1977 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1977 Dallas Cowboys season was their 18th in the NFL. The club appeared twice on Monday Night Football. Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,007 yards and became the second member of the Cowboys (first since 1973) to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. During the season, the club scored 345 points, which ranked first in the NFC, while the defense only gave up 212 points. The Cowboys made it to their fourth Super Bowl and beat the Denver Broncos to capture their second Super Bowl Championship. They were the first team from the NFC East Division to win two Super Bowls. Their 15-2 record (.882, including the postseason) remains the highest single season winning percentage in team history.
1977 Dallas Cowboys season | |
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Owner | Clint Murchison, Jr. |
Head coach | Tom Landry |
General manager | Tex Schramm |
Home field | Texas Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–2 |
Division place | 1st in NFC East |
Playoff finish | Won NFC Divisional Playoff (Bears) 37–7 Won NFC Championship Game (Vikings) 23–6 Won Super Bowl XII (Broncos) 27–10 |
Offseason
To improve their running game, the Cowboys orchestrated a big trade with the Seattle Seahawks, moving up in the NFL Draft to acquire running back Tony Dorsett.[1]
With the retirement of Lee Roy Jordan, Bob Breunig was given the starting middle linebacker position, Randy White was moved to defensive tackle, and Thomas Henderson became a starter at strongside linebacker, turning the defense into a dominant unit.
Draft
1977 Dallas Cowboys draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Tony Dorsett * † | RB | Pittsburgh | Pick from SEA |
2 | 54 | Glenn Carano | QB | UNLV | |
3 | 62 | Tony Hill * | WR | Stanford | |
3 | 81 | Val Belcher | OG | Houston | |
4 | 108 | Guy Brown | LB | Houston | |
5 | 137 | Andy Frederick | OT | New Mexico | |
6 | 164 | Jim Cooper | OT | Temple | |
7 | 191 | Dave Stalls | DE | Northern Colorado | |
8 | 208 | Al Cleveland | DE | Pacific | |
8 | 221 | Fred Williams | RB | Arizona State | |
9 | 248 | Mark Cantrell | C | North Carolina | |
10 | 275 | Steve DeBerg | QB | San Jose State | |
11 | 305 | Don Wardlow | TE | Washington | |
12 | 332 | Greg Peters | OL | California | |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Regular season
- December 4, 1977 – Tony Dorsett becomes the first player in franchise history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dorsett had 23 rushes for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns including an 84-yard touchdown run which was the longest during the 1977 NFL Season.
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 18 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 16–10 (OT) | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,678 | Recap |
2 | September 25 | New York Giants | W 41–21 | 2–0 | Texas Stadium | 64,215 | Recap |
3 | October 2 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 23–7 | 3–0 | Texas Stadium | 55,316 | Recap |
4 | October 9 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 30–24 | 4–0 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,129 | Recap |
5 | October 16 | Washington Redskins | W 34–16 | 5–0 | Texas Stadium | 62,115 | Recap |
6 | October 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 16–10 | 6–0 | Veterans Stadium | 65,507 | Recap |
7 | October 30 | Detroit Lions | W 37–0 | 7–0 | Texas Stadium | 63,160 | Recap |
8 | November 6 | at New York Giants | W 24–10 | 8–0 | Giants Stadium | 74,532 | Recap |
9 | November 14 | St. Louis Cardinals | L 17–24 | 8–1 | Texas Stadium | 64,038 | Recap |
10 | November 20 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 13–28 | 8–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | 49,761 | Recap |
11 | November 27 | at Washington Redskins | W 14–7 | 9–2 | RFK Stadium | 55,031 | Recap |
12 | December 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 24–14 | 10–2 | Texas Stadium | 60,289 | Recap |
13 | December 12 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 42–35 | 11–2 | Candlestick Park | 55,851 | Recap |
14 | December 18 | Denver Broncos | W 14–6 | 12–2 | Texas Stadium | 63,752 | Recap |
Division opponents are in bold text
Standings
NFC East | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Dallas Cowboys(1) | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 7–1 | 11–1 | 345 | 212 | W4 |
Washington Redskins | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 4–4 | 8–4 | 196 | 189 | W3 |
St. Louis Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 7–5 | 272 | 287 | L4 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 2–6 | 4–8 | 220 | 207 | W2 |
New York Giants | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3–5 | 5–7 | 181 | 265 | L2 |
Roster
Game Summaries
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: Sunday, September 18, 1977
- Game time: 1:00
- Game weather: 68°, wind 12 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Cowboys | 14 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 41 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, September 25, 1977
- Game time: 1:00
- Game weather: 88°, wind 16 mph
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Cowboys | 17 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, October 2, 1977
- Game time: 12:00
- Game weather: 74 F, wind 15 mph
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at St. Louis Cardinals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 3 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
