Best Of The Best: Tony Dorsett – One of the greatest players in Cowboys history, Dorsett was drafted No. 2 overall in 1977 and immediately lifted the offense that year – and for a decade. Dorsett helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII and he became one of the NFL's most dangerous runners. He'll always share the NFL record for the longest run from scrimmage, scoring a 99-yard touchdown against the Vikings in the 1982 season. Dorsett currently ranks 10th all-time with 12,379 rushing yards.

Blast From The Past: Nate Jones – One of three seventh-round picks to make the team in 2004, Jones was a versatile defender that could play safety and cornerback. Jones thrived in the nickel defense, especially in the slot. One of his biggest moments of his career came in 2007 when he knocked Brett Favre out of the game and it led to Aaron Rodgers getting his first extensive snaps of his career. Jones went on to become an official and is currently an NFL referee.

The Play: A great athlete in his day at many sports, perhaps Jay Novacek was a hurdler during his earlier days. He scored a 33-yard touchdown against the Chiefs in 1995 on Thanksgiving Day, after hurdling a defender in the open field en route of the end zone. Watch Now.

Tyron Smith's health has remained a big topic of discussion, especially in the last few years. Throughout his career, which began in 2011, Smith has missed a total of 33 games, including 20 in the last two seasons.

Best Of The Best: Herschel Walker – When the Cowboys thought the the rival football league – USFL – might fold in the near future, they decided to use a fifth-round pick to land the league's best player. In 1985, Herschel Walker was drafted and eventually joined the Cowboys in 1986. He had three great seasons in Dallas and was clearly the best player on the 1989 team when Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson took over. The Cowboys decided to deal Walker to Minnesota in what is arguably the most significant trade in NFL history. The Cowboys received eight draft picks, including three first-round picks and three second-rounders. In all, the Cowboys eventually landed 18 players out of the trade, including players such as Emmitt Smith, Darren Woodson and Russell Maryland.

Walker went to the Vikings and never took them to the Super Bowl. He went to the Giants and Eagles before returning to the Cowboys for two seasons in 1996 & 1997, becoming a dangerous kickoff returner in his mid-30s, showing why Walker will always be considered one of the purest athletes in not only Cowboys history but all of pro football.

Blast From The Past: Cornell Green – The Cowboys have made a history of finding players in the most unusual places. Cornell Green is no exception as the team signed him from the basketball court, with hopes he could develop into a defensive back. As it turned out, he was one of the best DBs, and most versatile, in team history. He played 13 seasons, including five Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections. Not only did Green wear No. 34 but he finished his career with 34 interceptions, tied for fifth in franchise history.

The Play: A player can only be known for his great TD celebrations if of course, he's known for scoring touchdowns. Terrell Owens did both and in a 2007 win over the Dolphins, Owens' had some fun at the Patriots' expense. T.O. scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and then ran around the goal post to emulate a spying photographer, poking fun at New England, which had recently been in the news for spying on the opposing team before a Super Bowl, several years earlier.

The Cowboys have made it the postseason 34 times in their storied franchise history, including last season following a 12-5 season. But not since 2006-2007 have the Cowboys made it the playoffs in consecutive years.

The kicking game is a big question mark at training camp and heading into the season. The Cowboys decided to part ways with veteran Greg Zuerlein, who is tied for the team record with 34 field goals in a season. He tied Richie Cunningham's mark set in 1997.

Calvin Hill – Hill was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1969 NFL draft purely because of his immense athletic ability, and they were right. Just happened to be at a different position than they thought. After spending his time at linebacker and tight end initially, Hill was given his shot at running back and never looked back. He rushed for over 5,000 yards during his six seasons in Dallas, racking up four Pro Bowls and a first team All-Pro honor during his rookie year plus two Super Bowl titles.

Blast From The Past: Jacques Reeves – A local product from Lancaster, Texas, Reeves was a more than serviceable member of the Cowboys secondary during the mid-2000s. He totaled just over 100 tackles along with an interception and forced fumble across 60 games during his four-year stint in Dallas.

The Play: The Cowboys had lost their last three trips to Foxborough, Mass. coming into their Week 6 clash with the Patriots last season. They entered the matchup with a strong 4-1 record, though it was quickly in jeopardy with a late Patriots' rally in the fourth quarter that forced Dallas into overtime. New England was forced to punt after winning the coin toss, allowing Dak Prescott to orchestrate a drive that ended with him rolling out find CeeDee Lamb for a 35-yard touchdown pass for the win. Watch Now.

The Cowboys are no stranger to postseason success during the franchise's history. Of course, they have the five Super Bowl titles, but Dallas is also ranked third in the NFL since 1958 with 35 total playoff wins.

Best of the Best: Vince Albritton – Another number that hasn't seen many players wear it, No. 36 has been donned by just 13 players. Albritton is the only player who had it more than three years as he played safety for the Cowboys from 1984-91. He was also known as a hybrid linebacker who played close to the line of scrimmage for both Tom Landry and then Jimmy Johnson's first three teams.

