1971 Dallas Cowboys: Doomsday

1971 Dallas Cowboys: Doomsday

1971 Dallas Cowboys: Doomsday

The disappointments that the Dallas Cowboys had experienced in their defeats in the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championship Games as well as Super Bowl V gave their critics cause for concern. However, this was the franchise that would end up ascending to the status of “America’s Team” because of what they ended up doing in the 1970’s. The rise in popularity of the Cowboys coincided with their move from the Cotton Bowl to Texas Stadium in Arlington, a stadium that at the time became the most modern facility to play in for NFL players.

In 1971 the Cowboys went 11-3 to win the NFC East division by 2 games over the Washington Redskins. In reality the gap was 1.5 games but tie games were not officially counted by the NFL until 1972. The Cowboys went 7-1 in divisional play and 8-3 in conference play.

Quarterback Roger Staubach was the unquestioned leader of the offense as he managed every game with poise and wisdom. Staubach went 10-0 in 10 starts, completing 126 of 211 pass attempts for 1,882 yards and 15 touchdowns while throwing just 4 interceptions. Staubach could also scramble as he had 41 rushing attempts for 343 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Running back Duane Thomas had 175 rushing attempts for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns while also having 13 receptions for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. Thomas’s 11 touchdowns led the NFL. Fullback Walt Garrison had 127 rushing attempts for 429 yards and 1 touchdown while also having 40 receptions for 396 yards and 1 touchdown. Running back Calvin Hill had 108 rushing attempts for 468 yards and 8 touchdowns while also having 19 receptions for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Bob Hayes had 35 receptions for 840 yards and 8 touchdowns. Wide receiver Lance Alworth had 34 receptions for 487 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tight end Mike Ditka had 30 receptions for 360 yards and 1 touchdown. Tight end Billy Truax had 15 receptions for 232 yards and 1 touchdown. Wide receiver Gloster Richardson had 8 receptions for 170 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The special teams unit for Dallas was actually more reliable than what football fans gave them credit for. Free safety Cliff Harris had 17 punt returns for 129 yards and 29 kick returns for 823 yards. Defensive back Charlie Waters had 9 punt returns for 109 yards. Defensive back and wide receiver Isaac Thomas had 7 kick returns for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Claxton Welch had 4 kick returns for 105 yards.

The main staple of the Cowboys in the 1970’s was their defense, who went by the intimidating nickname of the “Doomsday Defense”. This defense was capable of taking down opposing offenses with ease, and defenders had a knack for taking the football away.

Left cornerback Herb Adderley had 6 interceptions for 182 yards. Right linebacker Chuck Howley had 5 interceptions for 122 yards and had 3 fumble recoveries. Right cornerback Mel Renfro had 4 interceptions. Multiple players had at least 2 interceptions, including Cliff Harris, who had 3 fumble recoveries, middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, who also had 3 fumble recoveries, left linebacker Dave Edwards, who had 2 fumble recoveries, Charlie Waters and strong safety Cornell Green. Left defensive end Larry Cole had 4 fumble recoveries.

After trading wins and losses to start the regular season, the Cowboys went on a 7-game winning streak. The streak began with a 16-13 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Week 8 on November 7, and it ended with a 31-12 pounding of the Cardinals in Week 14 on December 18.

However, the winning wouldn’t stop for the Cowboys as they carried this momentum throughout the entire playoffs. In the Divisional Round on December 25 the Cowboys defeated the Minnesota Vikings 20-12 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. In the 1st quarter Cowboys kicker Mike Clark kicked a 26-yard field goal. In the 2nd quarter Vikings kicker Fred Cox kicked a 27-yard field goal, and then Clark responded with a 44-yard field goal. In the 3rd quarter Duane Thomas had a 13-yard touchdown run, and then Bob Hayes had a 9-yard touchdown reception. Minnesota would score a 2-point safety in the 4th quarter when defensive tackle Alan Page sacked Roger Staubach in the endzone, and then tight end Stu Voigt caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, but Minnesota fell 8 points short.

Texas Stadium hosted the NFC Championship Game on January 2, and Arlington would be rewarded with a Cowboys victory by the score of 14-3 over the San Francisco 49ers. In the 2nd quarter Calvin Hill punched in a 1-yard touchdown run. Kicker Bruce Gossett gave San Francisco its only score with a 28-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter, and then Duane Thomas had a 2-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter to seal the Dallas victory.

On paper it appeared that Super Bowl VI would be a classic matchup of well-rounded teams as the Dallas Cowboys faced the AFC Champion Miami Dolphins on January 16 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. However, only one team showed up for the big game, and that team would be the Cowboys. Eventually being named the Most Valuable Player for the Super Bowl, Roger Staubach completed 12 of 19 passes for 2 touchdowns. Duane Thomas had 19 rushes for 95 yards and 1 touchdown.

Mike Clark scored the first points of the game with a 9-yard field goal in the 1st quarter, and then Lance Alworth had a 7-yard touchdown reception in the 2nd quarter. Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian scored Miami’s only points of the game with a 31-yard field goal. Dallas stopped any thought of a Miami comeback as Thomas had a 3-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter, and then a 7-yard touchdown reception by Mike Ditka in the 4th quarter sealed the Dallas victory.

A great part of Dallas’s success in Super Bowl VI was the play of the Doomsday Defense, which kept Bob Griese, Larry Csonka and Miami’s offense in check all game long. In fact the Doomsday Defense led the NFC in allowing the fewest rushing yards with 1,144. In comparison the Cowboys offense led the entire NFL in points scored with 401 and total yards gained with 5,035. Roger Staubach would also win the Bert Bell Award, be named an All-Pro Quarterback and be selected to the Pro Bowl. The 1971 campaign only scratched the surface of what the Dallas Cowboys were truly capable of.