1972 Dallas Cowboys season

The 1972

1972 NFL season

The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...

 Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

 season was their 13th in the league

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. The team failed to improve their previous output

1971 Dallas Cowboys season

The 1971 Dallas Cowboys season was their 12th in the NFL. The club led the NFL with 406 points scored. Their defense allowed 222 points. For the sixth consecutive seasons, the Cowboys had a first place finish. The Cowboys made it to their second consecutive Super Bowl and beat the Miami Dolphins to...

 of 11–3, winning only ten games. They qualified for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season but settled for the wildcard spot. A pre-season injury to quarterback Roger Staubach and the trade of Duane Thomas (both had been integral figures in the 1971 championship team) hindered the offense (mitigated somewhat since their replacements, Craig Morton and Calvin Hill, were former starters). In the divisional playoff round, Staubach came off the bench to engineer an improbable 30–28 comeback win over the 49ers (Dallas had trailed by 28–16 with less than 2 minutes to play). The win over the 49ers still ranks as one of the all-time great Cowboys wins. However, the momentum could not carry them to a victory over Washington in the NFC Championship game.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 17, 1972	Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 28–6	55,850
2	September 24, 1972	at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 23–14	62,725
3	October 1, 1972	at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...	L 16–13	47,103
4	October 8, 1972	Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...	W 17–13	65,682
5	October 15, 1972	at Baltimore Colts History of the Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....	W 21–0	58,992
6	October 22, 1972	at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...	L 24–20	53,039
7	October 30, 1972	Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...	W 28–24	65,378
8	November 5, 1972	at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 34–28	54,476
9	November 12, 1972	St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 33–24	65,218
10	November 19, 1972	at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 28–7	65,720
11	November 23, 1972	San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...	L 31–10	65,124
12	December 3, 1972	at St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 27–6	49,787
13	December 9, 1972	Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...	W 34–24	65,136
14	December 17, 1972	New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 23–3	64,602

Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2: at New York Giants

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Divisional	December 23, 1972	at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...	W 30–28	61,214
Conference Championship	December 31, 1972	at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...	L 26–3	53,129

Standings

NFC East NFC East The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Washington Redskins 1972 Washington Redskins season The 1972 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 9-4-1 record from 1971.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-Awards and records:* Larry Brown, NFL MVP * Larry Brown, Bert Bell Award...	11	3	0	.786	336	218	L-2
Dallas Cowboys	10	4	0	.714	319	247	L-1
New York Giants 1972 New York Giants season The 1972 New York Giants season was the 48th season for the club in the National Football League. The Giants had an 8–6 record and finished in third place in the National Football Conference East Division, three games behind the Washington Redskins.-Schedule:...	8	6	0	.571	331	247	W-1
St. Louis Cardinals 1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season The 1972 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd year with the National Football League. On September 2, William V. Bidwill purchased the stock of his brother Charles Bidwill to become sole owner of the Cardinals.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:...	4	9	1	.321	193	303	W-2
Philadelphia Eagles 1972 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1972 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 40th in the league. They failed to improve on their previous output of 6–7–1, winning only two games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the twelfth consecutive season.-Offseason:...	2	11	1	.179	145	352	L-5