Blast From The Past: Darian Barnes – A fullback for Bill Parcells and the Cowboys in 2004. In a Thanksgiving Day game against the Bears that had storylines on Drew Henson making his first start and a pair of brothers – Julius and Thomas Jones – squaring off as opposing starting running backs, it was Barnes who ended up scoring a decisive touchdown in a 21-14 victory. Barnes played just one season in Dallas.

The Play – Jason Witten finished his illustrious career with 72 touchdowns. But you can't get to 72 without No. 1, and his first NFL touchdown occurred in 2003. Witten caught a pass over the middle from Quincy Carter against the Giants. The 36-yard touchdown was his only score of his rookie season. The next 71 occurred over the next 15 seasons. Watch Now.

Best of the Best: James Washington – The Cowboys actually have another "James Washington" on the roster now, but back in the 1990s, this safety was a physical hitter and timely playmaker. His best game, of course, was Super Bowl XXVIII, when he changed the game with three big turnovers to beat the Bills. Washington had a fumble return for a touchdown, along with an interception and forced fumble. Many people today believe he should've won MVP honors over Emmitt Smith. Washington also had an interception the year before in Super Bowl XXVII. Washington played five years in Dallas (1990-95).

Blast From The Past: Bryan McCann – The only player in NFL history to have touchdowns of 97+ yards in consecutive games is Bryan McCann. And to think, these were just his second and third games of his young career. But called up from the practice squad in mid-season back in 2010, McCann had a 101-yard interception against the Giants, followed by a heads-up punt return against the Lions that went 97 yards to the house. Those two scores were the only two touchdowns in McCann's career.

The Play – Fool me once, shame on me. But fool me twice? That was going to happen, and Bill Parcells, special teams coach Bruce DeHaven and of course, Randal Williams, didn't allow it. Just three years earlier, the Eagles started the 2000 season with an onside kick surprise to open the game in a win over the Cowboys. But in 2003, they tried it again but this time, the Cowboys were ready. Williams jumped the gun on David Akers' onside attempt and caught the ball off the bounce at the 37. The speedy receiver had an open lane to the end zone and raced in for a score, which is still considered the fastest TD scored in NFL history. Watch Now.

Something has to give in Week 1 with the Cowboys taking on Tampa Bay. The Cowboys enter the game with a 37-37 all-time record on Sunday Night Football. Last year, the Cowboys went 2-1 on SNF, only losing to Tom Brady and the Bucs.

Dak Prescott was able to set the Cowboys' single-season touchdown record in 2021, throwing 37 touchdowns, including five in the season finale against the Eagles. Dak surpassed Tony Romo's record of 36, set in 2007.

Best of the Best: Jeff Heath – An undrafted safety from Saginaw Valley State, Heath went relatively unnoticed in his first camp, but he managed to stick around on the roster as a rookie. In his NFL start, just a few hours away from where he played college ball, Heath had a memorable game in Detroit, chasing down Calvin Johnson and forcing a fumble on Reggie Bush. Heath went on to play seven years in Dallas, primarily as a starter for the final three of them. Heath was also one of the better special teams players the Cowboys had.

Blast From The Past: Duane Hawthorne – An undrafted cornerback in 1999, Duane Hawthorne made the Cowboys' roster as a big surprise. Nicknamed "Scooter," he might have been small in stature, but Hawthorne was a heady cornerback that could play inside or outside. He was sent to NFL Europe in 2000, where he was a first-team All-Defensive Player. Hawthorne spent four years with the Cowboys and finished his final NFL season with the 49ers.

The Play – The Cowboys were coming off an embarrassing Week 1 loss to the expansion Houston Texans, but they were able to beat the former Houston team in Week 2, outlasting the Titans at home. A big play in the second half was Quincy Carter's 38-yard strike to veteran Joey Galloway, which led to the XXX win. Watch Now.

The most points Dak Prescott has scored in a season is 38, set in 2018, which happens to be the last time he's made a Pro Bowl. That year, Dak rushed for six touchdowns (36 points) and had a two-point conversion run as well. Now over the last three years, Prescott has developed more as a passer – evident by his team-record 37 TD passes in 2021. But to get back to their winning ways, the Cowboys will probably rely on Dak running the ball more, especially near the red zone.

The Cowboys will probably need to find a new punt returner in 2022, now that CeeDee Lamb is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver. Since being drafted in 2020, Lamb has 38 career punt returns, easily the most experienced of any player on the team. But will the Cowboys rely on that or focus on having another alternative fielding punts?

Best of the Best: Brandon Carr – Of his 13-year career, six of which occurred in Dallas, including a five-year stint from 2012-17. Carr signed a free-agent deal with the Cowboys in the 2012 offseason, instantly becoming one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL. Carr had three interceptions each in 2012 and 2013, only to have one pick in his final three years in Dallas. Carr went to the Ravens for three seasons but came back for a three-game stay with the Cowboys in 2020, his final season in the NFL.

