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The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league . The team failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games.[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons and this marked the only season from 1966 to 1983 (18 seasons) that the Cowboys did not qualify.
The Cowboys began with a 1–4 start and although they went 7–2 afterwards, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.
The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving Day 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.
1974 was also a season of transition; as it would be the final season of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly . Also finishing their careers that season would be fullback Walt Garrison ; and center Dave Manders . Also, this would be the final season for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who would finish 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 ) in a Cowboy uniform.
Offseason
NFL Draft
1974 NFL Draft
[2]
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 15, 1974
at Atlanta Falcons
W 24–0
52,332
2
September 23, 1974
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 13–10
64,089
3
September 29, 1974
New York Giants
L 14–6
45,841
4
October 6, 1974
Minnesota Vikings
L 23–21
57,847
5
October 13, 1974
at St. Louis Cardinals
L 31–28
49,885
6
October 20, 1974
Philadelphia Eagles
W 31–24
43,586
7
October 27, 1974
at New York Giants
W 21–7
57,381
8
November 3, 1974
St. Louis Cardinals
W 17–14
64,146
9
November 10, 1974
San Francisco 49ers
W 20–14
50,018
10
November 17, 1974
at Washington Redskins
L 28–21
54,395
11
November 24, 1974
at Houston Oilers
W 10–0
49,775
12
November 28, 1974
Washington Redskins
W 24–23
63,243
13
December 7, 1974
Cleveland Browns
W 41–17
48,754
14
December 14, 1974
at Oakland Raiders
L 27–23
45,840
[3]
Game summaries
Week 12
1
2 3 4 Total
Redskins
3
6 7 7
23
• Cowboys
3
0 14 7
24
Scoring summary 1 DAL Efren Herrera 24 yard field goalCowboys 3–0
1 WSH Mark Moseley 45 yard field goalTie 3–3
2 WSH Mark Moseley 34 yard field goal Redskins 6–3
2 WSH Mark Moseley 39 yard field goal Redskins 9–3
3 WSH Duane Thomas 9 yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Mark Moseley kick)Redskins 16–3
3 DAL Billy Joe DuPree 35 yard pass from Clint Longley (Efren Herrera kick)Redskins 16–10
3 DAL Walt Garrison 1 yard run (Efren Herrera kick)Cowboys 17–16
4 WSH Duane Thomas 19 yard run (Mark Moseley kick) Redskins 23–17
4 :28 DAL Drew Pearson 50 yard pass from Clint Longley (Efren Herrera kick)Cowboys 24–23
[4]
Standings
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1974 roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
Currently vacant
Rookies in italics
46 Active, 0 Inactive
Publications
References
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (25) Conference championships (10) League championships (5) Media Current league affiliations