# 1985 Dallas Cowboys season

The 1985 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League. The Cowboys improved on their 9-7 record from 1984 and made the playoffs after a one-year absence. This marked the final postseason appearance for the Cowboys under Tom Landry and Bum Bright, where they were shut out 20–0 in the divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams. The team holds the record for consecutive winning seasons with 20.

## Summary

Tom Landry's team got off to a fast start, opening the season with 44–14 trouncing of their longtime nemesis, the Redskins, and later defeating the Steelers (their first victory over Pittsburgh since 1972) to give the team a 5–1 record and an early two-game lead over the rest of the division. However, the team was up and down the rest of the way, finishing out the season 5–5 and allowing both the Giants and Redskins to catch up with them at 10–6. Two wins each over both the Giants and Redskins allowed the Cowboys to win the division based on the tie-breaking rules. During the inconsistent stretch toward the end of the season, the Cowboys suffered two of the most embarrassing defeats in team history. On November 17, the undefeated Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and gave the Cowboys a 44–0 beating that was the 2nd worst loss in team history, and it was also the first time in 218 games that the Cowboys had not scored. Three weeks later the team traveled to Cincinnati, where the Bengals handed them a 50–24 loss, piling up 570 yards in the process, the most yards the Cowboys had given up in team history. The Cowboys proved to be a resilient bunch however, winning a crucial game at home against the Giants the following week that gave them their first division title since 1981, and the final for Tom Landry. That game would prove to be the last highlight of the season, as the team was shut out in the playoffs for the first time in team history, 20–0, by the Rams at Anaheim Stadium, which would prove to be the final playoff appearance for the Cowboys under Landry.
With the previous season's quarterback controversy behind him, Danny White led the Cowboys' passing game to number three overall in the league. Wide receiver Tony Hill posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards, and Mike Renfro blossomed in his second season with the Cowboys. Tight end Doug Cosbie had another Pro Bowl season. Turnovers proved to be a problem though, as White and backup quarterback Gary Hogeboom combined to throw 24 interceptions. Running back Tony Dorsett was the only reliable ball carrier on the roster, rushing for 1,307 yards on the season, and going over 10,000 yards for his career. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys registered 62 sacks and 33 interceptions, with cornerback Everson Walls becoming the first player to ever lead the league in interceptions three times, with nine. The big plays covered up a pass defense that ranked 27th in the league, and a defense that ranked 23rd overall. The secondary allowed big plays through the air throughout the season, and the defense allowed running back Eric Dickerson to rush for a playoff record 248 yards in their playoff game against the Rams.