Blast From The Past: Lousaka Polite – A fullback who made the team in 2004 under Bill Parcells, Polite turned into a journeyman that played nine years in the NFL on various teams. Polite played 27 games for the Cowboys before heading to Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and New England for the next five seasons. Polite's only career touchdown occurred in 2005 in a Cowboys win over the Eagles.

The Play – The Cowboys looked down and out during a 2004 home game against Washington. But with one last drive, veteran Vinny Testaverde hooked up with rookie receiver Patrick Crayton, who got behind the defense to catch a 39-yard touchdown that propelled Dallas to a last-second 13-10 victory at Texas Stadium. Watch Now.

Tony Pollard caught 39 passes – mostly out of the backfield – in 2021. But as it stands now, that number should likely increase this year. And the fact the Cowboys are without two veteran receivers for the start of the season in Michael Gallup and James Washington, it's possibly Pollard will get more reps as a receiver.

Best of the Best: Bill Bates – An undrafted player from Tennessee, Bates was supposed to be to small and too slow to make it in the NFL. He only last 15 years, mostly as a special teams player, but arguably one of the best special teams players in the history of the game. In fact, Bates' superb play covering kicks, he was one of the reasons the NFL decided to add that spot to the Pro Bowl and Bates was selected in 1984, his second NFL season. A true fan favorite, Bates didn't get to play in Super Bowl XXVII because of a knee injury, but returned to play the next year and again in the 1995 season. Bates ranks fourth in Cowboys history with 217 games played.

Blast From The Past: Danny McCary – Long before he was a TV star on the reality show "Survivor," McCray was another special teams ace that wore No. 40. He caught the eye of former Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, when he was actually looking at another LSU teammate on film. But McCray's instincts in the kicking game got him a contract in 2010 after the draft. He made the team and after two years, joined Bill Bates as the second player in franchise history to lead the team in special teams tackles.

The Play – Tony Pollard got the start in place of an injured Ezekiel Elliott against the 49ers in 2020 and made the most of it. His highlight play was a dazzling 40-yard touchdown in which he broke a few tackles en route to the end zone. Watch now.

Remember about 17 months ago when the Cowboys gave Dak Prescott a whopping new contract that averaged $40 million per season? At the time, Dak's $40 million per contract ranked second in the NFL, but now it's tied for sixth in the league as players such as Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, Josh Allen and Deshaun Watson have had new deals to top it. After just one season with the new deal, could it already be time to start extending Dak again?

The goal every year is to win the division. That's the first goal that automatically gets a team into the playoffs. Now, if you can win every game, obviously that would do the trick. But what about dominating every team in every game? That's basically what the Cowboys did in 2021, not only going a perfect 6-0 against the NFC East. But the Cowboys averaged exactly 40 points per game, highlighted by scoring 56 points against Washington and 51 at Philadelphia in the final three weks of the season. On the flip side, the Cowboys allowed just 17.8 points in those six games.

Best Of The Best: Charlie Waters – One of the key pieces to the "Doomsday Defense," Waters was a force from the day the Cowboys selected him from Clemson in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft. Appearing in five Super Bowls and helping lift Dallas to their first two titles, Waters recorded 41 interceptions and seven sacks across 11 seasons while earning Pro Bowl honors from 1976-1978.

Blast From The Past: Terence Newman – Newman was the fifth overall pick by the Cowboys in 2003 from Kansas State and went on to be a mainstay of the early 2000s Cowboys' defenses. He played nine seasons in Dallas, playing 16 games in six of those years and getting two Pro Bowl nods. In total, Newman recorded 32 interceptions and all three of his career touchdowns in Dallas.

The Play: An all-time Cowboys great, DeMarcus Ware racked up plenty of memorable moments in Dallas as one of the premier pass rushers in the league for almost a decade. However, it was in 2006 against the Falcons that Ware nabbed one of his three career interceptions and his only career touchdown. On the first play of the second half, Ware and Chris Canty broken through the offensive line, forcing Michael Vick to haphazardly to throw the ball right into Ware's chest and taking 41 yards for the score. Watch Now.

Rookie safety Markquese Bell might have one of the best chances to make the team among the undrafted free agents. Donning the No. 41, Bell has been productive in the offseason and currently running with the No. 2 defense at training camp.

In the franchises 62-year history, the Cowboys have played in 41 overtime games with a record of 22-19 all time. Last season, Dallas 1-1 in two overtime games including CeeDee Lamb's touchdown on the road against the Patriots in New England.

Best Of The Best: Barry Church – Church spent his first seven seasons with the Cowboys as a mainstay in the secondary after arriving in 2010. He started 63 games for Dallas during that span, collecting nearly 500 tackles and almost three sacks to go along with his five interceptions. Church has become a recognizable voice for Cowboys' fans by working in various capacities for DallasCowboys.com.

