The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league, all under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games. They missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the only time in 18 seasons (1966–1983) that the Cowboys did not advance to the postseason.
The Cowboys opened the season 1–4. Although they finished 7–2, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.
The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games in Cowboys history. Trailing 16–3 in the second half (and having already lost quarterback Roger Staubach to injury), little used backup Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes to lead the team to a 24–23 victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium.
This was also a season of transition. It was the final season of Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers were fullback Walt Garrison and center Dave Manders. Also, it was the final season in Dallas for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers the following year), running back Calvin Hill (who departed for the Hawaiians of the World Football League), defensive end Pat Toomay (who left for the Buffalo Bills), guard John Niland (who left the following year for the Philadelphia Eagles), and quarterback Craig Morton (traded early in the season to the New York Giants) who would later play against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII as a member of the Denver Broncos.
Offseason Draft
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster Quarterbacks Clint Longley Roger Staubach
Running backs Doug Dennison Walt Garrison Calvin Hill Dennis Morgan Robert Newhouse Les Strayhorn Charley Young
Wide receivers Bob Hayes Bill Houston Drew Pearson Golden Richards
Tight ends Billy Joe DuPree Jean Fugett Ron Howard Offensive linemen Jim Arneson C/G John Fitzgerald C Gene Killian G/T Dave Manders C Ralph Neely T John Niland G Blaine Nye G Bruce Walton T Rayfield Wright T
Defensive linemen Larry Cole DE Bill Gregory DT Ed Jones DE Bob Lilly DT Harvey Martin DE Jethro Pugh DT Pat Toomay DELinebackers Dave Edwards OLB Ken Hutcherson OLB Lee Roy Jordan MLB D. D. Lewis OLB Cal Peterson OLB Louie Walker MLB
Defensive backs Benny Barnes CB Cornell Green SS Cliff Harris FS Mel Renfro CB Mark Washington CB Charlie Waters CB/S
Special teams Duane Carrell P Efrén Herrera KReserve lists Toni Fritsch K (IR) Rodney Wallace T/G (IR)
Rookies in italics 46 active, 2 inactive
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 15 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–0 1–0 Atlanta Stadium 52,332 Recap 2 at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–13 1–1 Veterans Stadium 64,089 Recap 3 September 29 New York Giants L 6–14 1–2 Texas Stadium 45,841 Recap 4 October 6 Minnesota Vikings L 21–23 1–3 Texas Stadium 57,847 Recap 5 October 13 at St. Louis Cardinals L 28–31 1–4 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,885 Recap 6 October 20 Philadelphia Eagles W 31–24 2–4 Texas Stadium 43,586 Recap 7 October 27 at New York Giants W 21–7 3–4 Yale Bowl 57,381 Recap 8 November 3 St. Louis Cardinals W 17–14 4–4 Texas Stadium 64,146 Recap 9 November 10 San Francisco 49ers W 20–14 5–4 Texas Stadium 50,018 Recap 10 November 17 at Washington Redskins L 21–28 5–5 RFK Stadium 54,395 Recap 11 November 24 at Houston Oilers W 10–0 6–5 Houston Astrodome 49,775 Recap 12 November 28 Washington Redskins W 24–23 7–5 Texas Stadium 63,243 Recap 13 Cleveland Browns W 41–17 8–5 Texas Stadium 48,754 Recap 14 at Oakland Raiders L 23–27 8–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 45,840 Recap Division opponents are in bold text
Game summaries
Week 3 vs Giants
This would be the last time the Giants defeated the Cowboys until Week 10 of the 1980 season, a streak of 12 straight wins by Dallas.
Week 6 vs Eagles
Week 12 vs Redskins
Thanksgiving Day
Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game.
Standings
Publications The Football Encyclopedia Total Football Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
References
External links 1974 Dallas Cowboys Pro Football Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Official Site