The 1967 Season

Record: 9-5
Capitol Division Champion
Eastern Conference Champion

Synopsis:

The NFL re-aligned to a divisional format. The winners of each division would play each other with the winner playing the other conference champion. The Cowboys were placed into the Capital Division of the NFL's Eastern Division. The offseason brought a few new players to the team as the Cowboys continued their late-round success. The Cowboys newest success was Rayfield Wright, drafted in the seventh round.

The Cowboys were almost a given for the playoffs--re-alignment had placed them in a weak division as no other team had a winning record. Despite the weak schedule, the Cowboys struggled to a 9-5 record. The offense and the defense recorded declines, but still was enough for Dallas to get into the new playoff format. The Cowboys won played the Cleveland Browns in the first divisional game and whipped the Browns 52-14 for their first playoff win. This win allowed the Cowboys a re-match with the Green Bay Packers.

The 1967 NFC Championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers was one of the best known games in the history of the NFL At game time, the temperature was -15 oF. The field was coated with ice. The game became known as the "Ice Bowl." The Cowboys overcame an early 14-0 deficit to lead the game 17-14 in the fourth quarter. This tough fought game came to an end as the Packers scored with 16 seconds left in the game on Bart Starr's quarterback sneak after Dallas made a great goal-line stand. This propelled the Packers to win Super Bowl II and the Cowboys to go home to question their ability to win the big one.

Notables:

• New Divisional Format places Dallas in Capitol Division of Eastern Conference.
• First Division Title
• Plans to build Texas Stadium announced on December 23
• First Playoff Win over Cleveland
• Dallas loses NFL Title game in "Ice Bowl" versus Green Bay

see 1967 NFL Standings