The 1995 Season

Record: 12-4
NFC Eastern Division Champion
NFC Champion
Super Bowl XXX Champion

Synopsis:

Dallas began the 1995 season with a since of purpose. The sole goal of this season was to regain the Super Bowl Championship. The problem was free agency depleted an once-deep Cowboy team. Stars such as Alvin Harper and Jim Jeffcoat along with other left for other teams. The draft did bring in back-ups for Emmitt Smith and Jay Novacek in terms of Sherman Williams and Eric Bjornson. Dallas also signed vertern Wade Wilson to back-up Troy Aikman. The turnover left Dallas in a position that injuries could determine the entire season.

Dallas served notice to the league by destroying the New York Giants 35-0 in the season opener on Monday Night. At the same time, Dallas managed the coop, signing free agent Deion Sanders to the team. Dallas started the season 8-1, losing only to Washington by 4. The real test was in week 11, against rival and defending champs San Francisco. Switzer had never beaten the 49ers, and while Dallas was at home this time, the 49ers still dealt Dallas their second loss. Ater two wins, Dallas lost the second of two defeats to the 6-10 Washington Redskins. The next game was against the Philadelphia Eagles in the infamous 4th and 1 game where Switzer went for it on fourth down late in the game -- twice. The failure to convert allowed Philadelphia to kick the game-winning field goal and add to Barry's misery as coach. The losses were not enough to keep Dallas from the NFC East title and an overall 12-4 record. The offense had smoked opponents for 435 points, with most drives ending with one of Emmitt Smith's 25 touchdowns. The defense only allowed 291 points and it was time for another playoff run.

Dallas began the playoffs with a rematch of the Philadelphia Eagles, this time at home. There wouldn't be any fourth and 1 decisions this time as Dallas easily won 30-11 to advance to the NFC Championship Game, this time versus the Green Bay Packers who upset San Francisco the week before. The Green Bay-Dallas rivalry stretched back to the 60's, but Dallas was the dominate team now and this season was no different. Dallas ended Green Bay's season for the third straight season with a 38-27 win. Dallas had made it to Super Bowl XXX to face another rival-- the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that had defeated the Cowboys twice before the Super Bowl. This time was different. The highly-contested game was finally won by the Cowboys as Steeler quarterback threw his second costly interception late in the fourth quarter with the Steelers driving for the potentially winning score. The 27-17 win gave the Cowboys their third Super Bowl win the last four seasons and gave Barry Switzer some vindication against his critics.

Notables:

• 5th Super Bowl Victory
• Emmitt Smith scores an NFL record 25 touchdowns.
• Michael Irvin records an NFL record 11 games of 100+ receiving yardage.
• Michael Irvin ties an NFL record 7 consecutive games of 100+ receiving yardage.
• Emmitt Smith leads league in rushing

see 1995 NFL Standings