The 1994 Season

Record: 12-4
NFC Eastern Division Champion
NFC Runner-Up

Synopsis:

The 1994 brought change in the Cowboy organization. Jimmy Johnson left after a tussle with Jerry Jones and Jones brought in Barry Switzer to lead the Cowboys. The draft was good with the additions of Shante Carver and Larry Allen. The Cowboys needed a good draft to replace players that left in the new age of free agency. Stars such as Ken Norton, Jr, Jimmie Jones, Tony Casillas, Kevin Gogan, and Eddie Murray left for greener pastures. This 1994 team was very different from the 1993.

The season began well with a 26-9 demolition of the Pittsburgh Steelers and 8-1 record to begin. The true test came in week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers whose sole purpose was to build a team that would defeat Dallas. They did, by the score of 21-14, but the loss was not of great concern, Aikman has an unusually bad day. Aikman's injury against Washington led to Jason Garrett leading the Cowboys to a 42-31 shoot-out on Thanksgiving and Rodney Peete winning at Philadelphia the following week. Dallas lost two of the last three to finish 12-4 and the NFC title.

Dallas again started the playoffs with Green Bay and never allowed Green Bay in the game, winning 35-9. The NFC Championship Game against San Francisco was the one everyone was waiting for. Unforturately, Dallas was never in the game. In the first five minutes of the first quarter, Aikman's pass was intercepted for a touchdown, Irvin was stripped which promptly led to a 49er touchdown, and then Kevin Williams fumbled the kickoff that allowed the 49ers to score yet again. The 21-0 score was too much to overcome. Dallas did make the final respectable, but lost 38-28. There would no three-peat.

Notables:

• First year under Barry Switzer on March 30
• Tony Dorsett inducted into "Ring of Honor"
• Randy White inducted into "Ring of Honor"

see 1994 NFL Standings