| Team: | Dallas Cowboys |
| Year: | 1974 |
| Record: | 8–6 |
| Division Place: | 3rd NFC East |
| Coach: | Tom Landry |
| General Manager: | Tex Schramm |
| Owner: | Clint Murchison, Jr. |
| Stadium: | Texas Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | None |
| Shortnavlink: | Cowboys seasons |
The 1974 Dallas Cowboys season was their 15th in the league, all under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys failed to improve on their previous output of 10–4, winning only eight games.[1] They missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the only time in eighteen seasons (1966–1983) that the Cowboys did not advance to the postseason.
The Cowboys began with a 1–4 start and although they went 7–2 afterwards, it was not enough to overcome the slow start.
The season featured one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games in Cowboys history. Trailing 16–3 in the second half (and having already lost quarterback Roger Staubach to injury), little used backup Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes to lead the team to a 24–23 victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium.
This was also a season of transition; as it was the final season of Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. Also finishing their careers were fullback Walt Garrison and center Dave Manders. Also, it was the final season in Dallas for wide receiver Bob Hayes (who finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers the following year), running back Calvin Hill (who departed for the Hawaiians of the World Football League), defensive end Pat Toomay (who left for the Buffalo Bills), guard John Niland (who left the following year for the Philadelphia Eagles), and quarterback Craig Morton (traded early in the season to the New York Giants).
See main article: 1974 NFL draft. [2]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 24–0 | 1–0 | Atlanta Stadium | 52,332 | Recap | |
| 2 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 10–13 | 1–1 | Veterans Stadium | 64,089 | Recap | ||
| 3 | September 29 | New York Giants | L 6–14 | 1–2 | Texas Stadium | 45,841 | Recap | |
| 4 | October 6 | Minnesota Vikings | L 21–23 | 1–3 | Texas Stadium | 57,847 | Recap | |
| 5 | October 13 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 28–31 | 1–4 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 49,885 | Recap | |
| 6 | October 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 31–24 | 2–4 | Texas Stadium | 43,586 | Recap | |
| 7 | October 27 | at New York Giants | W 21–7 | 3–4 | Yale Bowl | 57,381 | Recap | |
| 8 | November 3 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 17–14 | 4–4 | Texas Stadium | 64,146 | Recap | |
| 9 | November 10 | San Francisco 49ers | W 20–14 | 5–4 | Texas Stadium | 50,018 | Recap | |
| 10 | November 17 | at Washington Redskins | L 21–28 | 5–5 | RFK Stadium | 54,395 | Recap | |
| 11 | November 24 | at Houston Oilers | W 10–0 | 6–5 | Houston Astrodome | 49,775 | Recap | |
| 12 | November 28 | Washington Redskins | W 24–23 | 7–5 | Texas Stadium | 63,243 | Recap | |
| 13 | Cleveland Browns | W 41–17 | 8–5 | Texas Stadium | 48,754 | Recap | ||
| 14 | at Oakland Raiders | L 23–27 | 8–6 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 45,840 | Recap |
See also: 1974 New York Giants season and Cowboys–Giants rivalry.
Thanksgiving Day
Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game.