Blast From The Past: Troy Hambrick – Though he did see much action during his rookie season in 2000, Hambrick put up two solid seasons as the No. 2 running back Emmitt Smith during the end of his run in Dallas. After posting seasons of almost 600 yards in 2001 and over 300 yards in 2002, Hambrick became the fulltime starter in 2003 and post nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns before departing for the Cardinals that offseason.

The Play: Cowboys fans saw just how electrifying Trevon Diggs could in 2021 during his third season in the NFL. After all, he led the league in interceptions with 11 and set the franchise record for most interceptions in a season. But it was Week 6 against the Patriots where Diggs really left his mark. With Dallas trailing late in the fourth quarter, Diggs jumped Kendrick Bourne's route on a Mac Jones pass before taking it 42 yards for the touchdown to give the Cowboys a late lead in a game they'd eventually win in overtime. Watch Now.

Micah Parsons was every bit as advertised during his rookie campaign, culminating with a unanimous selection as the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year. With 13 sacks, Parsons also recorded 42 quarterback pressures as one of the Cowboys premier pass rushers. Whether it's in the linebacker spot or as an edge rusher, Parsons will continue to be a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive end.

Best of the Best: Cliff Harris – It's hard to find a more consistent and universally respected defender in Cowboys history than Cliff Harris. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, he is widely known as one of the best safeties in the history of the franchise. Six-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, and a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor as well as the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

Blast from the Past: Don Perkins – After he was drafted by the Colts in 1960, Perkins eventually landed in Dallas and became a pillar of the Cowboys' offense with six Pro Bowls in the next eight years. Tom Landry referred to him as a "remarkable runner" while Walt Garrison called him the "best fullback the Cowboys ever had."

The Play – The Cowboys' chances of winning this Monday Night game in Philadelphia seemed rather bleak late in the fourth quarter. It seemed this would be yet another crushing blow to head coach Bill Parcells, who had already attended his brother's funeral earlier that day in New Jersey. But the Cowboys pulled out some fourth-quarter magic, scoring a touchdown that cut the Philly lead to 20-14. And then, safety Roy Williams jumped in front of Donovan McNabb's sideline pass at the 46-yard line, and scampered down the sidelines for a dramatic touchdown, lifting the Cowboys to a 21-20 win. After the game, Williams presented his coach with the game ball and it was relayed to Parcells that his brother, a college football player at Army, wore No. 31, the same number as Williams, who won the game with his pick-six. Watch Now.

One of just four jersey numbers to have multiple representatives in the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Both Harris and Perkins were enshrined in the Ring of Honor under the number. The other three include 22, 54, and 88.

Tom Brady led the NFL with 43 touchdown passes in 2021. Despite briefly retiring this offseason, will be the Cowboys opening week opponent (in 43 days) on September 11.

The Best of the Best: Robert Newhouse – For 13 years, there weren't many things "House" couldn't do. Newhouse played running back, fullback and even threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl XII over the Broncos. By the end of his career, Newhouse showed why he was the ultimate teammate, not only running down on kickoffs, but still making plays. He forced a fumble against the Giants in 1983 that led to a game-clinching touchdown. Just how many running backs make it to year 12 of their career, much less willing to run down on special teams, and still fast enough to be the first one to the ball? That was Robert Newhouse, who also spent many years working for the Cowboys after his career, before he passed away in 2014.

Blast From The Past: Robert Thomas – Nicknamed "Redrock," Thomas began his career as undrafted free agent that made the team as a linebacker. But by his second season, the Cowboys coaching staff thought he had a future on offense and switched him to fullback, where he blocked for Emmitt Smith for the next four years. Thomas was the lead blocker on Emmitt's record-breaking run in 2002.

The Play – Tony Pollard has the speed, which is why Cowboys fans are wanting him to get more touches in 2022. While that is likely to happen, it's run like this one in 2019 – his rookie year – that showed his electrifying potential. Pollard ripped off a 44-yard run in a blowout win over the Rams, one of many long-range touchdowns that has become a staple in Pollard's game. Watch Now.

Veteran punter Bryan Anger had the best season in Cowboys history in 2021, setting a franchise record with a 44.0 yard average per punt, the fourth-best average in NFL history. Anger was able to re-sign with the Cowboys on a three-year contract.

Since entering the league in 2016, Dak Prescott has 44 games of a 100+ passer rating. Prescott is actually tied with Troy Aikman with the 44 games of triple-digit QBR, and both trail Tony Romo for the franchise record with 67.

Best of the Best: Manny Hendrix – One of many undrafted success stories in Cowboys history, Hendrix made the team as a rookie in 1986 and went on to play six seasons in Dallas as a part-time starting cornerback. Hendrix was an All-WAC player for Utah – in basketball, not football – but he went undrafted by the NBA and gave football a try for the first time since high school. (Fun fact: Cornell Green made a similar transition from Utah State 25 years earlier and became a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys in 1971.)

Blast From The Past: Rod Smith – Smith teamed up with his brother, Jaylon, for three years in Dallas and was a solid special teams contributor and reserve running back. He appeared in 17 games for the Cowboys from 2015-18, rushing for 232 yards and four touchdowns on 55 attempts. He also had an 81-yard touchdown catch in a road win over the Giants in 2017.

