1985 Dallas Cowboys season

NFL team season

1985 Dallas Cowboys season

Owner| Bum Bright
General manager| Tex Schramm
Head coach| Tom Landry
Home field| Texas Stadium
Results
Record| 10–6
Division place| 1st NFC East
Playoff finish| Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Rams) 0–20
Pro Bowlers| 4

* <- 1984
* Cowboys seasons
* 1986 ->

The Cowboys defensive backs in action against the Bengals in December 1985.

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 shutout 20–0 in the divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams. The team holds the record for consecutive winning seasons with 20.

## Summary[edit]

The Cowboys' defense attempting to stop Rams' running back Eric Dickerson (29) in the 1985-86 NFC Divisional Playoffs Game.

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 in Anaheim, California, 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[edit]

Main article: 1985 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[edit]

1985 Undrafted Free Agents of note  Player  | Position  | College

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Bryan Wagner | Punter  | Cal State Northridge

## Personnel[edit]

### Staff[edit]

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[edit]

1985 Dallas Cowboys roster

Quarterbacks

*   * 14 Gary Hogeboom
*   * 16 Steve Pelluer
*   * 11 Danny White

Running backs

*   * 33 Tony Dorsett
*   * 46 Todd Fowler FB/TE
*   * 23 James Jones KR
*   * 30 Timmy Newsome FB/RB

Wide receivers

*   * 87 Gordon Banks
*   * 86 Kenny Duckett
*   * 80 Tony Hill
*   * 81 Karl Powe
*   * 82 Mike Renfro

Tight ends

*   * 85 Fred Cornwell
*   * 84 Doug Cosbie
*   * 89 Brian Salonen

|  | Offensive linemen

*   * 61 Jim Cooper T
*   * 65 Kurt Petersen G
*   * 75 Phil Pozderac T
*   * 64 Tom Rafferty C
*   * 70 Howard Richards G
*   * 66 Chris Schultz T
*   * 67 Broderick Thompson G
*   * 71 Mark Tuinei C/T/DT
*   * 63 Glen Titensor G

Defensive linemen

*   * 99 Kevin Brooks DT
*   * 78 John Dutton DT
*   * 77 Jim Jeffcoat DE
*   * 72 Ed Jones DE
*   * 60 Don Smerek DE/DT
*   * 54 Randy White DT

|  | Linebackers

*   * 55 Steve DeOssie MLB
*   * 58 Mike Hegman OLB
*   * 56 Eugene Lockhart MLB
*   * 59 Jesse Penn OLB
*   * 50 Jeff Rohrer OLB

Defensive backs

*   * 36 Vince Albritton SS
*   * 40 Bill Bates SS/PR
*   * 47 Dextor Clinkscale SS
*   * 26 Michael Downs FS
*   * 27 Ron Fellows CB
*   * 22 Victor Scott FS
*   * 32 Dennis Thurman CB
*   * 24 Everson Walls CB

Special teams

*   * 4 Mike Saxon P
*   * 1 Rafael Septién K

|  | Reserve lists

*   * 76 Dowe Aughtman DT (IR)
*   * 62 Brian Baldinger G (IR)
*   * ## Neal Dellocono LB (IR)
*   * 68 Crawford Ker G (IR)
*   * 29 Robert Lavette RB (IR)
*   * 73 Kurt Ploeger DE (IR)

Rookies in italics
45 active, 5 inactive

## Regular season[edit]

### Schedule[edit]

Week  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Game Site  | Attendance  | Recap

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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[edit]

#### Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins[edit]

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Redskins | 0 | 7| 0| 7 | 14
• Cowboys | 3 | 14| 13| 14 | 44

* Date: Monday, September 9
* Location: Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
* Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C), wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford O. J. Simpson Joe Namath

* Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

| Scoring summary

1| | Cowboys| Rafael Septién 53 yard field goal| Cowboys 3–0
2| | Cowboys| Timmy Newsome 1 yard run (Rafael Septién kick)| Cowboys 10–0
2| | Redskins| John Riggins 1 yard run (Mark Moseley kick)| Cowboys 10–7
2| | Cowboys| Mike Renfro 55 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick)| Cowboys 17–7
3| | Cowboys| Rafael Septién 39 yard field goal| Cowboys 20–7
3| | Cowboys| Rafael Septién 43 yard field goal| Cowboys 23–7
3| | Cowboys| Tony Dorsett 9 yard run (Rafael Septién kick)| Cowboys 30–7
4| | Cowboys| Victor Scott 26 yard interception return (Rafael Septién kick)| Cowboys 37–7
4| | Redskins| Clint Didier 19 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)| Cowboys 37–14
4| | Cowboys| Dennis Thurman 21 yard interception return (Rafael Septién kick)| Cowboys 44–14

