1995 Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXX Champions!
1995 Record: 12-4 (Regular Season), 3-0 (Playoffs)
Head Coach: Barry Switzer
Points Scored: 435 (3rd out of 28 NFL teams)
Points Allowed: 291 (3rd out of 28 NFL teams)
Home Stadium: Texas Stadium in Irving, TX
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Dallas Returns To "Primetime"
For the first time in three seasons, the Cowboys did not find themselves as having the title of defending World Champions as they lost to the eveentual Super Bowl Champion 49ers in the NFC Title Game in 1994. The Cowboys acquired the top free agent prize in the offseason when they acquired Pro Bowl cornerback Deion "Primetime" Sanders from the 49ers to seemingly tilt the balance of power in favor of Dallas, but they would have to prove it on the field.
The Cowboys spoiled the reunion of Giant retired stars Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor in the Monday Night season opener to the tune of a 35-0 drubbing of the Giants. The positive momentum continued in their next three contests with wins over Denver and Arizona at home sandwiching a win in Minnesota. The Cowboys suffered a hiccup when they lost to the division rival Redskins in D.C., but they responded with their second 4-game winning streak of the season. Those wins came against Green Bay, San Diego, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The Cowboys sported an 8-2 record heading into their chance for revenge against those 49ers that ended the Cowboys' 1994 season. Some of the luster was removed from this matchup with Steve Young, the 49ers' starting QB out with an injury and was replaced in the lineup by backup Elvis Grbac. Grbac surprised the Dallas fans in attendance in Texas Stadium with a near flawless performance in the 49ers' 38-20 upset victory. The Cowboys would bounce back with wins against AFC West foes Oakland and Kansas City. Ten days after the K.C. win on the Thanksgiving, Terry Allen of the Redskins ran well enough against the Cowboys' defense to give the Redskins a season sweep of the Cowboys. The Cowboys trailed the Eagles in the 4th quarter and were faced with a fourth down in their own territory. On that 4th and 1 play, Emmitt Smith failed to get the necessary yard, turned the ball over to Philadelphia. The Eagles ran the clock out to preserve the victory. The 10-4 Cowboys responded with wins against the Giants and Cardinals to push their mark 12-4, good for the best mark in the NFC and home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Quarterback Troy Aikman finished the regular season completing 280 out of 432 passes for 3,304 yards and 16 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions and went to his fifth straight Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl running back Emmitt Smith won his fourth league rushing crown in his career with 1,773 yards, and broke a league single-season record with 25 rushing touchdowns. Smith was also a reliable receiver out of the backfield, recording a career high 62 receptions for 375 yards. Pro Bowl wide receiver Michal Irvin led the team in receiving with 111 catches for 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns. Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek hauled in 62 receptions for 705 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dallas sent four of their offensive linemen to the ProBowl: Ray Donaldson, Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton, and second year man Larry Allen. Erik Williams suffered from injuries resulting from a car accident, but he was still a steady performer.
On defense, cornerback Deion Sanders only played 9 regular season games for the Cowboys in 1995 due to injuries, and thus only recorded 24 tackles and 2 interceptions for 34 yards. The other starting cornerback, Kevin Smith, was injured in Week 2 and missed the remainder of the season. Larry Brown picked up his level of play in their absence with 6 interceptions to lead the team. He was also the MVP of Super Bowl XXX with his 2 interceptions. Strong safety Darren Woodson was named to the Pro Bowl with 89 tackles and 2 interceptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. Pro Bowl defensive end Charles Haley led the team in sacks with 10.5. Free safety Brock Marion intercepted 6 passes to tie Brown for the team lead and scored a touchdown on one of those picks.
The Cowboys hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff Round and broke a 3-3 tie with a 21-yard Deion Sanders touchdown on a end around. Then Emmitt Smith put the finishing touches on a 79 yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to put Dallas up 17-3 at half. After two Chris Boniol firld goals, Troy Aikman completed a 9-yard TD pass t Michael Irvin to essentially seal the deal as Dallas won 30-11. The Packers came to Texas Stadium the following Sunday to face the Cowboys with a berth in Super Bowl XXX at stake. Troy Aikman found Michael Irvin for paydirt twice in the first quarter to put the Cowboys ahead 14-3. The Packers would respond in the second quarter as Brett Favre threw a pair of TD passes to put the Packers up 17-14. The Cowboys tied the game with a Boniol field goal and then the Cowboys went on a playoff record 99-yard drive capped by an Emmitt Smith 1 yard TD run to take a 24-17 lead. Green Bay got a field goal followed by Robert Brooks' second TD catch of the contest to give Green Bay a 27-24 advantage. The Cowboys got a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter with the first one coming on a 1 yard TD run by Emmitt Smith to cap a 90 yard march and Larry Brown intercepted a Favre offering to set up Emmitt's third TD run of the day to seal the 38-27 win to put Dallas in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.
