The 1981 Season
Record: 12-4
NFC Eastern Division Champions
NFC Runner-Up
Synopsis:
- The 1981 season with the Cowboys attempting to regain supremacy in the NFC
East and the NFC. The Cowboys didn't suffer any significant retirements, but the
draft didn't bring in many stars. However, the Cowboys helped their defense with
the pick-up of Emerson Walls and Michael Downs.
- Dallas began the season with four straight wins before dropping back to back
road games. The last was against the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana, and
the 45-14 defeat was one of the worst defeats in recent history. Dallas bounced
back before having two win streaks of four games each. Dallas finished the season
with a 12-4 record and the NFC East Championship. The offense scored 367 points
while the defense allowed 277, both in the middle of the league.
- Dallas began the playoffs with a 38-0 trouncing of Tampa Bay. This set-up a
rematch with the San Francisco 49ers. The game turned out to be one of the most
pivotal games in the history of the Cowboys. The Cowboys were leading 27-21 late
in the fourth quarter when Joe Montana led the 49ers on a 90-yard TD drive, ending
with the play simply known as "The Catch." The 28-27 victory for the 49ers signaled
the beginning of NFL dominance by the 49ers, and the end by the Cowboys.
Notables:
- Mel Renfro inducted into "Ring of Honor" on October 25
| Preseason |
|---|
| Week | Date | Opponent | W/L | Score |
|---|
| - | Aug 8 | Green Bay | L | 17-21 |
| - | Aug 15 | at Los Angeles | L | 21-33 |
| - | Aug 22 | Pittsburgh | W | 24-14 |
| - | Aug 29 | Houston | W | 28-20 |
Regular Season
|
|---|
| Week | Date | Opponent | W/L | Score |
|---|
| 1 | Sept 6 | at Washington | W | 26-10 |
| 2 | Sept 13 | St. Louis | W | 30-17 |
| 3 | Sept 21 (Mon) | at New England | W | 35-21 |
| 4 | Sept 27 | NY Giants | W | 18-10 |
| 5 | Oct 4 | at St. Louis | L | 17-20 |
| 6 | Oct 11 | at San Francisco | L | 14-45 |
| 7 | Oct 18 | Los Angeles | W | 29-17 |
| 8 | Oct 25 | Miami | W | 28-27 |
| 9 | Nov 1 | at Philadelphia | W | 17-14 |
| 10 | Nov 9 (Mon) | Buffalo | W | 27-14 |
| 11 | Nov 15 | at Detroit | L | 24-27 |
| 12 | Nov 22 | Washington | W | 24-10 |
| 13 | Nov 26 (Thurs) | Chicago | W | 10-09 |
| 14 | Dec 6 | at Baltimore | W | 37-13 |
| 15 | Dec 13 | Philadelphia | W | 21-10 |
| 16 | Dec 19 (Sat) | at NY Giants | L | 10-13 (OT) |
Playoffs
|
|---|
| Week | Date | Opponent | W/L | Score |
|---|
| Div | Jan 2 (Sat) | Tampa Bay | W | 38-00 |
| NFC | Jan 10 | at San Francisco | L | 27-28 |
Last Updated: August 10, 2000
jrbeasley@email.msn.com