### NFL Draft

1985 Dallas Cowboys draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 17 | Kevin Brooks | DE | Michigan | |
| 2 | 44 | Jesse Penn | LB | Virginia Tech | |
| 3 | 76 | Crawford Ker | OG | Florida | |
| 4 | 103 | Robert Lavette | RB | Georgia Tech | |
| 5 | 114 | Herschel Walker * | RB | Georgia | |
| 5 | 119 | Matt Darwin | C | Texas A&M | He chose not to sign and enter the 1986 Draft |
| 6 | 144 | Kurt Ploeger | DE | Gustavus Adolphus | |
| 6 | 157 | Matt Moran | OG | Stanford | |
| 7 | 178 | Karl Powe | WR | Alabama State | |
| 7 | 184 | Jim Herrmann | DE | Brigham Young | |
| 8 | 216 | Leon Gonzalez | WR | Bethune-Cookman | |
| 9 | 243 | Scott Strasburger | LB | Nebraska | |
| 10 | 270 | Joe Jones | TE | Virginia Tech | |
| 11 | 297 | Neal Dellocono | LB | UCLA | |
| 12 | 324 | Karl Jordan | LB | Vanderbilt | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1985 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Bryan Wagner | Punter | Cal State Northridge |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 9 | Washington Redskins | W 44–14 | 1–0 | Texas Stadium | 62,292 | Recap |
| 2 | September 15 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–26 | 1–1 | Pontiac Silverdome | 72,985 | Recap |
| 3 | September 22 | Cleveland Browns | W 20–7 | 2–1 | Texas Stadium | 61,456 | Recap |
| 4 | September 29 | at Houston Oilers | W 17–10 | 3–1 | Houston Astrodome | 49,686 | Recap |
| 5 | October 6 | at New York Giants | W 30–29 | 4–1 | Giants Stadium | 74,981 | Recap |
| 6 | October 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 27–13 | 5–1 | Texas Stadium | 63,062 | Recap |
| 7 | October 20 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–16 | 5–2 | Veterans Stadium | 70,114 | Recap |
| 8 | October 27 | Atlanta Falcons | W 24–10 | 6–2 | Texas Stadium | 57,941 | Recap |
| 9 | November 4 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 10–21 | 6–3 | Busch Stadium | 49,347 | Recap |
| 10 | November 10 | at Washington Redskins | W 13–7 | 7–3 | RFK Stadium | 55,750 | Recap |
| 11 | November 17 | Chicago Bears | L 0–44 | 7–4 | Texas Stadium | 63,855 | Recap |
| 12 | November 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 34–17 | 8–4 | Texas Stadium | 54,047 | Recap |
| 13 | November 28 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 35–17 | 9–4 | Texas Stadium | 54,125 | Recap |
| 14 | December 8 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 24–50 | 9–5 | Riverfront Stadium | 56,936 | Recap |
| 15 | December 15 | New York Giants | W 28–21 | 10–5 | Texas Stadium | 62,310 | Recap |
| 16 | December 22 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 16–31 | 10–6 | Candlestick Park | 60,114 | Recap |
Division opponents are in bold text

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Cowboys | 3 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 44 |

#### Week 5

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 30 |
| Giants | 3 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 29 |

### Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
* Date: October 13, 1985
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
* Game attendance: 62,932
* Referee: Tom Dooley
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Steelers | Cowboys |
| 2 | | | | | Steelers | 48-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Tony Dorsett 56-yard touchdown reception from Danny White, Rafael Septién kick good | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | 38-yard field goal by Rafael Septién | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | 39-yard field goal by Rafael Septién | 3 | 13 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Interception returned 19 yards for touchdown by Eugene Lockhart, Rafael Septién kick good | 3 | 20 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | 34-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 6 | 20 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | Walter Abercrombie 1-yard touchdown run, Gary Anderson kick good | 13 | 20 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Tony Dorsett 35-yard touchdown run, Rafael Septién kick good | 13 | 27 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 13 | 27 |

#### Week 15: vs. New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Cowboys | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |

### Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Dallas Cowboys$^{(3)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 6–2 | 7–5 | 357 | 333 | L1 |
| New York Giants$^{(4)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–3 | 8–4 | 399 | 283 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 297 | 312 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–4 | 6–8 | 286 | 310 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–7 | 3–9 | 278 | 414 | L2 |

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
| Wild Card | First Round Bye | First Round Bye | First Round Bye | First Round Bye | First Round Bye | First Round Bye |
| Divisional | January 4, 1986 | at Los Angeles Rams (2) | L 0–20 | Anaheim Stadium | 66,351 | Recap |

## Divisional playoffs
### January 4, 1986
#### NFC: Los Angeles Rams 20, Dallas Cowboys 0

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rams | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 20 |
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), fog, drizzle
* Game attendance: 66,581
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck, Hank Stram and Dick Vermeil

## Awards

* The Cowboys sent four players to the Pro Bowl following the 1985 season. Wide receiver Tony Hill went to his first since 1979, tight end Doug Cosbie was named to his third consecutive game, cornerback Everson Walls achieved his fourth, and defensive tackle Randy White was named to his ninth consecutive pro bowl. Randy White was named to the associated press All-NFL first team, while Everson Walls was named to the second team.
* Everson Walls, NFL Leader, Interceptions, (9)

## 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