The Cowboys met the AFC Champion Steelers in Tempe, Ariz. with the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the line and the Cowboys started strong as Troy Aikman delivered a 3-yard TD pass to his tight end, Jay Novacek and Boniol added a pair of field goals to put Dallas up 13-0 after just three possessions. Just 13 seconds before the half, Yancey Thigpen hauled in a 6-yard TD pass from Neil O'Donnell to trim the Cowboy lead to 13-7 at halftime.
Midway through the third quarter, the Steelers had the ball at midfield, but Neil O'Donnell's pass was picked off by Larry Brown, who return the interception to the Pittsburgh 18 yard-line. Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin hooked up on a 17 yard pass play to get to the 1-yard line and Emmitt Smith ran the pigskin into the end zone on the next play to give Dallas a 20-7 lead. The Steelers would respond with a 46-yard Norm Johnson field goal followed by successful onsides kick that the Steelers recovered. The drive would conclude with a Bam Morris 1-yard TD run with 6:36 to play in regulation to trim Dallas' lead to 20-17. With 4:15 to play, the Steelers got the ball back at their 32-yard line. On second down, O'Donnell was picked off for a second time by Larry Brown at the Steelers 39 and returned it to the Steelers' 33 yard line. Two plays later, Emmitt Smith scored on a 4-yard TD run with 3:43 remaining in regulation to put Dallas up 27-17. The Steelers could not muster another comeback and the Cowboys were World Champions for the third time in the last four seasons. Cornerback Larry Brown was the game's MVP with his 2 interceptions that he returned for a total of 77 yards, which set up the Cowboys two 2nd half touchdowns. The Steelers were able to hold the Cowboys to just 56 yards rushing as a team and had 201-61 yard advantage in total offense in the second half, but it wasn't enough to stop Dallas on this day.
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1995 Results
Regular Season
Date Opponent Result
9/ 4/95 at N.Y. Giants W 35- 0
9/10/95 Denver W 31-21
9/17/95 at Minnesota W 23-17 (OT)
9/24/95 Arizona W 34-20
10/ 1/95 at Washington L 23-27
10/ 8/95 Green Bay W 34-24
10/15/95 at San Diego W 23- 9
10/22/95 Bye Week
10/29/95 at Atlanta W 28-13
11/ 6/95 Philadelphia W 34-12
11/12/95 San Francisco L 20-38
11/19/95 at Oakland W 34-21
11/23/95 Kansas City W 24-12
12/ 3/95 Washington L 17-24
12/10/95 at Philadelphia L 17-20
12/17/95 N.Y. Giants W 21-20
12/25/95 at Arizona W 37-13
Playoffs
Round Opponent Result
NFC Div. Playoff Philadelphia W 30-11
NFC Championship Green Bay W 38-27
Super Bowl XXX vs. Pittsburgh W 27-17
Note: Super Bowl played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ
Quarterback Troy Aikman ranked third in the NFL with his 93.9 passer rating and he earned his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl in 1995.
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1995 Dallas Cowboys Roster / Depth Chart
# Player Ht Wt Age Exp College Face Shape Hair Equipment
Quarterbacks
1. 8
2. 11 Wade Wilson 6-3 206 36 14 N/A 5 5 brn crop 3 bar qb, wt wristbands
3. 17 Jason Garrett 6-2 195 29 2
Halfbacks
1. 22 Emmitt Smith 5-9 209 26 4
2. 20 Sherman Williams 5-8 191 22 R Alabama 131 5 blk crop 3 bar, dk visor, wt gloves, wt sleeves
3. 36 Dominique Ross
Fullbacks
1. 48 Daryl Johnston 6-2 242 29 6
wristbands, wt gloves (turf)
2. 38 David Lang 5-11 210 27 4 N.