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1972 roster
Quarterbacks 14 Craig Morton Craig Morton Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82... 12 Roger Staubach Roger Staubach Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'... Running Backs 32 Walt Garrison Walt Garrison Walter Benton Garrison is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...  FB 35 Calvin Hill Calvin Hill Calvin G. Hill is a retired American football running back who had a 12-year NFL career from 1969 to 1981. He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns... 23 Mike Montgomery WR 44 Robert Newhouse Robert Newhouse Robert Fulton Newhouse is a former professional American football player in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys .-College career:... FB 30 Dan Reeves Dan Reeves Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else... 27 Bill Thomas Bill Thomas (American football) William Jeffrey "Bill" Thomas is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys , the Houston Oilers , and the Kansas City Chiefs . He was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft out of... Wide Receivers 19 Lance Alworth Lance Alworth Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame... 22 Bob Hayes Bob Hayes Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was an Olympic sprinter turned American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. An American track and field athlete, he was a two-sport stand-out in college in both track and football at Florida A&M University... 21 Billy Parks Billy Parks William James "Billy" Parks was a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League... 88 Ron Sellers Ron Sellers Ron "Jingle Joints" Sellers was an American college and professional football player. He played college football for Florida State University, where he was a two-time All-American... Tight Ends 89 Mike Ditka Mike Ditka Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head... 84 Jean Fugett Jean Fugett Jean Schloss Fugett, Jr. is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League. A 6'3", 225 lbs... 87 Billy Truax Billy Truax William Frederick Truax is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League from 1964-1973 for the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Louisiana State University and was drafted in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft...		Offensive Linemen 62 John Fitzgerald C 51 Dave Manders Dave Manders David Francis Manders was an American football center in the National Football League from 1964 through 1974. He played college football at Michigan State University...  C 73 Ralph Neely Ralph Neely Ralph Eugene Neely is a former American football offensive tackle who played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.-Early years:...  T 76 John Niland John Niland (American football) John Hugh Niland is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League from 1966 through 1975.-Early years:He was an All-State fullback at Long Island's Amityville High School....  G 61 Blaine Nye Blaine Nye Blaine Francis Nye is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League and founder and president of Stanford Consulting Group, Inc...  G 71 Rodney Wallace Rodney Wallace (American football) Rodney Wallace is a former NFL running back. He was drafted out of New Mexico and earned a Super Bowl ring in his first year in the league as a member of the 1972 Super Bowl VI-winning Dallas Cowboys under coach Tom Landry....  T/G 70 Rayfield Wright Rayfield Wright Larry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...  T Defensive Linemen 66 George Andrie George Andrie George Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...  DE 63 Larry Cole Larry Cole Larry Rudolph Cole is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who played his entire professional career with the Dallas Cowboys. He played in five Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl VI and XII...  DE 77 Bill Gregory Bill Gregory William Penn Gregory, Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin and was drafted in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft....  DT 74 Bob Lilly Bob Lilly Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...  DT 75 Jethro Pugh Jethro Pugh Jethro Pugh, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys.-College career:...  DT 85 Tody Smith Tody Smith Lawrence Edward Smith was an American football defensive end in the National Football League.-High school career:...  DE 67 Pat Toomay Pat Toomay Patrick Jay Toomay was an American football defensive end who played 10 years in the National Football League for four different teams: the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Oakland Raiders...  DE		Linebackers 53 John Babinecz MLB 86 Ralph Coleman OLB 52 Dave Edwards OLB 54 Chuck Howley Chuck Howley Charles Louis "Chuck" Howley is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League...  OLB 55 Lee Roy Jordan Lee Roy Jordan Lee Roy Jordan is a retired American football linebacker. After attending the University of Alabama, playing under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, he spent 14 years in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys between 1963–1976...  MLB 57 Mike Keller Mike Keller Michael F. Keller is a former American football player and executive. He played college football as a defensive end and linebacker for the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 and professional football as a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys in 1972... MLB 50 D. D. Lewis OLB Defensive Backs 26 Herb Adderley Herb Adderley Herbert Allen Adderley is a former American football cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League....  CB 31 Benny Barnes Benny Barnes Benny Jewell Barnes is a former American Football cornerback who played eleven seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys... CB 34 Cornell Green SS 43 Cliff Harris Cliff Harris Clifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...  FS/RS 20 Mel Renfro Mel Renfro Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...  CB 46 Mark Washington Mark Washington (cornerback) Mark Henry Washington is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played for ten seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots.-External links:*...  CB 41 Charlie Waters Charlie Waters Charlie Tutan Waters is a former American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970-1981 in the National Football League...  FS/CB Special Teams 81 Marv Bateman Marv Bateman Marvin Fredrick Bateman is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. He was an All-Pro in the 1976 season as a member of the Bills.... P 15 Toni Fritsch K		Reserve Lists Currently vacant Rookies in italics 45 Active, 0 Inactive

Trivia

This season marks the first time in Cowboys history they wore their white jerseys for every game. The second and only other time so far was 2010

2010 Dallas Cowboys season

The 2010 Dallas Cowboys season is the 51st season for the team in the National Football League, and the second season playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium...

.