The 5 Best Rushing Feats in Dallas Cowboys History

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith shakes hands with owner Jerry Jones during his enshrinement ceremony into the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame.
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Will LSU ever fall from their top spot at No. 1?  You'd think they have to eventually.

Their schedule in the SEC is tough, but you could debate that the toughest stretch is already over.

LSU isn't likely to lose more than one game this year.  Heck, some think they might not lose any.

Here's a look at their top five toughest games the rest of the season, ordered by which they are most likely to lose.

October 24, 1971: Welcome Home

The star on the helmet says it all.
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Running back Duane Thomas scores the first touchdown in Texas Stadium history on a 56 yard run in the first quarter against the New England Patriots.

The Cowboys won the game 44-21.

A team that would eventually win Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972 against the Miami Dolphins by a score of 24-3, Dallas had a number of celebrated players.

Alongside Thomas were quarterback Roger Staubach, fullback Walt Garrison, wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes, tight end Mike Ditka, cornerback Herb Adderley, and defensive tackle Bob Lilly led the team.

Thomas would go on to score 11 touchdowns that season, that culminated in the first Cowboys Super Bowl trophy.

October 9, 1977: Rookies Can Do More Than Carry the Water Coolers

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett signing footballs.
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RB Tony Dorsett scampers 77 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10 in the second quarter against the St. Louis Cardinals. Dorsett rushed for 144 yards on 14 attempts giving him a 10.3 yards per carry average. He scored the only two touchdowns on the day for the Cowboys on their way to a 30-24 victory and a perfect 4-0 record to start the 1977 campaign.

At the beginning of the year, Dallas sent four draft picks to Seattle for the number two selection in the draft. They grabbed Dorsett, who eventually won Rookie of the Year for his 1,007 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

From Staubach to Dorsett to wide receiver Drew Pearson, the Cowboys blitzed through the playoffs on the way to their second NFL championship.

January 3, 1983: Dorsett Sets the Record for the Longest Run from Scrimmage

A picture of former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and running back Tony Dorsett.
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A 6-2 Dallas Cowboys team came into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Monday Night Football to face the 4-4 Minnesota Vikings. In the only game on this list that the Cowboys lost (31-27), tailback Tony Dorsett did something amazing.

Down 24-13 in the fourth quarter, quarterback Danny White handed the ball off to Dorsett from the Cowboys own 1-yard line. He took the ball 99 yards for a touchdown. It is the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history and a moment sure to bring a smile to any Cowboys fan.

One interesting note is that Dorsett executed the run with only 10 offensive players on the field. The officials missed it and the Cowboys offensive lineman and receivers were still able to hold their blocks with one less man than the Vikings had on the field.  

October 31, 1993: Halloween Brings More Tricks Than Treats to the Eagles

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith stiff arms a Philadelphia Eagles defender.
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Rich Kotite was in transition with his young team. Just 3 years prior, the Eagles were a formidable force on defense under the tutelage of then-head coach Buddy Ryan and his vaunted 46 Bear scheme.

Gone were the days of a defensive line with the likes of Reggie White, Mike Golic, and Jerome Brown. Those Eagles were fierce, those Eagles were frightening, those Eagles could fly. Yet, "The City of Brotherly Love" still had a fan base that once threw snowballs at Santa Claus and it being Halloween, were ready to scare the hated Cowboys out of Philadelphia Veteran's Stadium.

Cowboys offensive coordinator Norv Turner had a few tricks up his sleeve in the form of running back Emmitt Smith. The game quickly turned into a "Nightmare on Broad Street" for both the Eagles and their raucous crowd.

Smith rushed for 237 yards on 30 attempts and wore out the Eagles' defenders on a 62 yard touchdown at the end of the 4th quarter to seal the 23-10 victory for the road team. Philadelphia limited wide out Michael Irvin to 3 receptions and quarterback Troy Aikman to 9 completions and 96 yards passing, showing just how important Smith was on this cold, windy afternoon.     

January 2, 1994:

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith runs against the New York Giants.
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Running back Emmitt Smith is the all-time leader in rushing yards in NFL history so it was a no-brainer that he would make this list. However, it was his trademark toughness that he showed the nation in this game.

Smith was hit by New York Giants' defender Greg Jackson and was taken off the field and led to the locker room. It didn't look good for the Cowboys or their fans. Behind closed doors Smith was told that he had separated his right shoulder .

While with the doctors in the locker room Smith never considered standing on the sidelines and watching his teammates continue on. He took a few pain killing injections and only missed two plays. When he returned to the game, head coach Jimmy Johnson put him in but called play-action with quarterback Troy Aikman.

After arguing with Johnson on the sidelines, the Cowboys rode Smith the rest of the game to a 16-13 victory and an NFC East title. He had to be picked up by the offensive line after every run because his shoulder hurt so much.

168 yards later, Smith had won another rushing title, and proved to everyone that he was the best back in the NFL.