1982 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1982 Dallas Cowboys season was a strike-shortened nine game season, which the Cowboys finished with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, placing them second in the NFC. After losing the season opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (the first time the Cowboys lost a season opener in 17 years), the Cowboys won the next six, including five after the strike had ended. However, two losses at the end of the regular season cost them homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. After beginning their playoff run at home with victories over the Buccaneers and the Packers, the Cowboys traveled to Washington, where they met defeat at the hands of their arch-rival, the Redskins. It was the third straight season that the Cowboys lost in the NFC championship game. The Redskins would advance to win the Super Bowl.[1]
The Cowboys featured big-play capability on both sides of the ball in 1982. The offense relied on running back Tony Dorsett, who led the NFC in rushing (and during the season set an NFL record with a 99-yard run from scrimmage against Minnesota), and quarterback Danny White, who finished second in the NFL in passer rating. Despite the retirement of long time starters Charlie Waters and D.D. Lewis before the season, the Cowboys still tied for the NFC lead in sacks, and cornerback Everson Walls led the league with seven interceptions.[2]
The Cowboys were the only team to defeat the Washington Redskins in the 1982 season, winning a regular season matchup in Game 5. The Cowboys were also the only team in the NFL who never trailed at halftime in '82.
Offseason
Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt, proposed to the NFL competition committee a centralization of the evaluation process for the NFL draft prospects. Before this, teams had to schedule individual visits with players to run them through drills and tests. This proposition created the NFL Scouting Combine, which was first held in Tampa, Florida, in 1982.[3]
Coincidentally, the 1982 NFL Draft was one of the worst in Dallas Cowboys history. It is mostly remembered because it was the year the Cowboys drafted cornerback Rod Hill in the first round. Hill would go on to become the symbol of the team's failed draft strategy of the eighties, when the Cowboys took too many gambles. From that draft only Jeff Rohrer and Phil Pozderac made contributions.
1982 NFL Draft
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | NFL Recap | Attendance |
1 | September 13, 1982 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 28–36 | Texas Stadium | | 63,431 |
2 | September 19, 1982 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 24–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | | 50,705 |
3 | November 21, 1982 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 14–9 | Texas Stadium | | 49,578 |
4 | November 25, 1982 | Cleveland Browns | W 31–14 | Texas Stadium | | 46,267 |
5 | December 5, 1982 | at Washington Redskins | W 24–10 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | | 54,633 |
6 | December 13, 1982 | at Houston Oilers | W 37–7 | Astrodome | | 51,808 |
7 | December 19, 1982 | New Orleans Saints | W 21–7 | Texas Stadium | | 64,506 |
8 | December 26, 1982 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–24 | Texas Stadium | | 46,199 |
9 | January 3, 1983 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 27–31 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | | 60,007 |
Game summaries
Week 5
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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• Cowboys |
0 |
7 | 10 | 7 |
24 |
Redskins |
0 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
10 |
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[4]
Standings
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1982 roster |
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics
46 Active, 4 Inactive |
Postseason
Playoff schedule
Second Round
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Packers |
0 |
7 | 6 | 13 |
26 |
• Cowboys |
6 |
14 | 3 | 14 |
37 |
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Scoring summary |
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|
1 |
| DAL | Rafael Septien 50 yard field goal | DAL 3–0 |
|
1 |
| DAL | Rafael Septien 34 yard field goal | DAL 6–0 |
|
2 |
| GB | James Lofton 6 yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Jan Stenerud kick) | GB 7–6 |
|
2 |
| DAL | Timmy Newsome 2 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | DAL 13–7 |
|
2 |
| DAL | Dennis Thurman 39 yard interception return (Rafael Septien kick) | DAL 20–7 |
|
3 |
| GB | Jan Stenerud 30 yard field goal | DAL 20–10 |
|
3 |
| GB | Jan Stenerud 33 yard field goal | DAL 20–13 |
|
3 |
| DAL | Rafael Septien 24 yard field goal | DAL 23–13 |
|
4 |
| GB | James Lofton 71 yard run (kick failed) | DAL 23–19 |
|
4 |
| DAL | Doug Cosbie 7 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | DAL 30–19 |
|
4 |
| GB | Mark Lee 22 yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick) | DAL 30–26 |
|
4 |
| DAL | Robert Newhouse 1 yard run (Rafael Septien kick) | DAL 37–26 |
|
[5]
Awards
- The Cowboys sent seven players to the Pro Bowl following the 1982 season: Bob Breunig, Pat Donovan, Tony Dorsett, Ed Jones, Harvey Martin, Herbert Scott, Everson Walls, and Randy White.
- Danny White and Tony Dorsett were named to the All-NFL second team by the Associated Press at quarterback and running back, respectively. On the defensive side of the ball, end Ed Jones and tackle Randy White were named to the first team, while end Harvey Martin and cornerback Everson Walls were named to the second team.
- Everson Walls, NFL Leader, Interceptions, (7)
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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