Record 13–3 | Start date 1992 | |
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs (Eagles) 34–10Won Conference Championship (at 49ers) 30–20Won Super Bowl XXVII (Bills) 52–17 Similar 1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1995 Dallas Cowboys, 1977 Dallas Cowboys, 1984 San Francisco 49ers sea, 1996 Green Bay Packers s | ||
The 1992 Dallas Cowboys season would mark their 33rd in the NFL and their first Super Bowl appearance in the 1990s. Since purchasing the team in 1989, team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson guided one of the worst teams of all time to Super Bowl champions four seasons later. Headed by an explosive offense and the NFL's number one ranked defense, Dallas fielded at the time, the youngest team in the NFL and posted a franchise best 13–3 record throughout the regular season. In the playoffs, the Cowboys disposed of the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by a memorable victory against the San Francisco 49ers en route to a Super Bowl XXVII win over the Buffalo Bills.
Contents
- Regular season
- Week 2 at New York Giants
- Week 5 at Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 8 at Los Angeles Raiders
- Week 10 at Detroit Lions
- Week 14 at Denver Broncos
- Week 15 at Washington Redskins
- Week 17 vs Chicago Bears
- NFC Divisional Round Dallas Cowboys 34 Philadelphia Eagles 10
- NFC Conference Championship Dallas Cowboys 30 San Francisco 49ers 20
- Awards and records
- Publications
- References
Regular season
The season would start off with two crucial wins against the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, both victors of the previous two Super Bowls. A ferocious Dallas defense, with not a single player nominated to the Pro Bowl, placed first in the NFL in total defense. Running back Emmitt Smith would also collect his second straight NFL rushing title. The 1992 season would also see a renewed rivalry between the Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game set over a decade after the famous play known as The Catch. This ultimately started the rise of the 49ers and fall of the Cowboys throughout the 1980s. The rise of the 1990s Cowboys was christened with a 30–20 victory against San Francisco at Candlestick Park. Both franchises would later meet again in the next two NFC Championship games in what many consider to be a classic series of contest of future Hall of Fame players.
At the Rose Bowl, site of Super Bowl XXVII, the Cowboys would struggle early finding themselves down 0–7, but later regroup when Aikman's pass to tight end Jay Novacek tied the game 7–7. From there, Dallas would gain all momentum and rout the Buffalo Bills 52–17, forcing a record 9 turnovers and knocking Bills quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game. Troy Aikman would earn Super Bowl MVP honors after completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns to wrap up a phenomenal postseason performance.
Notable additions to the team this year included defensive end Charles Haley, cornerback Kevin Smith, linebacker Robert Jones, safety Thomas Everett, safety Darren Woodson and wide receiver Jimmy Smith (though Smith would never catch a pass during his time with the team).
The Dallas defense (nicknamed "Doomsday Defense") enjoyed a renaissance, but has never received due credit for its achievements:
Week 2: at New York Giants
The Cowboys won despite giving up the game's final 28 points.
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
The Cowboys were defeated in their first meeting with Eagles running back Herschel Walker since they traded him from Dallas to the Vikings during the 1989 season. Walker scored twice while putting up 100 all-purpose yards against the Cowboys. Troy Aikman was intercepted three times.
Week 8: at Los Angeles Raiders
Emmitt Smith led the way with 152 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, with Troy Aikman running for a TD to go along with his 234 yards passing. The Cowboys' defense held Los Angeles to just 188 total offensive yards – 71 rushing and 117 passing.
Week 10: at Detroit Lions
The Cowboys held the Lions to 201 total yards, 108 of them from Barry Sanders. Rodney Peete and Erik Kramer were intercepted a total of three times.
Week 14: at Denver Broncos
The Cowboys had their hands full as Tommy Maddox threw three touchdowns but was intercepted four times. The Broncos took a fourth-quarter lead on an 81-yard touchdown to Cedric Tillman. Emmitt Smith was held to just 62 yards but ran in the winning score.
Week 15: at Washington Redskins
Emmitt Smith recovered a fumble in his own endzone in the fourth quarter; he threw the ball and was intercepted by Danny Copeland for the winning Redskins touchdown. A livid Jimmy Johnson railed at his players on the air flight home.
Week 17: vs Chicago Bears
Curvin Richards rushed for his only career touchdown, but fumbled twice and was cut from the Cowboys the next day.
NFC Divisional Round: Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 10
The Cowboys held the Eagles to 178 total net yards; Randall Cunningham managed a late touchdown but managed only 182 combined yards and was sacked five times for 45 lost yards; Herschel Walker managed only 29 rushing yards and caught six passes for 37 yards. Troy Aikman had two touchdowns and 200 passing yards (88 of them to Michael Irvin) while Emmitt Smith rushed for 114 yards and a score.
NFC Conference Championship: Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20
The two teams combined for 831 yards in the Cowboys first overall win over the 49ers since 1980. A failed Cowboys fourth-down conversion attempt while up 24-13 set up Steve Young's touchdown to Jerry Rice late in the fourth quarter, but San Francisco's comeback attempt ended when a 70-yard Alvin Harper catch set up Kelvin Martin's touchdown catch and a subsequent interception of Young, the Niners' fourth turnover of the game.