Wide Receivers
1. 88 Michael Irvin 6-2 207 29 7
2. 85 Kevin Williams 5-9 194 24 2
3. 82 Cory Fleming 6-1 216 24 1
4. 21 Deion Sanders (lefty) 6-1 190 28 6 Florida State 17 7 blk fade (2) style 3 helmet, 2 bar rb, wt elbowbands, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt sleeves
5. 87 Billy Davis 6-1 197 23 R
Tight Ends
1. 84 Jay Novacek 6-4 234 33 10
2. 86 Eric Bjornson 6-4 236 24 R Washington lt skin 66 9 brn crop style 3 helmet, 3 bar qb, eye paint, wt wrist double
3. n/a (switch position to FS)
# 83 Kendell Watkins 6-1 282 22 R USC 131 14 blk fade 3 bar qb, bk extended, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Left Tackles
1. 71 Mark Tuinei 6-5 314 35 12 H
2. 65 Ron Stone 6-5 310 24 2
Left Guards
1. 61 Nate
2. n/a (switch position to LE)
Centers
1. 53 Ray Donaldson 6-3 300 36 14
2. 70 Dale Hellestrae 6-5 286 33 7 SMU 72 18 brn crop style 3 helmet, half cage, tc extended, wt wristbands
Right Guards
1. 73 Larry Allen 6
2. 68 Michael Batiste 6-3 305 24 R Tulane dk skin
Right Tackles
1. 79 Erik Williams 6-6 324 27 4 Central St. Ohio 133 14 blk fade (2) style 3 helmet, full cage, tc mouthpiece, wt wristbands, wt gloves, rubber pads (turf)
2. n/a (switch position to DT)
Left Defensive Ends
1. n/a (switch position to MLB)
2. n/a (switch position to TE)
# 92 Tony Tolbert 6-5 263 28 6 UTEP 107 11 blk fade style 3 helmet, full cage, wt mouthpiece, wt wristbands, tc gloves
Right Defensive Ends
1. 94 Charles Haley 6-5 255 31 9 J. Madison 142 12 blk buzz style 3 helmet, half cage, clr visor, neck roll, rubber pads, wt gloves
2. 96 Shante Carver 6-5 235 24 1 Arizona St. 112 3 blk bald style 3 helmet, half cage, rubber pads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
Defensive Tackles
1. 78 Leon Lett 6-6 291 27 4 Emporia State 111 13 blk fade half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves, wt elbowpads (turf)
2. 67 Russell Maryland 6-1 282 26 4 Miami 66 12 blk buzz style 2 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves, rubber pads (turf)
3. 99 Hurvin McCormack 6-5 274 23 R Indiana 132 13 blk crop full cage, bk tc elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt elbowpads (turf)
4. 95 Chad Hennings 6-6 295 30 3 Air Force 14 10 blo crop half cage, rubber pads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
# 91 Darren Benson 6-7 305 21 R N/A dk skin 22 17 blk crop 3 bar qb, wt wristbands,
Left Outside Linebackers
1. 58 Dixon Edwards 6-1 225 27 4 Michigan St. 51 4 blk crop half cage, bk elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
2. 54 Darryl Hardy 6-2 230 27 R Tennessee 162 6 blk crop full cage, wt nasal strip, wt gloves, wt sleeves
Middle Linebackers
1. 55 Robert Jones 6-2 244 26 3 E. Carolina 102 6 blk crop full cage, wt nasal strip, wt mouthpiece, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt elbowpads (turf)
2. 52 Jim Schwantz 6-2 240 25 2 Purdue 32 2 brn long style 3 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, tc gloves
# 56 Reggie Barnes 6-1 240 26 1 Oklahoma dk skin
Right Outside Linebackers
1. 59 Darrin Smith 6-1 230 25 2 Miami 92 4 blk fade full cage, wt wristbands, tc gloves
2. 98 Godfrey Myles 6-1 240 27 4 Florida 121 9 blk fade half cage, wt mouthpiece, bk extended, bk elbowpads, wt
wristbands, wt gloves
Cornerbacks
