1997 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1997 Dallas Cowboys season would mark their 38th in the NFL and for the first time since 1990, the team would suffer a losing season and miss the playoffs. They collapsed from a 6–5 start and finished at 6–10.
Roster
| Dallas Cowboys 1997 roster |
| Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Currently vacant
Rookies in italics
53 Active, 0 Inactive |
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Regular season
Though the season began well with an impressive win against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a 3–1 start, the Cowboys would soon see a sharp decline that included five consecutive losses to close out the year. A series of countless off-the-field incidents, lack of discipline, and rumors of infighting between quarterback Troy Aikman and head coach Barry Switzer plagued the team throughout the year. In a season filled with injuries and controversy, which also saw a tearful Michael Irvin promising change following a tough loss to the New York Giants in the final regular season game, Switzer would later resign after the season. Notable additions to the team were linebacker Dexter Coakley.
Schedule
| Opponent |
|
|
Result |
Attendance |
TV Time |
|---|
| at Pittsburgh Steelers |
37 |
7 |
W |
60,397 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| at Arizona Cardinals |
22 |
25 |
L |
71,578 |
TNT 7:00CT |
| Philadelphia Eagles |
21 |
20 |
W |
63,942 |
ABC 8:00CT |
| Chicago Bears |
27 |
3 |
W |
64,082 |
FOX 3:15CT |
| at New York Giants |
17 |
20 |
L |
77,137 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| at Washington Redskins |
16 |
21 |
L |
76,159 |
ABC 8:00CT |
| Jacksonville Jaguars |
26 |
22 |
W |
64,464 |
NBC 12:00CT |
| at Philadelphia Eagles |
12 |
13 |
L |
67,106 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| at San Francisco 49ers |
10 |
17 |
L |
68,657 |
FOX 3:15CT |
| Arizona Cardinals |
24 |
6 |
W |
64,302 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| Washington Redskins |
17 |
14 |
W |
64,559 |
FOX 3:15CT |
| at Green Bay Packers |
17 |
45 |
L |
60,111 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| Tennessee Oilers |
14 |
27 |
L |
63,421 |
NBC 3:00CT |
| Carolina Panthers |
13 |
23 |
L |
63,251 |
ABC 8:00CT |
| at Cincinnati Bengals |
24 |
31 |
L |
60,043 |
FOX 12:00CT |
| New York Giants |
7 |
20 |
L |
63,746 |
FOX 12:00CT |
Game summaries
Week 1
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Cowboys |
0 |
17 | 17 | 3 |
37 |
| Steelers |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
- Date: August 31
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 65°F; wind 4
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| Scoring summary |
|---|
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| Q2 |
| DAL | Miller 12 yard pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick) | DAL 7–0 |
|
| Q2 |
| DAL | Irvin 42 yard pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick) | DAL 14–0 |
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| Q2 |
| DAL | Cunningham 52 yard field goal | DAL 17–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| DAL | Irvin 15 yard pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick) | DAL 24–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| DAL | Cunningham 24 yard field goal | DAL 27–0 |
|
| Q3 |
| DAL | Johnston 13 yard pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick) | DAL 34–0 |
|
| Q4 |
| DAL | Cunningham 28 yard field goal | DAL 37–0 |
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| Q4 |
| PIT | Bruener 4 yard pass from Stewart (Johnson kick) | DAL 37–7 |
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[1]
Standings
Awards and records
References
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