The Play: The Cowboys' first Super Bowl title of the 1990s is best remembered as a blowout win over the Bills, but Buffalo actually showed signs of a comeback in the second half, cutting the deficit to 14. That was until Alvin Harper's 45-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter. Harper – a viable deep threat and a perfect complement to Hall of Famer Michael Irvin – beat Bills cornerback James Williams down the right sideline and Troy Aikman hit him in stride for the score, capped by Harper's celebratory dunk over the goalpost. The Cowboys never looked back, winning Super Bowl XXVII 52-17.

Of Dak Prescott's 4,449 passing yards last season, 2,027 (roughly 45%) came from yards after the catch by his receivers -- the eighth-most YAC for a quarterback in 2021.

A top priority for the offense this season is getting the run game on track. After a strong start last season, the production dipped down the stretch, and Dallas posted a season-low 45 rushing yards in a Week 16 loss to the Cardinals.

The Best of the Best: Mark Washington – For nearly the entire 70s decade, Washington was a contributing member of the Cowboys' defense at cornerback and special teams. From 1970-78, Washington played nine seasons and was a member of four Super Bowl teams, including two championships. Unfortunately for Washington, his most memorable moment is a flattering one, as he is the defender on two of Lynn Swann's highlight catches in Super Bowl X. Swann out-jumped Washington, who had good coverage on both plays, but couldn't come up with the play.

Blast From The Past: Erik Bickerstaff – Playing just one season for the Cowboys in 2003, Bickerstaff was added to the roster later in the season by Bill Parcells, who wanted a bigger, goal-line back all season. Bickerstaff only had 19 carries that season, totaling 56 yards and a touchdown before getting injured the next season. The 2003 season proved to be Bickerstaff's only year in the NFL.

The Play – The Cowboys' chances of winning this Monday Night game in Philadelphia seemed rather bleak late in the fourth quarter. It seemed this would be yet another crushing blow to head coach Bill Parcells, who had already attended his brother's funeral earlier that day in New Jersey. But the Cowboys pulled out some fourth-quarter magic, scoring a touchdown that cut the Philly lead to 20-14. And then, safety Roy Williams jumped in front of Donovan McNabb's sideline pass at the 46-yard line, and scampered down the sidelines for a dramatic touchdown, lifting the Cowboys to a 21-20 win. After the game, Williams presented his coach with the game ball and it was relayed to Parcells that his brother, a college football player at Army, wore No. 31, the same number as Williams, who won the game with his pick-six. Watch Now.

All offseason, Tony Pollard worked with the wide receivers – for a couple of reasons as the Cowboys are not only trying to get him more touches in the offense, but the receivers had plenty of injury setbacks this summer. But either way, it's clear the Cowboys want to get Pollard way more than the 46 targets he had in 2021. If the Cowboys are content on getting the ball to Zeke in the ground game, then getting Pollard on the field in the passing game is a way to get them both on the field and it's likely he'll get much more passing attempts than the 2.7 attempts per game in 2022.

Best of the Best: Ryan McNeil – Obviously, there aren't many players that donned this number if the best of the best played one year in Dallas. But that one season – 2000 – was a big year for McNeil, who was a free-agent signee that season. The Cowboys drafted three cornerbacks that year, but only McNeil was a real standout. He had two interceptions, but was clearly one of the best players on the entire defense. McNeil parlayed that year into another contract in San Diego, where he had eight picks the next year. Overall, he played 11 seasons with six teams and had 31 picks.

Blast From The Past: Dexter Clinkscale – Despite having arguably one of the best names in team history, Clinkscale was somewhat overshadowed by a group of DBs that always got their hands on the ball. But during his time in Dallas (1980, 1982-85), Clinkscale not only found the ball but the quarterbacks. He's one of 12 defensive backs in NFL history to record at least nine sacks and nine interceptions in their first five pro seasons.

The Play: Super Bowl XXX is known for a lot of things – most notably being the last time the Cowboys have won the Lombardi Trophy. But it was the game that Dallas avenged two earlier Super Bowl losses to the Steelers. The game Larry Brown found himself with two interceptions and the MVP. And the game, in which Deion Sanders lined up on offense, showing off not only his amazing versatility, but speed and hands. He hauled in a 47-yard bomb from Troy Aikman in the first quarter that led to an early touchdown. That play helped prompt the Cowboys to use Sanders as a starting wide receiver the following year – making him the first two-way player since the 60's. Watch Now.

When the Cowboys drafted Michael Irvin in 1988, he was known as the flamboyant, brash and downright cocky receiver that wore No. 47. But Irvin not only donned No. 88 and helped make it become one of the most sacred jersey numbers in team history, but he also set a franchise record with the most 100-yard receiving games in team history, racking up 47 over the course of his career.