1. 21 Deion Sanders (lefty) 6-1 190 28 6 Florida State 17 7 blk fade (2) style 3 helmet, 2 bar rb, wt elbowbands, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt sleeves
2. 26 Kevin Smith 5-11 177 25 3 Texas A&M 273 5 blk fade 3 bar rb, wt wristbands, bk gloves
3. 24 Larry Brown 5-11 185 26 4 TCU 192 4 blk crop 3 bar, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt sleeves
4. 23 Robert Bailey 5-9 176 27 4 Miami 81 2 blk bldng (2) 3 bar, wt wrist double, wt gloves (grass), tc gloves (turf)
# 29 Alundis Brice 5-10 178 25 R Ole Miss dk skin 219 4 blk bald 3 bar, wt nasal strip, wt wrist double, tc gloves
Free Safeties
1. 31 Brock Marion 5-11 193 25 2 Nevada med skin 12 8 blk crop 3 bar rb, rubber pads, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt wrist double (turf), tc gloves (turf)
2. 42 Charlie Williams 6-0 189 23 R Bowl. Green 64 9 blk fade 3 bar rb, wt wristbands, right tc glove, left bk glove, wt
elbowands (turf)
# 43 Greg Briggs 6-3 212 27 2 Texas South. dk skin full cage, eye paint, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Strong Safeties
1. 28 Darren Woodson 6-1 216 26 3 Arizona St. 273 4 blk fade 3 bar rb, wt elbowbands, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 25 Scott Case 6-1 188 33 11 Oklahoma 55 2 brn crop 3 bar rb, eye paint, rubber pads, wt wristbands, bk gloves
3. 40 Bill Bates 6-1 211 34 12 Tennessee 61 10 brn crop 2 bar rb, wt wristbands, tc gloves
4. n/a (switch position to CB)
Kicker
1. 18 Chris Boniol 5-11 170 24 1 LA. Tech 63 3 brn crop 2 bar, wt sleeves
Punter
1. 19 John Jett 6-0 199 27 2 E. Carolina 66 6 brn crop 2 bar (thin), wt sleeves
Players Not Included
# 69 George Hegamin G 6-7 331 22 1 N.C. State dk skin 133 20 blk crop full cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
# 81 Edward Hervey WR dk skin
# 90 Oscar Sturgis DE 6-5 278 24 1 N. Carolina dk skin
# 27 Greg Tremble FS 5-11 188 23 R Georgia dk skin
Player Ratings spd-str-awr-agi-acl-cth-car-jmp-bkt-tak-thp-tha-pbk-rbk-kpr-kac-ret-stm-inj-tgh
Aikman 61-63-97-58-60-28-53-56-49-23-95-98-26-28-23-20-0-92-83-84
W. Wilson 63-55-89-62-58-25-45-47-43-21-78-89-26-29-21-18-0-75-80-64
J. Garrett 55-54-66-53-53-26-53-48-51-11-81-76-22-18-18-26-0-84-76-62
E. Smith 95-70-95-97-98-82-96-83-86-30-37-28-49-45-33-23-10-97-87-98
S. Williams 83-60-55-83-83-65-81-70-65-22-27-23-30-34-25-20-50-77-73-66
D. Ross 82-63-46-82-80-58-63-58-62-29-30-27-37-40-27-22-15-70-77-65
D. Johnston 69-78-94-69-64-67-83-50-74-24-36-23-70-79-27-22-8-90-88-81
D. Lang 82-69-66-81-82-66-74-65-63-22-27-25-49-43-26-20-69-76-77-64
M. Irvin 95-68-94-94-94-99-93-92-75-20-27-24-35-44-26-24-15-95-84-88
K. Williams 88-51-68-88-87-84-66-84-69-18-25-24-27-33-24-19-91-82-80-64
C. Fleming 85-61-58-82-88-76-65-81-61-23-27-26-28-32-28-23-25-77-79-63
D. Sanders 98-54-55-98-96-70-68-90-37-51-20-26-13-18-17-16-88-97-72-62
B. Davis 86-58-48-86-84-74-57-81-63-17-25-22-29-26-23-19-25-76-79-58
Novacek 71-70-96-70-66-87-73-72-67-24-34-26-64-62-24-15-8-85-83-76
K. Watkins 56-84-54-56-69-46-40-35-73-26-37-27-72-76-28-22-8-74-83-73
Tuinei 54-90-96-52-70-17-21-36-32-36-23-32-95-91-31-19-0-70-82-88
R. Stone 59-87-66-57-79-19-36-38-28-32-28-21-87-89-32-26-0-74-82-87
N. Newton 44-98-97-41-68-16-15-30-43-30-35-18-90-99-35-17-0-56-83-90
Donaldson 44-94-98-42-65-19-16-36-33-26-32-21-93-96-29-16-0-56-62-85
