# 1971 Dallas Cowboys season

The 1971 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League (NFL), the first at the new Texas Stadium in suburban Irving, Texas, and the 12th season under head coach Tom Landry. The Cowboys led the NFL with 406 points scored. Their defense allowed 222 points.
For the sixth consecutive season, the Cowboys had a first-place finish. They won their second-consecutive NFC championship, then defeated the Miami Dolphins 24–3 in Super Bowl VI to capture their first Super Bowl championship. They were the first team from the NFC to win a Super Bowl since the 1970 merger of the NFL and the American Football League (AFL), and subsequently, the first team from the NFC East division to win the title.

## NFL Draft

The 1971 NFL draft was one of the worst in the history of the franchise, although the Cowboys recovered draft choices by trading Tody Smith and Ike Thomas to other teams. Third-round selection Bill Gregory played seven seasons with the Cowboys, winning two Super Bowl rings. Eighth-round selection Ron Jessie was cut after the Cowboys acquired San Diego Chargers All-Pro Lance Alworth, but went on to enjoy a long and successful NFL career with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.
1971 Dallas Cowboys draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 25 | Tody Smith | DE | USC |
| 2 | 51 | Ike Thomas | DB | Bishop |
| 3 | 69 | Sam Scarber | RB | New Mexico |
| 3 | 77 | Bill Gregory | DT | Wisconsin |
| 4 | 80 | Joe Carter | TE | Grambling State |
| 4 | 103 | Adam Mitchell | OT | Ole Miss |
| 5 | 129 | Ron Kadziel | LB | Stanford |
| 6 | 155 | Steve Maier | WR | Northern Arizona |
| 7 | 181 | Bill Griffin | OT | Catawba |
| 8 | 206 | Ron Jessie * | WR | Kansas |
| 9 | 233 | Honor Jackson | DB | Pacific |
| 10 | 259 | Rodney Wallace | OT | New Mexico |
| 11 | 285 | Ernest Bonwell | DT | Lane |
| 12 | 311 | Steve Goepel | QB | Colgate |
| 13 | 337 | James Ford | RB | Texas Southern |
| 14 | 363 | Tyrone Couey | DB | Utah State |
| 15 | 389 | Bob Young | TE | Delaware |
| 16 | 415 | John Brennan | OT | Boston College |
| 17 | 440 | John Bomer | C | Memphis |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | August 6 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 45–21 | 1–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 87,187 | Recap |
| 2 | August 14 | New Orleans Saints | W 36–21 | 2–0 | Cotton Bowl | 73,560 | Recap |
| 3 | August 20 | Cleveland Browns | W 16–15 | 3–0 | Cotton Bowl | 69,099 | Recap |
| 4 | August 26 | at Houston Oilers | W 28–20 | 4–0 | Houston Astrodome | 49,078 | Recap |
| 5 | September 3 | at Baltimore Colts | W 27–14 | 5–0 | Memorial Stadium | 22,291 | Recap |
| 6 | September 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 24–17 | 6–0 | Cotton Bowl | 74,035 | Recap |

