The 1971 Dallas Cowboys

Gridiron America Radio

Halfway through the 1971 season, the Dallas Cowboys had every reason to be worried. A quarterback controversy brewed between Craig Morton and Roger Staubach. A contract dispute had brought star running back Duane Thomas to a vow of silence. Making matters worse was a 38-0 beating by the St. Louis Cardinals. It seemed certain that the team that "couldn't win the big one" would fall short of a title yet again. With a 4-3 record after seven weeks, head coach Tom Landry named Staubach the team's starter. Dallas wouldn't lose another game that season. With Staubach firmly at the controls, the Cowboys barreled through the rest of the regular season and the playoffs enroute to Super Bowl VI. There, against the Miami Dolphins, Dallas changed its runner-up identity forever with a 24-3 victory.