This will be the first season in Cowboys history to play just three preseason games. Over the years, the Cowboys have fallen below the .500 mark, current owning a 47.2 winning percentage in the exhibition.

Best of the Best: Daryl Johnston – Daryl "Moose" Johnston was an all-time great player and nickname on the field during the Cowboys string of success in the 1990's. Johnston became a fan favorite quickly following his second-round selection in the 1989 NFL Draft. His physical brand of play led him to two Pro Bowl selections and three Super Bowl titles in his 10-year career in Dallas.

Blast from the Past: Joe Thomas – Over the years, Joe Thomas has gone from heavy underdog to NFL journeyman, including a three-year stint in Dallas. Thomas went undrafted in 2014 before bouncing back and forth between the Green Bay Packers and the Cowboys practice squads. Finally, after three seasons back in Green Bay, Thomas latched on with the Cowboys for 40 games and six starts between 2018 and 2020.

The Play: Week 12 of the 1990 season included one of the early shining moments of Emmitt Smith's legendary career. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, the 5-7 Cowboys were looking to run out the clock on a victory over Washington and hold on to a three-point lead. A young Smith had other plans as he squeezed through the line of scrimmage and put future Hall of Famer Darrell Green on skates for a 48-yard touchdown run. It was the longest touchdown run of his AP Rookie of the Year season. Watch Now.

Entering the 2022 season, DeMarcus Lawrence has tallied 48.5 career sacks over his eight seasons. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 2017 and 2018 with double-digit sack seasons and currently ranks 12th in franchise history for the category.

Since 2016, no NFL player has more games with over 100 scrimmage yards than Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott leads the way with 48 such games which is a dozen clear of the second-highest total in that period, held by Alvin Kamara with 32.

The Best: Jamize Olawale There haven't been many players in Cowboys history – four to be exact – that have worn No. 49 in a game. The best is likely fullback Jamize Olawale, who had two stints with the team. He was a rookie free agent in 2012 that didn't make the team but wound up with the Raiders. Then in 2018, he returned and played two seasons before opting to sit out the 2020 season and he hasn't been in the NFL since.

Blast From The Past – That's right – Jason Witten's first number issued by the Cowboys was not No. 82. As a rookie tight end – albeit a third-round pick in 2003 – Witten still got the No. 49, a jersey number rarely used to that point. That's a huge change for a player that actually wore No. 1 in college at Tennessee. Of course, Witten moved to No. 82 before training camp and now, who knows if anyone will ever don that number again.

The Play: In a huge division game between the Cowboys and Eagles in 2009, Tony Romo broke a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter with a clutch pass to Miles Austin, who hadn't caught a ball all night. But the pump-and-go froze the Eagles secondary and put Austin wide open in the secondary, where he would cut into the middle of the field for the remaining yards of a go-ahead 49-yard touchdown in the eventual 20-16 win.

The largest margin of victory in a regular-season game is 49 points, occurring in 1966 when the Cowboys pummeled the Eagles 56-7. That record was nearly tied last year when Dallas had a 56-7 lead on Washington before a fumble in the end zone led to a touchdown and an eventual 56-14 outcome.

Best Of The Best: Sean Lee – Few players better embodied what it meant to be a member of the Cowboys than Sean Lee during his 10 years in Dallas. Drafted in the second round out of Penn State, Lee instantly became a fan favorite, including back-to-back Pro Bowls and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2016, all after missing 2014 with a torn ACL. In total, Lee compiled 802 tackles, 14 interceptions and four sacks before retiring in 2020.

Blast From The Past: D.D. Lewis – Lewis was a part of the first two Super Bowl winning teams in franchise history in 1972 and 1977. The Tennessee native was drafted in 1968 from Mississippi State in the sixth round, playing his entire 13-year career with the Cowboys.

The Play: With a wind chill of just 17 degrees, the Cowboys traveled to Minnesota just three days after Christmas to take on the Vikings in the 1975 NFC Divisional round as a heavy underdog. Dallas was shut out in the first half, trailing 7-0 going to the third quarter. The Cowboys would mount a comeback, with a touchdown in the third and 10 more in the fourth, including a 50-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson to seal the win. Dallas would advance to the NFC Championship, and actually Super Bowl X against the Steelers. Watch Now.

Not only has Dak proven that he can be an elite level passer at the quarterback spot, but also with his running ability. He became the fourth Cowboys quarterback to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards, tying Roger Staubach for the fewest number of games to reach the feat with 50.

Micah Parsons' rookie season was historic in many facets, but it all culminated with at the NFL Honors Ceremony. Parsons unanimously received all 50 votes in the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, while also taking home first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a rookie.

Best of the Best: Ken Norton Jr. – Former second-round pick Ken Norton Jr. overcame early injuries in his career to become one of the best linebackers in the NFL. The UCLA product was a large contributor in the Cowboys back-to-back Super Bowl titles during the 1990's. Including his infamous scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXVII. The star linebacker made his first of three Pro Bowls with the Cowboys in 1993 before signing with the 49ers a season later. He is currently the linebackers coach at his alma mater, UCLA.

