What caused Tom Landry's three losing seasons at the end of his coaching career?

[CSKreager]

And did 44-0 and 50 in Cincy ever nail it on home!

44-0 was really a seminal moment. It was a clear cut statement. Dallas wasn't what they used to be, and it was Chicago's league now.

And Dallas keep in mind was coming off an impressive win at RFK the week before, so it’s not like they were faltering going into that Chicago game

[conace21]

Multiple reasons, though John summed them up well.

-Inadequate talent. Gil Brandt and the Cowboys had been the first to use computers for scouting. Brandt had an extensive network (and budget) that helped uncover talented athletes in places other teams never thought to look - basketball players, small schools, HCBU's. But in the late 1970's, the rest of the league caught up to the Cowboys. Brandt began to reach for players, and continually missed. The Cowboys also had some bad injury luck. Three of their 1st round draft picks had their careers altered or ended by injury (Mike Sherrard, Billy Cannon Jr., Howard Richards.)

-Inability to adapt. Terry Bradshaw had said after Super abowl XIII that the way to beat the Flex was to pass on 1st down. That was in 1978/79, and the league only got more pass-happy in the 1980's. Tex Schramm had hired Paul Hackett in 1986 to serve as a passing game coordinator, but he had Landry clashed, and Hackett was eventually demoted.

-Age. I believe Landry insisted on calling all the offensive and defensive plays, and it got to be too much for one man in his 60's. He started making more mistakes... and he didn't have Roger Staubach to overrule him.

[Gary Najman]

Multiple reasons, though John summed them up well.

-Inadequate talent. Gil Brandt and the Cowboys had been the first to use computers for scouting. Brandt had an extensive network (and budget) that helped uncover talented athletes in places other teams never thought to look - basketball players, small schools, HCBU's. But in the late 1970's, the rest of the league caught up to the Cowboys. Brandt began to reach for players, and continually missed. The Cowboys also had some bad injury luck. Three of their 1st round draft picks had their careers altered or ended by injury (Mike Sherrard, Billy Cannon Jr., Howard Richards.)

You could also add Robert Shaw, their 1979 first round pick, to the mix. He was supposeed to replace veteran John Fitzgerald at center, but after Shaw's career ending injury the Cowboys were forced to move RG Tom Rafferty to center.

[Gary Najman]

Multiple reasons, though John summed them up well.

-Inadequate talent. Gil Brandt and the Cowboys had been the first to use computers for scouting. Brandt had an extensive network (and budget) that helped uncover talented athletes in places other teams never thought to look - basketball players, small schools, HCBU's. But in the late 1970's, the rest of the league caught up to the Cowboys. Brandt began to reach for players, and continually missed. The Cowboys also had some bad injury luck. Three of their 1st round draft picks had their careers altered or ended by injury (Mike Sherrard, Billy Cannon Jr., Howard Richards.)

As for Brandt, I am still amazed when Jerry and Jimmy took over that only in the 1991 Draft they could pick future Pro Bowlers Erik Williams and Leon Lett from small schools, reminding of the mid 60s-mid 70s Cowboys draft expertise.