## Season recap

The Cowboys opened the new Texas Stadium with a 44–21 win over the New England Patriots on Oct. 24. Duane Thomas scored the first touchdown, a 56-yard run two minutes and 16 seconds after the start of the game. Attendance was 65,708 persons.
The team entered the season still having the reputation of "not being able to win the big games" and "next year's champion". The Super Bowl V loss added more fuel to that widely held view. As in the previous season, Dallas had a quarterback controversy as Roger Staubach and Craig Morton alternated as starting quarterback (in a loss to the Bears in game 7, Morton and Staubach alternated plays). The Cowboys were 4–3 at the season midpoint. But after head coach Tom Landry settled on Staubach, the Cowboys won their last seven regular season games to finish with an 11–3 record.
Staubach finished the regular season as the NFL's top rated passer (101.8) by throwing for 1,882 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. He was also a terrific rusher, gaining 343 yards and 2 touchdowns on 41 carries. Said Cold Hard Football Facts of Staubach's 1971 season, "Staubach finally out-jockeyed Craig Morton for the starting gig with the Cowboys in 1971 and instantly produced one of the greatest passing seasons in history. The numbers are not big and gaudy, but they were ruthlessly efficient –- the 104.8 passer rating truly amazing in a season in which the average rating was 62.2. His 8.9 [yards-per-attempt] in the regular season is phenomenal in any era of the NFL, as was his 18 [touchdowns] against a meager 4 [interceptions] (including postseason). The Cowboys did not lose a single one of Staubach's 13 starts in 1971 and –- most impressively –- he lifted the proverbial "team that couldn't win the big game" to its long-awaited first NFL championship.[...]"
Dallas also had an outstanding trio of running backs, Walt Garrison, Duane Thomas, and Calvin Hill, who rushed for a combined total of 1,690 yards and 14 touchdowns during the season. Garrison led the team in receptions during the season. (Thomas, upset that the Cowboys would not renegotiate his contract after his excellent rookie year, had stopped talking to the press and to almost everyone on the team). Wide receivers Bob Hayes and Lance Alworth also provided a deep threat, catching a combined total of 69 passes for 1,327 yards and 10 touchdowns. The offensive line, anchored by all-pro tackle Rayfield Wright, Pro Bowlers John Niland and Ralph Neely, and #64 Tony Liscio who was coaxed out of retirement by Tom Landry after Ralph Neely got injured off the field, was also a primary reason for their success on offense. (Neely had broken his leg in November in a dirt-bike accident, and was replaced first by Gregg and then by Tony Liscio, who came out of retirement.)
The Dallas defense (nicknamed the "Doomsday Defense") had given up only one touchdown in the last 25 quarters prior to the Super Bowl. Their defensive line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bob Lilly, who excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and breaking up running plays. Dallas also had an outstanding trio of linebackers: Pro Bowler Chuck Howley, who recorded 5 interceptions and returned them for 122 yards; Dave Edwards 2 interceptions; and Lee Roy Jordan, who recorded 2 interceptions. The Cowboys secondary was led by 2 future hall of fame cornerbacks Herb Adderley (6 interceptions for 182 return yards) and Mel Renfro (4 interceptions for 11 yards). Safeties Cliff Harris and Pro Bowler Cornell Green also combined for 4 interceptions. After the 1971 season, Bob Lilly would play in the last of his last Pro Bowl games, despite being selected after the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Lilly would also score his final career touchdown in a 42–7 smashing of The Philadelphia Eagles. Lilly retired with the NFL record for scoring the most TDs by a defensive lineman with 4.
* September 26, 1971 – Herb Adderley became the first Cowboy to have three interceptions in one game.
* October 11, 1971 – The Cowboys earned their first win on Monday Night Football by defeating the New York Giants 20–13, which was also the last game the Cowboys played in the Cotton Bowl.

### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 19 | at Buffalo Bills | W 49–37 | 1–0 | War Memorial Stadium | 46,206 | Recap |
| 2 | September 26 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 42–7 | 2–0 | Veterans Stadium | 65,358 | Recap |
| 3 | October 3 | Washington Redskins | L 16–20 | 2–1 | Cotton Bowl | 61,554 | Recap |
| 4 | October 11 | New York Giants | W 20–13 | 3–1 | Cotton Bowl | 68,378 | Recap |
| 5 | October 17 | at New Orleans Saints | L 14–24 | 3–2 | Tulane Stadium | 83,088 | Recap |
| 6 | October 24 | New England Patriots | W 44–21 | 4–2 | Texas Stadium | 65,708 | Recap |
| 7 | October 31 | at Chicago Bears | L 19–23 | 4–3 | Soldier Field | 55,049 | Recap |
| 8 | November 7 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 16–13 | 5–3 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,486 | Recap |
| 9 | November 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 20–7 | 6–3 | Texas Stadium | 60,178 | Recap |
| 10 | November 21 | at Washington Redskins | W 13–0 | 7–3 | RFK Stadium | 53,041 | Recap |
| 11 | November 25 | Los Angeles Rams | W 28–21 | 8–3 | Texas Stadium | 66,595 | Recap |
| 12 | December 4 | New York Jets | W 52–10 | 9–3 | Texas Stadium | 66,689 | Recap |
| 13 | December 12 | at New York Giants | W 42–14 | 10–3 | Yankee Stadium | 62,815 | Recap |
| 14 | December 18 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 31–12 | 11–3 | Texas Stadium | 66,672 | Recap |
Division opponents are in bold text

### Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Dallas Cowboys | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 7–1 | 8–3 | 406 | 222 | W7 |
| Washington Redskins | 9 | 4 | 1 | .692 | 6–1–1 | 8–2–1 | 276 | 190 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6 | 7 | 1 | .462 | 4–3–1 | 5–5–1 | 221 | 302 | W3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 1–7 | 2–8–1 | 231 | 279 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 1–7 | 3–8 | 228 | 362 | L5 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 7 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
| Bills | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 37 |
at War Memorial Stadium • Buffalo, New York
* Date: September 19
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
* Referee: Fred Swearingen
* TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Eddie LeBaron
* Box Score
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Cowboys | Bills |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | Calvin Hill 2-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Bills | Haven Moses 73-yard touchdown reception from Dennis Shaw, Grant Guthrie kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | | | | | Bills | O. J. Simpson 6-yard touchdown run, Grant Guthrie kick good | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Bob Hayes 76-yard touchdown reception from Craig Morton, Mike Clark kick good | 14 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Walt Garrison 3-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 21 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Bills | 40-yard field goal by Grant Guthrie | 21 | 17 |
| 2 | | | | | Bills | Marlin Briscoe 75-yard touchdown reception from Dennis Shaw, Grant Guthrie kick good | 21 | 24 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Calvin Hill 3-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 28 | 24 |
| 3 | | | | | Bills | Marlin Briscoe 23-yard touchdown reception from Dennis Shaw, Grant Guthrie kick no good | 28 | 30 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Reggie Rucker 19-yard touchdown reception from Craig Morton, Mike Clark kick good | 35 | 30 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Calvin Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 42 | 30 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Calvin Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 49 | 30 |
| 4 | | | | | Bills | Ike Hill 26-yard touchdown reception from Dennis Shaw, Grant Guthrie kick good | 49 | 37 |
| "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. | 49 | 37 |

#### Week 2

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cowboys | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |

#### Week 4

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| • Cowboys | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
Last game at the Cotton Bowl

#### Week 6

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| • Cowboys | 10 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 44 |
Dallas' first game at Texas Stadium.

#### Week 8

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cowboys | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |

#### Week 9

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Game Site | Attendance | Recap |
| Divisional | December 25 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 20–12 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,307 | Recap |
| NFC Championship | January 2 | San Francisco 49ers | W 14–3 | Texas Stadium | 63,409 | Recap |
| Super Bowl VI | January 16 | vs Miami Dolphins | W 24–3 | Tulane Stadium | 81,023 | Recap |

### NFC Divisional Playoff

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
* Date: December 25, 1971
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C), mostly cloudy
* Game attendance: 47,307
* Referee: Norm Schachter
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Whitaker and Irv Cross
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | DAL | MIN |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | 26-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Vikings | 27-yard field goal by Fred Cox | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | 44-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 6 | 3 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Duane Thomas 13-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 13 | 3 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Bob Hayes 9-yard touchdown reception from Roger Staubach, Mike Clark kick good | 20 | 3 |
| 4 | | | | | Vikings | Roger Staubach tackled in end zone for a safety by Alan Page | 20 | 5 |
| 4 | | | | | Vikings | Stu Voigt 6-yard touchdown reception from Gary Cuozzo, Fred Cox kick good | 20 | 12 |
| "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. | 20 | 12 |

### NFC Championship Game

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
* Date: January 2, 1972
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 63,409
* Referee: Tommy Bell
* TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Pat Summerall
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | SF | DAL |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Calvin Hill 1-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | | | | | 49ers | 28-yard field goal by Bruce Gossett | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Duane Thomas 2-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 3 | 14 |
| "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. | 3 | 14 |

### Super Bowl VI

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: January 16, 1972
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. CST
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott and Pat Summerall
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | DAL | MIA |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | 9-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Cowboys | Lance Alworth 7-yard touchdown reception from Roger Staubach, Mike Clark kick good | 10 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Dolphins | 31-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian | 10 | 3 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Duane Thomas 3-yard touchdown run, Mike Clark kick good | 17 | 3 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Mike Ditka 7-yard touchdown reception from Roger Staubach, Mike Clark kick good | 24 | 3 |
| "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. | 24 | 3 |

## Awards and records

* Led NFC, Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed, 1,144 yards
* Led NFL, 401 Points Scored
* Led NFL, 5,035 Total Yards Gained
* Herb Adderley, Three Interceptions in One Game, Club Record
* Roger Staubach, MVP, Super Bowl VI
* Roger Staubach, NFL Passing Leader
* Roger Staubach, Led NFL, 2,786 pass yards
* Roger Staubach, Bert Bell Award
* Roger Staubach, NFC Pro Bowl
* Roger Staubach, All-Pro Quarterback
* Duane Thomas, NFL Touchdown Leader (13 – 11 Rushing, 2 Receiving)
* Chuck Howley, NFC Pro Bowl