1995 Dallas Cowboys: Completing the Dynasty

1995 Dallas Cowboys: Completing the Dynasty

[paypal_donation_button]1995 Dallas Cowboys: Completing the Dynasty

The Dallas Cowboys would cement their legacy as the team of the 1990’s by having a successful 1995 season, although Jimmy Johnson wouldn’t be a part of their 3rd Super Bowl run. Barry Switzer took over as the head coach in 1994 and guided the Cowboys to a 12-4 record, but they would fall to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in that campaign.

In 1995 the Cowboys again went 12-4 to win the NFC East division by 2 games over the Philadelphia Eagles, and the reliable trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin came through once again. Aikman completed 280 of 432 pass attempts for 3,302 yards and 16 touchdowns. Smith had 1,773 yards off 377 rushing attempts and scored 25 touchdowns while also having 62 receptions for 375 yards. Irvin had 111 receptions for 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Running back Sherman Williams had 205 yards off 48 rushing attempts and scored 1 touchdown. Fullback Daryl Johnston had 111 yards off 25 rushing attempts and scored 2 touchdowns while also having 30 receptions for 248 yards and 1 touchdown. Tight end Jay Novacek had 62 receptions for 705 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wide receiver Kevin Williams had 38 receptions for 613 yards and 2 touchdowns, and on special teams Williams had 49 kick returns for 1,108 yards and 18 punt returns for 166 yards.

Strong safety Darren Woodson led the defense with 84 tackles to go along with 2 interceptions for 46 yards and 1 touchdown, and 1 forced fumble. Free safety Brock Marion had 64 tackles, 6 interceptions for 40 yards and 1 touchdown. Linebacker Godfrey Myles had 55 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. Middle linebacker Robert Jones had 55 tackles. Defensive end Tony Tolbert had 52 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Linebacker Dixon Edwards had 47 tackles. Corner-back Larry Brown had 43 tackles, 6 interceptions for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Linebacker Darrin Smith had 40 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 fumble recovery for 63 yards. Defensive tackle Chad Cummings had 5.5 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. Defensive end Charles Haley had 10.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Defensive tackle Leon Lett had 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. Defensive end Shante Carver had 2.5 sacks. Defensive tackles Russell Maryland and Hurvin McCormack both had 2 sacks. Last but not least, corner-back Deion Sanders had 2 interceptions.

Both the biggest win and the closest win of the regular season for the Cowboys came at the expense of the New York Giants, as Dallas shut out New York 35-0 in Week 1 on September 4 and then Dallas outlasted New York 21-20 in Week 16 on December 17.

The Cowboys would play their division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles in the Division Round on January 7, 1996, and Dallas would easily win 30-11. Troy Aikman completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 253 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Emmitt Smith had 99 yards off 21 rushing attempts and scored 2 touchdowns.

In the 1st quarter Cowboys kicker Chris Boniol kicked a 24-yard field goal. In the 2nd quarter Eagles kicker Gary Anderson kicked a 26-yard field goal. Deion Sanders then had a 21-yard touchdown run, and Smith followed with a 1-yard touchdown run. Boniol came back in the 3rd quarter to kick field goals fro 18 yards out and 51 yards out. Michael Irvin then had a 9-yard touchdown reception in the 4th quarter. Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham had a 4-yard touchdown run and then completed a 2-yard pass to tight end Reggie Johnson for a 2-point conversion.

On January 14 the NFC Championship Game would be played between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. The quarterback duel between Troy Aikman and Packers quarterback Brett Favre was a close one as Aikman completed 21 of 33 pass attempts for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns while Favre completed 21 of 39 pass attempts for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns, but he also threw 2 interceptions. Emmitt Smith ran the ball very well for Dallas as he had 150 yards off 35 rushing attempts and scored 3 touchdowns.

In the 1st quarter Packers kicker Chris Jacke kicked a 46-yard field goal, but Dallas responded with a pair of touchdown receptions by Michael Irvin, one from 6 yards out and the other from 4 yards out. Green Bay wide receiver Robert Brooks then had a 73-yard touchdown reception. In the 2nd quarter Packers tight end Keith Jackson had a 24-yard touchdown reception, and Chris Boniol would respond with a 34-yard field goal. Smith then punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 24-17 halftime lead.

In the 3rd quarter Jacke kicked a 37-yard field goal for Green Bay, and then Robert Brooks had a 1-yard touchdown reception to put the Packers on top 27-24. However, the 4th quarter belonged to the Cowboys as Emmitt Smith had 2 touchdown runs from 5 yards out and 16 yards out to give Dallas a 38-27 victory.

Super Bowl XXX would be played in Tempe, Arizona between the Dallas Cowboys and the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and Troy Aikman once again executed the offense very well, completing 15 of 23 pass attempts for 209 yards and 1 touchdown. Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell completed 28 of 49 pass attempts for 239 yards and 1 touchdown, but he also threw 3 interceptions.

Chris Boniol got the Cowboys on the board first with a 42-yard field goal in the 1st quarter, and Jay Novacek followed with a 3-yard touchdown reception. Boniol came back in the 2nd quarter with a 35-yard field goal, and then Pittsburgh got on the board with a 6-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Yancey Thigpen, making the halftime score 13-7.

In the 3rd quarter Emmitt Smith punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, and then Pittsburgh tried to muster up a comeback in the 4th quarter with a 46-yard field goal by kicker Norm Johnson and a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Bam Morris. Emmitt Smith’s 4-yard touchdown run after Pittsburgh’s comeback attempt sealed the deal for the Dallas Cowboys as they won Super Bowl XXX by the score of 27-17.

Larry Brown would be named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXX, becoming the first corner-back to receive the award. Brown had 2 interceptions for 77 yards in the big game. The Cowboys completed their Super Bowl dynasty of the 1990’s, becoming the first team in NFL history to win 3 Super Bowls in a 4-year span.