Blast from the Past: Al Singleton – After five seasons and a Super Bowl title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Al Singleton joined the Cowboys in 2003 hoping to solidify the linebacker position. He was a full-time starter during his first two seasons in Dallas before a scheme change and a broken clavicle kept him from that role. He played four seasons in Dallas before retiring in 2006.

The Play: A monumental moment in one of the biggest comebacks in Dallas Cowboys history. After trailing Washington 23-3 at halftime, Tony Hill, Danny White, and the Dallas passing attack came alive with a one-handed basket-style grab for their second straight touchdown connection. Dallas would come away with a 31-30 win thanks to 28 straight points in one of the best Monday Night Football games of all-time. Watch Now.

Dallas scored 51 points in a Week 18 win over the Eagles to close the 2021 regular season. It marked just the 22nd time in league history that a team had scored over 50 points in a game multiple times through a single campaign. Cowboys teams have achieved the feat on three separate occasions in 1966, 1980, and now 2021.

In 1971, the Cowboys became the first team since the NFL merger to lead the league in takeaways (51) and points scored (406). Since then, only five other teams have led the league in both categories. With the most recent being the Cowboys last season with 34 takeaways and 530 points.

Best Of The Best: Dexter Coakley – Drafted out of Appalachian State in 1997, Coakley joined the Cowboys as a third-round pick and immediately won a starting job as a weak side linebacker and led all NFL rookies in tackles that season with 136. That mark stood as the Cowboys' rookie record until broken by Leighton Vander Esch in 2018.

Coakley, who was generously listed at 5-10 and around 225 pounds, used his speed to get to the ball over and over, finishing his career ranked fourth in franchise history with 1,046 tackles. He also had 13 career interceptions and scored four touchdowns. The game that likely got him on the map occurred in 1999 on Thanksgiving Day against Miami. Playing in front of the national audience, Coakley picked off Hall of Famer Dan Marino twice, including a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown as the Cowboys blanked the Dolphins, 20-0. Coakley earned his first Pro Bowl selection just a few weeks later.

Blast From The Past: Dave Edwards – Usually, the third-best linebacker on a team isn't going to be an impact player. But Dave Edwards was the exception to the rule. Playing alongside Ring of Honor members Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan, Edwards was a staple on the Doomsday Defense for 13 seasons. He also had 13 career interceptions and 15.5 sacks. Edwards is considered by many Cowboys historians as one of the greatest players in team history not to make a Pro Bowl.

The Play: In 1983, the Cowboys were 5-0 but the chances of a sixth straight win looked bleak. The Cowboys had the ball near midfield without any timeouts against the pesky Bucs. But while Danny White was trying to work the sideline, his pass to Timmy Newsome did more than that. Newsome cut up the field and raced past the defenders, tight-roping the sideline for a game-tying touchdown. It led to a field goal in overtime as the Cowboys were able to survive Tampa Bay, 27-24. Watch Now.

While Everson Walls and Trevon Diggs have garnered plenty of attention here recently as they now share the Cowboys single-season interception record with 11, both of them are behind the Cowboys' all-time leader. Mel Renfro has the Cowboys' record with 52 interceptions. Walls is second with 44 while Diggs has 14 in his first two years.

The Cowboys barely even tried to run the ball against the Bucs in Week 1 last year, totaling a season-low 52 rushing yards. It was a problem down by the goal line where the Cowboys had to settle for field goals in the red zone on two occasions. Tampa Bay has a stout defense that forces teams to run to the outside so it'll be interesting to see how the Cowboys approach that Week 1 game on Sept. 11. One difference this year should be the return of Zack Martin, who did not play in the game because of COVID-19 protocols.

Best Of The Best: Mark Stepnoski – Serving as the glue for the offensive line that helped lift the Cowboys two of their three Super Bowl titles in four seasons, Stepnoski was at the center of it all. Literally and figuratively. Dallas drafted the center from the University of Pittsburgh in the third round in 1989, the same draft as Troy Aikman. Stepnoski became an instant success with Aikman behind him, making three straight Pro Bowls from 1992-1994 and starting 182 games.

Blast From The Past: Bob Breunig – Breunig plated his entire nine-year career with the Cowboys after coming from Arizona State in the 1975 draft. The California native was an iron man as well, not missing a start from 1978-1980. That stretch also included Dallas' second Super Bowl title in franchise history, as well as two of Breunig's three Pro Bowl selections. He also led the Cowboys in total tackles from 1977-1981.

The Play: We all vividly remember the play, right? The Cowboys started the 2007 campaign on fire by starting 5-0 before a loss to the Patriots in Week 6 just before the bye week. Following the bye Dallas went to Philly where Jason Witten created one of the most memorable plays in Cowboys history. Tony Romo found Witten over the middle before he crashed into two Eagles defenders, causing him to lose his helmet. Instead of going down, Witten continued down all the way inside the 10-yard line, helmetless and fired up. And that play will not only live forever, but it likely won't have any company as the NFL has since changed the rule, blowing all plays dead once the ball-carrier's helmet comes off. Watch Now

After becoming the starting quarterback for the Cowboys in 2016, Dak Prescott has 53 wins in 85 starts over six seasons in Dallas. That sets him at fifth all time in franchise history. It also puts Prescott in fourth place among active quarterbacks during that span behind Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson.