#### Week 5[edit]

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Cowboys | 7 | 7| 7| 9 | 30
Giants | 3 | 3| 20| 3 | 29

* Date: October 6
* Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
* Game start: 9:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C); wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, O. J. Simpson, Joe Namath

[1]

### Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers[edit]

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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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)
* [2]

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

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Plays | Yards  | TOP | 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. | 13  | 27

#### Week 15: vs. New York Giants[edit]

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Giants | 0 | 14| 0| 7 | 21
• Cowboys | 7 | 14| 0| 7 | 28

* Date: December 15
* Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
* Game start: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C); Wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist and Terry Bradshaw

### Standings[edit]

NFC East

* view
* talk
* edit

| 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[edit]

Main article: 1985–86 NFL playoffs

Round  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Game Site  | Attendance  | Recap

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

## Divisional playoffs[edit]

### January 4, 1986[edit]

#### NFC: Los Angeles Rams 20, Dallas Cowboys 0[edit]

Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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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

Game information

* Scoring
* RAMS – field goal Lansford 33 RAMS 3–0
* RAMS – Dickerson 55 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 10–0
* RAMS – field goal Lansford 34 RAMS 13–0
* RAMS – Dickerson 40 run (Lansford kick) RAMS 20–0

## Awards[edit]

* 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[edit]

* 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[edit]

1. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
2. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys – October 13th, 1985

## External links[edit]

* 1985 Dallas Cowboys
* Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Dallas Cowboys Official Site

* v
* t
* e

Dallas Cowboys

* Founded in 1960
* Based in Arlington, Texas
* Headquartered in Frisco, Texas

Franchise|

* Franchise
* History
* Coaches
* Players
* Seasons
* Expansion draft
* Draft history
* Starting quarterbacks
* First-round draft picks
* Ring of Honor
* Ford Center at The Star

Stadiums|

* Cotton Bowl
* Texas Stadium
* AT&T Stadium

Culture|

* NFL on Thanksgiving Day
* America's Team
* Cheerleaders
* Making the Team
* Doomsday Defense
* Dirty Dozen
* The Triplets (Aikman, Irvin, and Smith)
* Crazy Ray
* Rowdy
* Jerry Jones
* Tom Landry
* Tex Schramm
* Roger Staubach
* Black Sunday
* Little Giants
* Jerry Maguire
* "Get Up (A Cowboys Anthem)"
* "We Dem Boyz"
* King of the Hill
* "You Only Move Twice" (The Simpsons episode)
* Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
* book

Lore|

* Ice Bowl
* The Catch
* Herschel Walker trade
* Bounty Bowl series
* Pickle Juice Game
* Dez Caught It

Rivalries|

* Green Bay Packers
* Houston Oilers/Texans
* Los Angeles Rams
* Minnesota Vikings
* New York Giants
* Philadelphia Eagles
* Pittsburgh Steelers
* San Francisco 49ers
* Washington Commanders

Division championships (25)|

* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1973
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1981
* 1985
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 2007
* 2009
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2021
* 2023

Conference championships (10)|

* 1966
* 1967
* 1970
* 1971
* 1975
* 1977
* 1978
* 1992
* 1993
* 1995

League championships (5)|

* 1971 (VI)
* 1977 (XII)
* 1992 (XXVII)
* 1993 (XXVIII)
* 1995 (XXX)

Media|

* Broadcasters
* Radio network
* KRLD-FM
* Brad Sham
* Babe Laufenberg

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: East Division

* v
* t
* e

Dallas Cowboys seasons

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Bold indicates Super Bowl victory
Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance

* v
* t
* e

1985 NFL season

| AFC| East | Central| West| East| Central| West | NFC

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Buffalo | Cincinnati| Denver| Dallas| Chicago| Atlanta
Indianapolis | Cleveland| Kansas City| NY Giants| Detroit| LA Rams
Miami | Houston| LA Raiders| Philadelphia| Green Bay| New Orleans
New England | Pittsburgh| San Diego| St. Louis| Minnesota| San Francisco
NY Jets | | Seattle| Washington| Tampa Bay|

* 1985 NFL Draft
* NFL playoffs
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl XX

*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[DIV]: Win–Loss record within their division
*[CONF]: Win–Loss record within their conference
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[STK]: Current Winning or Losing Streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template