On Day 30 of the Cowboys’ 100-game countdown, the spotlight falls on one of the cleanest playoff statements of the Tom Landry era: Dallas walking into Bloomington on December 25, 1971 and knocking off a Vikings team that had won eight straight to close the regular season.
The setting was Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota, and the final line was Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12. What made it stand out wasn’t just the win itself, but the way Dallas pieced it together.
The Cowboys didn’t try to outmuscle a team built around Gary Cuozzo, a physical rushing attack and the Purple People Eaters defense. They took what Minnesota gave them, turned mistakes into points and leaned on a veteran defense that kept the Vikings from ever finding a real rhythm.
The first break came when Larry Cole forced Dave Osborn to fumble and Jethro Pugh recovered at the Minnesota 36-yard line. Roger Staubach hit Bob Hayes for 18 yards on the next possession, but Page’s third-down sack stalled things. Mike Clark still put Dallas on the board with a 26-yard field goal, and Fred Cox answered with a 27-yarder to make it 3-3.
Then Chuck Howley changed the tone again, intercepting Bob Lee and returning it 26 yards into Minnesota territory. Dallas didn’t cash in with a touchdown, but Clark’s 44-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 6-3 halftime lead. Minnesota had its own chance to swing things after Clint Jones ripped off a 61-yard kickoff return, but the drive went nowhere and Cox missed a 41-yard field goal after three incompletions.
The game opened up right after the break. Cliff Harris picked off Lee and returned it 30 yards to the Minnesota 13, and Duane Thomas scored on the very next play. Just like that, Dallas had a 13-3 cushion without needing a long, grinding drive.
Later in the half, the Cowboys put together their best sustained possession. Charlie Waters returned a punt 24 yards, Staubach converted a third-and-15, and then connected with Lance Alworth for 30 yards before Bob Hayes caught a nine-yard touchdown to push the lead to 20-3.
Minnesota made one last push in the fourth quarter. Page sacked Staubach in the end zone for a safety, and after the free kick Gary Cuozzo replaced Lee. Cuozzo moved the Vikings deep into Dallas territory, but Lee Roy Jordan intercepted him at the 10-yard line and shut the door before the rally could build.
Cuozzo finally found Stu Voigt for a six-yard touchdown with a little more than two minutes left, trimming the margin to 20-12. But the Cowboys recovered the onside kick and closed it out.
That’s why this one earns its place in the countdown. Dallas didn’t need a flashy offensive avalanche. It won by being patient, by surviving Minnesota’s pressure, and by turning defense and field position into a playoff victory that moved the Cowboys one step closer to the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Backup RB Battle Twist To Watch
The backup running back picture got a little more interesting in the preseason opener against Seattle, when Phil Mafah went down with a chest injury and did not return. His exit came early enough to change the rotation, and Jaydon Blue picked up more playing time in Mafahs absence as Dallas kept sorting through its depth chart behind the top options.
Now the focus shifts to the next preseason game against Arizona, where Mafahs availability is in question until Brian Schottenheimer offers an update. For a roster spot that was already going to be decided on the margins, even a short-term setback can matter, especially with Blue getting a chance to make a case while the Cowboys wait to see how Mafah responds. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys RB2 Battle Suddenly Looks Very Different After One Preseason Game
The Cowboys preseason opener offered an early look at a running back group that suddenly feels a little more open than it did a week ago. Malik Davis was the most productive of the backups, flashing with limited touches while Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah were also trying to make their own case for roster and role consideration.
Davis did not get a carry until the third quarter, but he still finished with 39 rushing yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry, enough to stand out in a game where every snap mattered for the reserves. Mafahs night ended early after a chest injury, and with the battle for the second spot already worth watching, Dallas now has a clearer reason to keep sorting out who belongs where behind the top of the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys May Have Already Fixed A Defensive Problem Fans Hated
The Cowboys preseason opener offered one early sign that a long-frustrating problem might be moving in the right direction. After a defense that struggled badly with missed tackles a year ago, Dallas was noticeably cleaner in this exhibition, with several players helping set a sharper tone. Curtis Robinson and Julian Wood were among those involved in the effort, and the linebacker group is beginning to take shape as the staff works through its options.
Christian Parkers arrival has given that side of the ball a different feel, and the results so far suggest the Cowboys are trying to build something sturdier after last seasons defensive mess. There is still plenty of time for camp to test that progress, but the early signs around DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters and Justin Barron point to a unit that is at least trending toward being more disciplined and more reliable. [Read more 🡒]