The 1992 Season

Record: 13-3
NFC Eastern Division Champions
NFC Champions
Super Bowl XXVII Champions

Synopsis:

The Cowboys continued their recent success in the draft. This year's winners were CB Kevin Smith, LB Robert Jones, S Darren Woodsen, and CB Clayton Holmes. This year's draft doesn't match the superb draft of 1991, but filled the defensive secondary void that ended the Cowboy's previous season. Dallas also made trades to pick up Charles Haley and Thomas Everett. Now the offense and the defense were set to make a run.

Although the Eagles were the preseason favorites, the Cowboys began the season 8-1. The lone loss was to the Eagles 31-7. Dallas might not be ready yet, but the Eagles had bigger problems by losing 3 of 4 after the win. In the season finale against Chicago, Dallas had already clinched the NFC East, but a little known player propelled the Cowboys in the playoffs, just not the way he wanted. With the Cowboys leading 27-0 in the 4th quarter, Curvin Richards replaced Emmitt Smith and fumbled twice. It didn't cost Dallas the win, but Jimmy Johnson cut Richards before the playoffs. If the Cowboys needed an incentive to do their best, they got it. The Cowboys scored an impressive 409 points. The defense was forming into a championship caliber and allowed only 243 points.

The Eagles came calling in the first game of the playoffs. The Eagles were no match in the 34-10 rout to move on to San Francisco and the NFC Championship Game. The Cowboys marched in and after a 10-10 tie at half-time, and blitzed the 49ers for a 30-20 win. The Cowboys made it to Super Bowl XXVII against the Buffalo Bills, their first since Super Bowl XIII. The Cowboys were no match for the Bills and won 52-17 for their third Super Bowl Trophy.

The Cowboys opponent was the Buffalo Bills, the losers of the past two Super Bowls. Dallas was hoping that the third time was not the charm. Buffalo scored first, but Dallas took control and led 28-10 at half-time. It got worse. Buffalo turned the ball over a total of nine times. The final was 52-17. Dallas had a shot at the record of 55. Leon Lett picked up a fumble after a Jeffcoat sack and raced for the touchdown. His showboating just before the goalline allowed Don Beebe to catch up and knock the ball through the back of the endzone. The play, well after the game was decided, showed the pride that Don Beebe and the Buffalo Bills have and why the Bills were the only team to go to four straight Super Bowls. They deserved a better fate than to lose each of the four. The Cowboys, on the other hand, finished a transformation from 1-15 in 1989 to Super Bowl Champions in 1992.

Notables:

• Emmitt Smith leads league in rushing
• 3rd Super Bowl Victory

see 1992 NFL Standings