'76 Cowboys
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2026 11:31 am
The year after SBX, the year before Dorsett/Big D's second and last World Championship under Tom Landry.
They didn't make it to the conference championship game. They barely lost to the Rams at home in a defensive struggle, 14-12, in the divisional round. I either forgot about it or never knew it to begin with but I see just now that they actually started 9-1 in '76 (5-0 before that)! Had they played just a little bit better against LA, I'd like to think they give MInny a better game the following week than the Rams did. I think the Vikings were the deserving representative of the NFC that year, but if Dallas does win in this NFCC-hypo, I'd also like to imagine them giving the Raiders a decent game in SBXI unlike Minny did (many here have opined the Rams giving the Raiders a good game as well).
Big D didn't play against either the Rams or Vikings during the regular season.
What are your takes on this great (SB-caliber-enough for me) but historically 'hidden' Landry Era installment? That divisional-rounder, seemingly, a hidden gem as well; would like to watch.
PS - I pointed out this factoid elsewhere...both they AND Pittsburgh, each, had just ONE Monday Night game in '76 (???)!
They didn't make it to the conference championship game. They barely lost to the Rams at home in a defensive struggle, 14-12, in the divisional round. I either forgot about it or never knew it to begin with but I see just now that they actually started 9-1 in '76 (5-0 before that)! Had they played just a little bit better against LA, I'd like to think they give MInny a better game the following week than the Rams did. I think the Vikings were the deserving representative of the NFC that year, but if Dallas does win in this NFCC-hypo, I'd also like to imagine them giving the Raiders a decent game in SBXI unlike Minny did (many here have opined the Rams giving the Raiders a good game as well).
Big D didn't play against either the Rams or Vikings during the regular season.
What are your takes on this great (SB-caliber-enough for me) but historically 'hidden' Landry Era installment? That divisional-rounder, seemingly, a hidden gem as well; would like to watch.
PS - I pointed out this factoid elsewhere...both they AND Pittsburgh, each, had just ONE Monday Night game in '76 (???)!