There is no doubt that this year’s Dallas Cowboys team will be in the record books, but how do they stack up against some former Cowboys teams? To compare this team, you have to look at everything including: the youth, talent, record, statistics, league strength, and much more. So, this is comparing the 2016-17 Cowboys to some past Dallas teams.
Comparing The 2016-17 Cowboys to Some Past Dallas Teams
2006 Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
The 2006 Dallas Cowboys were a very interesting team. They started the season with Drew Bledsoe at the helm after acquiring Terrell Owens in free agency. Tony Romo took over at halftime in Week 7 and cemented his place as the Cowboys quarterback for years to come. He finished the season after that with a record of 6-4, even beating the undefeated Indianapolis Colts. Romo helped the Cowboys clinch a playoff spot for the first time in three years. The 2016 Dallas Cowboys have a similar story. With a first year quarterback, they have already clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Romo was elected to his first Pro Bowl, maybe something to look forward to for Dak Prescott. The 2006 Cowboys lost the Wild Card game of the playoffs to the Seattle Seahawks. This is something we want different this time around.
1991 Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
This Cowboys team was one of the most dominant in history (excluding many obvious seasons). It was the beginning of a legacy and the start of the complete 90s reign over the NFL by the Dallas Cowboys. This team featured a third year quarterback, Troy Aikman. Nobody could forget this dynamite trio however, also featuring second year running back Emmitt Smith and legendary wide receiver Michael Irvin. There were no words to describe this team, they were an offensive power house. Just like this season, they proved their worth as they fought to an 11-5 season, making the playoffs for the first time since 1985. The incredible thing to realize though, is that they happened to make the playoffs eight out of the next nine seasons. They went on to win a Super Bowl in 1995 together. This is something we hope to see out of this year’s Cowboys.
1970 Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
You cannot mention some of the great past teams without recognizing the first Cowboys team to make it to the Super Bowl. This team had an amazing season leading up to the end. Everything was going well, until Hall Of Fame head coach Tom Landry decided to start quarterback Craig Morton over soon-to-become legend, Roger Staubach. Landry had been alternating between the two throughout the regular season until he made the decision to start Morton instead of Staubach in his second year. Ultimately, the Cowboys lost the Super Bowl V to the Baltimore Colts by a score of 16-13. Nobody can truly tell you if the game would have gone differently with Staubach in instead of Morton, but let’s just put it this way…when 1971 rolled around, Staubach claimed his spot as the one and only Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
What To Look Forward To?
Of course there are many teams I did not mention that were unbelievable. That is because they belong on a whole separate list. You can not mention the 1995 Cowboys team and the 2006 Cowboys team in the same sentence. But the Dallas Cowboys have made it this far and they have many past mistakes to learn from. However, they also have many successes to repeat. After already clinching the playoffs and doing it with a franchise record season, this team has a very bright future ahead of them.
