Texas Stadium's 10 Most Memorable Moments

Texas Stadium was a real special place. Sure, it was no ancient palace like Yankee Stadium or Soldier Field, but every time I made a pilgrimage, the place with a hole in the roof always had a majestic feel. If you ever made it to a day game and witnessed the sunlight shine through the famous hole, you felt like someone from above was watching.

Texas Stadium was unique in other ways too. You had the not-so-flat playing surface. You had strange shadows because of the roof. You had fans close to the field. You had the walls uniquely decorated with blue paint and white stars. You had the big blue star, which may be the most recognizable midfield logo in all of football. You just knew that Texas Stadium meant the Dallas Cowboys.

Never in its history (or at least I can never recall) did Texas Stadium have silly baseball dirt. The Cowboys never had to share their home. Texas Stadium was always theirs and will always be one of the greatest venues in the history of the NFL.

Here are the 10 most memorable moments, plus the most overrated moment and the most underrated moment (which I guess you could call an honorable mention), in the history of Texas Stadium.

10. Cowboys beat Packers in 1995 NFC Title Game (January 1996)

This game was good. It had lots of points, and the Cowboys beat Favre’s Packers yet again 38-27 en route to their fifth Super Bowl Championship.

9. Garrett rallies the Cowboys past Green Bay (Thanksgiving 1994)

The history-repeats-itself theme is prevalent in this list, and this is the first example. Cowboys down at halftime. Cowboys have their backup QB at the helm. Cowboys win on Thanksgiving via the comeback. Favre looked like he had Dallas beat for once, but Red Ball pulled a Clint Longley in giving Favre his third of what would turn out to be nine losses in Irving.

8. Ravens turn off the lights (December 2008)

I knew that I would remember the last game. I didn’t think I would remember it like this. The game was rather slow, but the fourth quarter alone made up for it. The Cowboys threaten with what would have been a very memorable comeback, but it falls short...way short. Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain basically pulled a Santana Moss (see below) as they had two loooooong rushing TDs late in the fourth quarter.

What is it with teams from the Baltimore/DC area ruining nights in which the Cowboys were celebrating their history? History repeats itself example number two. You will see what I am talking about when you reach number five on the list.

7. TO dances on Star, Emmitt and Teague defend it (September 2000)

This game was just so bizarre and made the midfield insignia much more memorable. TO scores a TD and does the pose on the star. Emmitt scores and kneels on it, as he gives an intimidating stare at the 49er sideline. TO scores again and returns to the star, only to be belted by George Teague. Now TO is dancing for the Cowboys. No way will anyone forget this.

6. Cowboys win 1971 NFC Title (January 1972)

It was the first of many Cowboy playoff victories at Texas Stadium. The game was not particularly electrifying (unless you love defense), but the Cowboys defeated the 49ers 14-3 before going on to win their first Super Bowl.

5. Santana Moss crashes party (September 2005)

This one still stings for me. I remember it vividly. I never felt so sick in my life. It was the night of the Triplets’ induction into the Ring of Honor. The Cowboys were sporting the throwback jerseys (which I love), and the stadium was rocking. The Skins had not won in Irving since 1995. They had no chance, right? Wrong.

The Cowboys had several opportunities to put the game away, but Santana Moss torched them in the final two minutes for two long TD bombs as Washington pulled off a memorable 14-13 win.

4. Roger has one more bullet left for the Redskins (December 1979)

In the NFL’s greatest rivalry (well, at least in my biased opinion) Staubach had one last comeback in rallying the Boys from a 13-point deficit and found Tony Hill for the go-ahead score. The Cowboys won the East by defeating Washington 35-34 and sent their enemies home for the holidays. Staubach retired a few months later.

3. Clint Longley stuns the Redskins (Thanksgiving 1974)

My dad told me all about this game as a kid. I was not alive to remember it, but the fact that I know how great this comeback was says a lot about how memorable it is. You hear about it every November. Cowboys-Redskins. Thanksgiving. Longley to Pearson with 35 seconds left. That won’t ever be forgotten.

2. Emmitt breaks the rushing record (October 2002)

Number 22 was arguably the greatest Cowboy, and him breaking a record that won’t be threatened for a long, long while was very special. For Cowboy fans like me, it stunk that Dallas could not win the game, but this particular carry was so memorable that no one else really cares that Seattle won. This was an awesome moment.

1. Cowboys crush 49ers in 1993 NFC Title Game (January 1994)

I bet y’all are surprised by this one, but hear my argument. The 1992 NFC Title Game at Candlestick gets all of the hype (and rightfully so), but how can Cowboy fans (and even NFL fans) forget this game? I sure don’t. Jimmy Johnson guaranteed it. The Cowboys absolutely obliterated a 49ers team full of its own cast of Hall of Famers.

This game epitomized the greatness of the Cowboys dynasty. The Cowboys of the '90s made their mark in many ways (like pulverizing the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII), but this was the greatest mark they made at their home stadium. It beats out Emmitt’s record for the top spot because this was a team accomplishment. Also notice how history repeated itself again here (see number seven above).

Most Overrated

Leon Lett touches the ball (Thanksgiving 1993)

Maybe I am just bitter. Maybe I think people blow this game way out of proportion. Sure, it is memorable and probably should be in the top 10 (it snowed too), but I think people talk about this more than they should. However, I understand if you disagree with me.

Most Underrated

Romo tosses five TDs (Thanksgiving 2006)

OK, maybe it’s more memorable to me just because I was there, but I think this deserves some recognition. It will be more memorable if Romo can deliver in the playoffs, as people will point to this game that got him national buzz.

People were starting to love Romo because he pulled the Cowboys out of a 4-4 funk and had just defeated the Colts (the last unbeaten team). In fact, they loved him so much, fans put him in the ring of honor before the game. Romo did not disappoint, as he tossed five TDs in a 38-10 rout of the Buccaneers.