Cardinals | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: Sunday, October 9, 1977
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 49 F, wind 13 mph
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, October 16
- Game time: 3:00 pm
- Game weather: 56 F, wind 8 mph
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cowboys | 3 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 37 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, October 30
- Game time: 1:00
- Game weather: 70 F, wind 11 mph
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson & Paul Hornung
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 8: at New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Giants | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: Sunday, November 6
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: 54 F, wind 16 mph
- Referee: Gene Barth
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 9: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Monday, November 14
- Game time: 8:00 pm
- Game weather: 61 F, wind 12 mph
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Steelers | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Date: Sunday, November 20
- Game time: 4:00 pm
- Game weather: 48 F, wind 9 mph
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall & Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 11: at Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: Sunday, November 27
- Game time: 4:00 pm
- Game weather: 31 F, wind 16 mph
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, December 4
- Game time: 1:00 pm
- Game weather: 59 F, wind 12 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully, Alex Hawkins
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
49ers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
- Date: Monday, December 12
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 53 F, wind 6 mph
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (ABC): Howard Cosell and Don Meredith
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: Sunday, December 18
- Game time: 3:00 pm
- Game weather: 52 F, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck & Len Dawson
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Postseason
Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | December 26, 1977 | Chicago Bears (4) | W 37–7 | Texas Stadium | 63,260 | Recap |
NFC Championship | January 1, 1978 | Minnesota Vikings (3) | W 23–6 | Texas Stadium | 64,293 | Recap |
Super Bowl XII | January 15, 1978 | vs Denver Broncos (A 1) | W 27–10 | Louisiana Superdome | 75,583 | Recap |
NFC Divisional Playoff
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 17 | 3 | 37 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: December 26, 1977
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 63,260
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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NFC Championship Game
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Cowboys | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: January 1, 1978
- Game time: 5:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 64,293
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and Alex Hawkins
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Super Bowl XII
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys (NFC) | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
Broncos (AFC) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
- Date: January 15, 1978
- Game attendance: 75,583
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Season recap
With an improved offense and defense, the Cowboys finished with a 12-2 regular season record, breezing through the playoffs by beating the Chicago Bears 37-7 in the divisional round, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 in the NFC Championship Game and winning Super Bowl XII 27-10 against the Denver Broncos.
Dorsett set a franchise rookie record with 1,007 rushing yards. Defensive end Harvey Martin had one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and an estimated league-leading 23 sacks[3] (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White.
Awards and Records
- Tony Dorsett, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
- Tony Dorsett, All-Pro Selection
- Efren Herrera, Five Field Goals Attempted in one Super Bowl game, Super Bowl record
- Harvey Martin, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
- Harvey Martin, NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Harvey Martin, Led NFL, Sacks (23)
- Pearson, Led NFL Receiving Yards (870)
- Pearson, All-Pro Selection
- Pearson, Pro Bowl Selection
- Roger Staubach, All-Pro Selection
- Roger Staubach, Pro Bowl Selection
- Roger Staubach, Led NFC, Touchdown Passes (18)
- Roger Staubach, NFC Passing Leader
- Randy White, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
- Led NFC, Points Scored (345)
- Led NFC, Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed (1,651)
- Led NFL, Fewest Total Yards Allowed (3,213)
- Led NFL, Total Yards, (4,812)
Publications
References
- "Tony Dorsett had all the right moves and a brilliant NFL career". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- "1977 NFL Draft". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- DeLuca, Sam (1981). The Football Handbook. Jonathan David Publishers. p. 143. ISBN 0824602749.
Defensive tackle Harvey Martin of the Cowboys had 23 sacks in 1977 -as many as the entire San Diego team had in 1976