Was going to do 5 best, but considering that many - perhaps myself - would have the ’66-thru-’69 installments take up four of the spots, I thought it’d be nice to allow opportunity for some of the other great such squads be mentioned. Such as ’72 & ’73 along with their 3-straight NFCC-participants of ’80-thru-’82.
Notable teams that didn’t make the CC but could still qualify, or at least be considered, are ’76 & ’79. The sudden shut-down after that 12-2 start ought to leave ’83 out of consideration. The remaining playoff team, ’85 - Landry’s last, shouldn’t come close to making anyone’s Top 8. With limited argument, it’s Landry’s weakest playoff squad.
No, it doesn’t have to be an exact #1-thru-#8.
8 best non-SB Tom Landry Cowboy squads
- 74_75_78_79_
- Posts: 2631
- Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:25 pm
-
- Posts: 2318
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:30 pm
Re: 8 best non-SB Tom Landry Cowboy squads
No specific order: 66-69, 72, 76, 80, 81
- 74_75_78_79_
- Posts: 2631
- Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:25 pm
Re: 8 best non-SB Tom Landry Cowboy squads
1) 1968
Yes, they didn't make it to the NFLCG but such a dominant 12-2 regular season body-of-work leading up. They're a slightly miniature version of the very Colts team from that season. Their average victory score and Balt's average victory score are similar. Dallas put up more points than the Colts, Colts allowing not much less. A shame they didn't play during the regular season; and especially for the NFLC.
2) 1976
Got much respect for this installment whom I 'treat' as a team that made the NFCCG (and maybe better). They lost a close defensive slugfest to the Rams, preventing them from getting there. May have very well been better than the year before when they actually made the Super Bowl (giving the 'Burgh all they could, almost winning it). And they won themselves a real tough division; Wash & StL both real tough again for another year. There are those who feel the Rams would have given the Raiders a good game in a hypo-SBXI contest vs them. Perhaps, but I personally feel that a hypo-Dallas/Raiders SB following the '76 campaign would have made for an even better game than had they met a year later in that very first dome SB.
3) 1966
4) 1981
Great regular seasons, each coming razor-close to beating Lombardi and Walsh respectively.
5) 1980
Danny White now at helm, an even better offense than SD. Plenty of quality wins, almost sweeping Philly, and then they destroy Rams 1st Rd, win at Atl...
6) 1982
Yes, the small sample-size, strike-shortened year. But I always felt had this very season played out fully (as we all wish it did), Big D at least wins 12 games once again as well as make the NFCC as they did in that 'tournament'. Had the potential to be Landry's best '80s season. Placing these guys above '80 & '81 is tempting.
7) 1973
Maybe I'm wrong for picking this year over the year prior. But Staubach being injured in '72 along with the offense suddenly having to get used to life without Duane Thomas, although they did still have Calvin and Walt. In '73 Staubach was fully back, QB-controversy now behind, Calvin having an even better year than the year before, Newhouse getting more involved now in his sophmore year, their 6-1 finish...
8) 1967
Just a 9-5 regular season, but destroyed Browns for the conference (beat them in the opener as well, on the road) then gave another Lombardi Champ-to-be another run for their money in a tundra Classic
'69? Yes, thought at first I'd include all four '60s playoff teams. They finished with 2nd-best record in the NFL at 11-2-1, had that 6-0 start, but getting swept by Browns by a combined 80-24 just may do the trick as far as excluding this group. '79? Yes, top-seed and Roger giving quite a last-hurrah in that ultra-Classic finale, but I was never at all too impressed with them in hindsight. Yes, they at least split with both, but have always 'treated' the Eagles and Redskins like they were the better team that year. Their 1-3 mark in the AFC Central that year sticks out the most; only win vs Cincy; the three losses vs the winning teams, including 9-7 Browns. Simply 'good', not great. Arguably the 2nd-weakest Landry playoff team. As for good ol'e 1983...they seem to be in a limbo with me. A tale of two (12-2 or 0-3) Dallas teams like no other.
Yes, they didn't make it to the NFLCG but such a dominant 12-2 regular season body-of-work leading up. They're a slightly miniature version of the very Colts team from that season. Their average victory score and Balt's average victory score are similar. Dallas put up more points than the Colts, Colts allowing not much less. A shame they didn't play during the regular season; and especially for the NFLC.
2) 1976
Got much respect for this installment whom I 'treat' as a team that made the NFCCG (and maybe better). They lost a close defensive slugfest to the Rams, preventing them from getting there. May have very well been better than the year before when they actually made the Super Bowl (giving the 'Burgh all they could, almost winning it). And they won themselves a real tough division; Wash & StL both real tough again for another year. There are those who feel the Rams would have given the Raiders a good game in a hypo-SBXI contest vs them. Perhaps, but I personally feel that a hypo-Dallas/Raiders SB following the '76 campaign would have made for an even better game than had they met a year later in that very first dome SB.
3) 1966
4) 1981
Great regular seasons, each coming razor-close to beating Lombardi and Walsh respectively.
5) 1980
Danny White now at helm, an even better offense than SD. Plenty of quality wins, almost sweeping Philly, and then they destroy Rams 1st Rd, win at Atl...
6) 1982
Yes, the small sample-size, strike-shortened year. But I always felt had this very season played out fully (as we all wish it did), Big D at least wins 12 games once again as well as make the NFCC as they did in that 'tournament'. Had the potential to be Landry's best '80s season. Placing these guys above '80 & '81 is tempting.
7) 1973
Maybe I'm wrong for picking this year over the year prior. But Staubach being injured in '72 along with the offense suddenly having to get used to life without Duane Thomas, although they did still have Calvin and Walt. In '73 Staubach was fully back, QB-controversy now behind, Calvin having an even better year than the year before, Newhouse getting more involved now in his sophmore year, their 6-1 finish...
8) 1967
Just a 9-5 regular season, but destroyed Browns for the conference (beat them in the opener as well, on the road) then gave another Lombardi Champ-to-be another run for their money in a tundra Classic
'69? Yes, thought at first I'd include all four '60s playoff teams. They finished with 2nd-best record in the NFL at 11-2-1, had that 6-0 start, but getting swept by Browns by a combined 80-24 just may do the trick as far as excluding this group. '79? Yes, top-seed and Roger giving quite a last-hurrah in that ultra-Classic finale, but I was never at all too impressed with them in hindsight. Yes, they at least split with both, but have always 'treated' the Eagles and Redskins like they were the better team that year. Their 1-3 mark in the AFC Central that year sticks out the most; only win vs Cincy; the three losses vs the winning teams, including 9-7 Browns. Simply 'good', not great. Arguably the 2nd-weakest Landry playoff team. As for good ol'e 1983...they seem to be in a limbo with me. A tale of two (12-2 or 0-3) Dallas teams like no other.