1992 Dallas Cowboys season

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1992 Dallas Cowboys season
Head coach Jimmy Johnson
Owner Jerry Jones
Home field Texas Stadium
Results
Record 13–3
Division place 1st NFC East
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 34–10
Won Conference Championship (at 49ers) 30–20
Won Super Bowl XXVII (Bills) 52–17

The 1992 Dallas Cowboys season would mark their 33rd in the NFL and their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1990s. Since purchasing the team in 1989, team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson guided one of the worst teams of all time to Super Bowl champions four seasons later. Headed by an explosive offense and the NFL's number one ranked defense, Dallas fielded at the time, the youngest team in the NFL and posted a franchise best 13–3 record throughout the regular season. In the playoffs, the Cowboys disposed of the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by a memorable victory against the San Francisco 49ers en route to a Super Bowl XXVII win over the Buffalo Bills.

Regular season

The season would start off with two crucial wins against the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, both victors of the previous two Super Bowls. A ferocious Dallas defense, with not a single player nominated to the Pro Bowl, placed first in the NFL in total defense. Running back Emmitt Smith would also collect his second straight NFL rushing title. The 1992 season would also see a renewed rivalry between the Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game set over a decade after the famous play known as The Catch. This ultimately started the rise of the 49ers and fall of the Cowboys throughout the 1980s. The rise of the 1990s Cowboys was christened with a 30–20 victory against San Francisco at Candlestick Park. Both franchises would later meet again in the next two NFC Championship games in what many consider to be a classic series of contest of future Hall of Fame players.

At the Rose Bowl, site of Super Bowl XXVII, the Cowboys would struggle early finding themselves down 0–7, but later regroup when Aikman's pass to tight end Jay Novacek tied the game 7–7. From there, Dallas would gain all momentum and rout the Buffalo Bills 52–17, forcing a record 9 turnovers and knocking Bills quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game. Troy Aikman would earn Super Bowl MVP honors after completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns to wrap up a phenomenal postseason performance.

Notable additions to the team this year included defensive end Charles Haley, cornerback Kevin Smith, linebacker Robert Jones, safety Thomas Everett, safety Darren Woodson and wide receiver Jimmy Smith (though Smith would never catch a pass during his time with the team).

The Dallas defense (nicknamed "Doomsday Defense") enjoyed a renaissance, but has never received due credit for its achievements:

  • It was only the third defense since 1980 to hold opponents to fewer than 4,000 yards in a 16-game season. The other defenses to have done it are recognized as two of the greatest of modern era – the 1984 Chicago Bears and the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles.
  • It was the second defense to rank No. 1 in fewest yards yielded without sending a player to the Pro Bowl. The 1983 Cincinnati Bengals, who had a losing record were the first.
  • The defense finished first in the NFL in total defense (245.8 yards-per-game), while the secondary finished the year fifth in passing defense (168.1 yards-per-game).
  • It led the NFL in defense against the rush and fewest first downs allowed. Its league lead in preventing third-down conversions was staggering. Dallas's opponents converted 27.2 percent. The Seattle Seahawks ranked second at 32.6 percent.
  • It set a club record by holding the Seattle Seahawks to 62 yards in a 27–0 victory and closed the season by holding the Chicago Bears to fewer than 100 yards.
  • Super Bowl XXVII saw the Cowboys defense at its best, producing a Super Bowl record 9 turnovers (5 fumbles and 4 interceptions) and even scoring two touchdowns.
  • Four starters were rookies or second year players (Russell Maryland, Robert Jones, Larry Brown and Kevin Smith), and two other joined the team after the preseason (Charles Haley and Thomas Everett).
  • This version of the "Doomsday Defense" had tremendous speed and depth. They were also young, with the age of the starters averaging 25 ½ years.

Schedule

Opponent Result TV Time Attendance
Washington Redskins 23 10 W ABC 8:00pm
63,538
at New York Giants 34 28 W CBS 12:00pm
76,430
Phoenix Cardinals 31 20 W CBS 3:00pm
62,575
Bye
at Philadelphia Eagles 7 31 L ABC 8:00pm
66,572
Seattle Seahawks 27 0 W NBC 12:00pm
62,311
Kansas City Chiefs 17 10 W NBC 12:00pm
64,115
at Los Angeles Raiders 28 13 W CBS 3:00pm
91,505
Philadelphia Eagles 20 10 W CBS 3:00pm
65,012
at Detroit Lions 37 3 W CBS 12:00pm
74,816
Los Angeles Rams 23 27 L CBS 3:00pm
63,690
at Phoenix Cardinals 16 10 W CBS 3:00pm
72,439
New York Giants 30 3 W CBS 3:00pm
62,416
at Denver Broncos 31 27 W CBS 3:00pm
74,946
at Washington Redskins 17 20 L CBS 3:00pm
56,437
at Atlanta Falcons 41 17 W ABC 8:00pm
67,036
Chicago Bears 27 14 W CBS 3:00pm
63,101

Standings

NFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Dallas Cowboys 13 3 0 .813 409 243 W2
(5) Philadelphia Eagles 11 5 0 .688 354 245 W4
(6) Washington Redskins 9 7 0 .563 300 255 L2
New York Giants 6 10 0 .375 306 367 L1
Phoenix Cardinals 4 12 0 .250 243 332 L2

Week 1: vs Washington Redskins

Week 1: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 0 7 0 3 10
Cowboys 9 7 7 0 23

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 83°F (Clear/Humid)
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV: ABC

Week 2: at New York Giants

Week 2: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 17 10 7 0 34
Giants 0 0 14 14 28

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 64°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV: CBS

The Cowboys won despite giving up the game's final 28 points.

