammona 1 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) | Cowboys 21–7 |
|
| 3 |
| DAL | Drew Pearson 11 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 28–7 |
|
| 3 |
| PHI | Tony Franklin 29 yard field goal | Cowboys 28–10 |
|
| 4 |
| DAL | Billy Joe DuPree 15 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | Cowboys 35–10 |
|
| 4 |
| PHI | Rodney Parker 30 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) | Cowboys 35–17 |
|
| 4 |
| PHI | Tony Franklin 19 yard field goal | Cowboys 35–20 |
|
| 4 |
| PHI | Wilbert Montgomery 6 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) | Cowboys 35–27 |
|
[2]
Playoffs
Standings
Roster
| Dallas Cowboys 1980 roster |
| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Currently vacant
Rookies in italics
45 Active, 0 Inactive |
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References
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| | | | The Franchise | |
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| | Stadiums | |
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| | Culture | |
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| | Lore | |
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| | Rivalries | |
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| | Super Bowl Appearances (8) | |
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| | League Championships (5) | |
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| | Ring of Honor | |
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| | Media | |
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| | Current League Affiliations | |
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| | 1960s | |
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| | 1970s | |
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| | 1980s | |
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| | 1990s | |
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| | 2000s | |
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| | 2010s | |
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