The 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
Undrafted free agents
+ 1985 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBryan WagnerPunterCal State Northridge
Personnel Staff 1985 Dallas Cowboys staff Front office Owner – Bum Bright President/General Manager – Tex Schramm Executive vice president of player personnel – Gil Brandt Research and Development – Neill Armstrong
Head coaches Head coach – Tom Landry Assistant head coach – Jim Myers
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Jim Myers Quarterbacks – Jim Shofner Running backs – Al Lavan Wide receivers – Dick Nolan Offensive line – Jim Myers Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Ernie Stautner Defensive line – Ernie Stautner Linebackers – Jerry Tubbs Defensive backs – Gene Stallings
Special teams coaches Special teams – Alan Lowry
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning coordinator – Bob Ward
Roster
1985 Dallas Cowboys roster Quarterbacks Gary Hogeboom Steve Pelluer Danny White
Running backs Tony Dorsett Todd Fowler James Jones Timmy Newsome
Wide receivers Gordon Banks Kenny Duckett Tony Hill Karl Powe Mike Renfro
Tight ends Fred Cornwell Doug Cosbie Brian Salonen Offensive linemen Jim Cooper T Kurt Petersen G Phil Pozderac T Tom Rafferty C Howard Richards T Chris Schultz T Broderick Thompson G Glen Titensor G Mark Tuinei C
Defensive linemen Kevin Brooks DE John Dutton DT Jim Jeffcoat DE Ed Jones DE Don Smerek DT Randy White DTLinebackers Vince Albritton OLB Steve DeOssie MLB/LS Mike Hegman OLB Eugene Lockhart MLB Jesse Penn OLB Jeff Rohrer OLB
Defensive backs Bill Bates SS Dextor Clinkscale SS Michael Downs FS Ron Fellows CB Victor Scott CB/S Dennis Thurman CB/S Everson Walls CB
Special teams Mike Saxon P Rafael Septién KReserve lists Dowe Aughtman G (IR) Brian Baldinger G (IR) Leon Gonzalez WR (IR) Crawford Ker G (IR) Robert Lavette RB (IR) Kurt Ploeger DE (IR) Chris Waltman TE (IR)
Rookies in italics 45 active, 7 inactive
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 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 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
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 5
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15: vs. New York Giants
Standings
Playoffs
Round Date Opponent Result Game Site Attendance Recap Wild Card First Round Bye Divisional 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
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 Total Football Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
References
External links 1985 Dallas Cowboys Pro Football Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Official Site