Hellestrae 47-86-83-47-61-19-17-45-33-26-27-18-82-77-24-17-0-65-83-75
L. Allen 52-92-67-52-77-30-15-33-30-17-25-21-95-98-32-35-0-75-88-92
Batiste 51-87-52-51-72-19-22-47-36-27-26-20-76-79-28-19-0-67-71-76
E. Williams 44-93-87-40-65-17-14-39-44-31-33-22-83-88-28-14-0-60-74-84
T. Tolbert 72-84-86-70-70-31-27-62-32-86-27-21-27-41-28-13-0-79-84-74
C. Haley 83-82-97-83-81-34-32-57-30-82-23-16-29-50-27-22-0-78-61-86
Carver 76-73-63-75-78-24-28-60-23-72-25-18-22-32-29-21-0-79-71-68
Lett 62-90-91-62-73-24-21-46-33-90-31-21-32-51-33-16-0-67-66-90
Maryland 68-90-88-76-68-29-25-49-42-83-28-24-28-45-25-17-0-77-61-87
H. McCormack 66-82-54-64-67-24-22-58-21-73-32-22-28-43-28-24-0-76-75-73
Hennings 59-85-84-58-63-24-22-51-23-85-23-22-22-36-24-18-0-73-84-78
D. Benson 63-81-49-60-71-24-21-47-43-72-31-19-28-42-31-23-0-74-70-74
D. Edwards 75-77-85-76-79-39-43-63-26-79-27-19-21-33-24-19-0-79-81-83
D. Hardy 72-67-51-72-71-42-33-65-31-72-23-22-23-34-23-22-0-76-72-66
R. Jones 74-73-82-75-74-41-38-62-34-91-24-20-26-41-27-20-0-82-71-80
Schwantz 68-71-60-68-68-37-33-56-23-79-24-20-22-32-27-21-0-75-74-70
R. Barnes 69-73-52-68-67-37-32-51-25-73-26-19-24-39-29-20-0-73-70-64
D. Smith 81-66-75-81-80-49-46-66-34-86-20-19-18-19-21-22-0-77-57-74
G. Myles 76-75-71-72-83-42-36-62-32-85-23-22-23-44-28-22-0-77-76-67
D. Sanders 98-54-93-98-96-70-68-90-37-51-20-26-13-18-17-16-88-97-72-62
K. Smith 92-54-84-90-89-68-59-87-24-78-22-22-15-19-22-18-10-80-52-63
L. Brown 87-49-82-85-84-74-62-81-26-63-21-18-14-18-21-18-10-79-82-68
R. Bailey 86-45-74-86-84-56-47-82-21-53-28-24-13-24-19-14-10-74-78-65
Brice 88-48-54-86-86-52-48-85-24-43-22-21-12-17-16-18-10-72-80-54
C. Williams 84-57-55-83-83-52-42-77-23-58-23-18-15-20-22-20-25-74-71-62
G. Briggs 81-61-52-80-80-48-39-73-25-70-26-20-19-26-24-21-10-76-74-65
D. Woodson 85-62-83-88-92-63-43-74-34-85-25-23-21-24-28-19-10-99-78-89
Case 76-61-89-74-75-61-51-66-26-63-22-20-20-26-24-21-10-73-82-70
B. Bates 73-55-80-73-80-52-54-65-26-77-23-20-20-30-21-20-0-74-78-78
Boniol 59-29-71-58-55-37-30-36-15-17-25-20-13-18-91-90-0-56-71-36
J. Jett 55-36-76-54-54-35-26-28-18-20-22-19-17-25-88-88-0-65-76-32
1995 Dallas Cowboys Individual Leaders
Passing: Troy Aikman, 3304 yds., 64.8 comp. pct, 17 TDs, 93.6 rating
Rushing: Emmitt Smith, 1773 yds., 25 TDs, 4.7 yds./carry
Receiving: Michael Irvin, 111 rec., 1603 yds., 10 TDs
Touchdowns: Emmitt Smith, 5 (25 rush., 0 rec.)
QB Sacks: Charles Haley, 10.5
Interceptions: Larry Brown & Brock Marion, 6
Scoring: Emmitt Smith, 150 pts. (25 TDs)
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1995 NFC EAST STANDINGS
1st Place – Dallas (12-4)
2nd Place – Philadelphia (10-6)
3rd Place – Washington (6-10)
4th Place – N.Y. Giants (5-11)
5th Place – Arizona (4-12)
Wide Receiver Michael Irvin had another terrific Pro Bowl season in 1995, even without Alvin Harper to assist him. He caught 111 passes for 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.
Halfback Emmitt Smith had his greatest season in 1995 - a season which he ran for a career high 1,773 yards and rushed for a career high 25 touchdowns. His running would lead the Cowboys to their third World Championship in four years.
Please check out the 1971 Cowboys Super Bowl Championship squad and other great squads. Please check out the link below:
http://www.vintagenfl.freeservers.com