Week 3: vs Phoenix Cardinals

Week 3: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 7 3 3 7 20
Cowboys 14 7 7 3 31

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 84°F (Clear/Humid)
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV: CBS

Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 5: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 7 0 0 0 7
Eagles 10 0 7 14 31

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 55°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV: ABC

The Cowboys were defeated in their first meeting with Eagles running back Herschel Walker since they traded him from Dallas to the Vikings during the 1989 season. Walker scored twice while putting up 100 all-purpose yards against the Cowboys. Troy Aikman was intercepted three times.

Week 6: vs Seattle Seahawks

Week 6: Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 0 0 0 0 0
Cowboys 7 13 7 0 27

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 66°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV: NBC

Week 7: vs Kansas City Chiefs

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 3 7 0 0 10
Cowboys 7 7 3 0 17

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 60°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV: NBC

Week 8: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week 8: Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Raiders
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 7 0 7 14 28
Raiders 6 0 7 0 13

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 79°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Gerald Austin
  • TV: CBS

Emmitt Smith led the way with 152 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, with Troy Aikman running for a TD to go along with his 234 yards passing. The Cowboys' defense held Los Angeles to just 188 total offensive yards - 71 rushing and 117 passing.

Week 9: vs Philadelphia Eagles

Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 0 0 10 0 10
Cowboys 0 3 7 10 20

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 69°F (Partly cloudy)
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV: CBS

Week 10: at Detroit Lions

Week 10: Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 14 6 14 3 37
Lions 0 3 0 0 3

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Dome controlled
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV: CBS

The Cowboys held the Lions to 201 total yards, 108 of them from Barry Sanders. Rodney Peete and Erik Kramer were intercepted a total of three times.

Week 11: vs Los Angeles Rams

Week 11: Los Angeles Rams at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 7 14 0 6 27
Cowboys 3 10 10 0 23

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 70°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV: CBS

Week 12: at Phoenix Cardinals

Week 12: Dallas Cowboys at Phoenix Cardinals
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 0 10 6 0 16
Cardinals 7 0 0 3 10

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 65°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV: CBS

Week 13: vs New York Giants

Week 13: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 0 3 0 0 3
Cowboys 3 6 14 7 30

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 43°F (Cloudy)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV: CBS

Week 14: at Denver Broncos

Week 14: Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 14 3 7 7 31
Broncos 7 6 7 7 27

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 45°F (Clear)
  • Referee: Gerald Austin
  • TV: CBS

The Cowboys had their hands full as Tommy Maddox threw three touchdowns but was intercepted four times. The Broncos took a fourth-quarter lead on an 81-yard touchdown to Cedric Tillman. Emmitt Smith was held to just 62 yards but ran in the winning score.

Week 15: at Washington Redskins

Week 15: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 3 14 0 0 17
Redskins 0 7 3 10 20

at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C:

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 43°F (Cloudy)
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV: CBS

Emmitt Smith recovered a fumble in his own endzone in the fourth quarter; he threw the ball and was intercepted by Danny Copeland for the winning Redskins touchdown. A livid Jimmy Johnson railed at his players on the air flight home.

Week 16: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 16: Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 3 17 14 7 41
Falcons 7 3 0 7 17

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 21
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Dome controlled
  • TV: ABC

Week 17: vs Chicago Bears

Week 17: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0 0 0 14 14
Cowboys 0 3 24 0 27

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 61°F (Partly cloudy)
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV: CBS

Curvin Richards rushed for his only career touchdown, but fumbled twice and was cut from the Cowboys the next day.

Post-Season

NFC Divisional Round: Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 3 0 0 7 10
Cowboys 7 10 10 7 34

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The Cowboys held the Eagles to 178 total net yards; Randall Cunningham managed a late touchdown but managed only 182 combined yards and was sacked five times for 45 lost yards; Herschel Walker managed only 29 rushing yards and caught six passes for 37 yards. Troy Aikman had two touchdowns and 200 passing yards (88 of them to Michael Irvin) while Emmitt Smith rushed for 114 yards and a score.

NFC Conference Championship: Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20

1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 3 7 7 13 30
49ers 7 3 3 7 20

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

The two teams combined for 831 yards in the Cowboys first overall win over the 49ers since 1980. A failed Cowboys fourth-down conversion attempt while up 24-13 set up Steve Young's touchdown to Jerry Rice late in the fourth quarter, but San Francisco's comeback attempt ended when a 70-yard Alvin Harper catch set up Kelvin Martin's touchdown catch and a subsequent interception of Young, the Niners' fourth turnover of the game.

Super Bowl

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Further information: Super Bowl XXVII
1 2 3 4 Total
Bills (AFC) 7 3 7 0 17
Cowboys (NFC) 14 14 3 21 52

at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Roster

Dallas Cowboys 1992 roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

 Reserve Lists

Rookies in italics
50 Active, 1 Inactive

Awards and records


Publications

The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4
Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2

References

External links

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