The Cowboys had one of the most efficient offenses during the 2021 season, mostly due to their ability to have big success on first down. Dallas gained four or more yards on first down plays last season 53% of the time, third behind the Chiefs and Packers.

Best Of The Best: Randy White – Drafted as a linebacker in 1975, the Cowboys thought maybe Randy White would be better served on the defensive line instead. As it turned out, White is arguably the best defensive tackle in team history and a Hall of Famer who made the NFL's Top 100 players list. Known as the "Manster," White dominated his opponents at the line of scrimmage and played with an attitude that personified the "Doomsday Defense." From 1977-85, White earned nine straight Pro Bowl selections as the Cowboys made the playoffs all but one of those seasons.

Blast From The Past: Bruce Carter – The Cowboys have made a habit out of drafting players in the second round based off value and upside. Carter was one of those picks in 2011, after suffering a torn ACL in college that likely dropped him out of the first round. But while he spent four years in Dallas, Carter didn't exactly meet the expectations. He did have five interceptions in 2014, the most by any Cowboys player until Trevon Diggs surpassed that in 2021. Carter was a solid player, who ended up playing eight years, including the last four on three different teams.

The Play: It might not be the most memorable play of the 1994 win over the Saints, but Tony Tolbert picked up his first career interception and his first career touchdown when he snuffed out a screen pass in the flat and snagged the pick, racing to the house for the 54-yard touchdown. It was one of two Cowboys' pick-sixes that day (Darrin Smith) but they were both overshadowed by Larry Allen chasing down the Saints linebacker, turning himself into a household name overnight. Watch Now.

As great as Randy White was, he wasn't the first No. 54 to become a great player for the Cowboys. Linebacker Chuck Howley was also a Ring of Honor player and owns the distinction as the only player in Super Bowl history to win MVP honors on the losing team. Howley was named Super Bowl VI MVP in the Cowboys' loss to the Colts.

The No. 54 is one of four jersey numbers (88, 43, 22) that have multiple players in the Ring of Honor. And it's usually given to a young linebacker that has promise, likely drafted in the first few rounds. It doesn't always pan out, as player such as Bobby Carpenter, Bruce Carter and Jaylon Smith didn't live up to the lofty expectations. But the number was given out to Sam Williams, a second-round pick from Ole Miss who will see if he can be the next great No. 54 defensive player in Dallas.

Best Of The Best: Lee Roy Jordan – The middle linebacker is often known as the coach of the defense. Ironically enough, one of the best middle linebackers in Cowboys history had only two coaches past high school – legends Tom Landry and Paul "Bear" Bryant. So Lee Roy Jordan was likely destined for greatness from the start.

Jordan was a leader on the field but he also produced, racking up more tackles than any other player in franchise history and held the record of 1,236 yards for 26 years after he retired until Darren Woodson broke it during the 2002 season.

Jordan's 32 career interceptions are not only the most by a Cowboys linebacker but he's tied for third in NFL history for picks by a linebacker. Jordan also recorded three interceptions in one game against the Bengals in 1973, returning one for a touchdown. Jordan had 16 career fumble recoveries, which ranks fourth in franchise history.

He earned two All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowls and played in three Super Bowls, helping the Cowboys win their first-ever championship in the 1971 season.

In 1989, Jordan was inducted into the Ring of Honor, becoming the first inductee by current owner Jerry Jones.

Blast From The Past: Zach Thomas – At some point, maybe in the near future, Zach Thomas will be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And when that happens, it will be a proud day for the Miami Dolphins, who drafted Thomas in the fifth round in 1996. Thomas spent the first 12 years of his career in Miami, but he finished up his pro career not far from his hometown. Thomas, a kid that played at Pampa, Texas and starred at Texas Tech, finished up his illustrious career with Dallas in 2008. Thomas nearly racked up 100 tackles on a defense that ranked No. 8 in the NFL that year. Thomas certainly isn't known as a Cowboy, but he is yet another future Hall of Famer who did have a brief stint with the team.

The Play: In his rookie year, Ezekiel Elliott did everything for the Cowboys, enjoying one of the best seasons by a Dallas running back in franchise history. One of his best plays was a 55-yard touchdown run against the Lions, showcasing Zeke's burst, vision and his breakaway speed, something that has been missing the last few years. But on this night, no one was catching Zeke. Watch Now.

If Leighton Vander Esch's career was a rollercoaster, the "Wolf Hunter" ride would certainly be one with plenty of twists and turns and even a couple of loops. What started out as a promising superstar that made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro as a rookie, Vander Esch hasn't been able to rekindle that kind of success in the last three seasons. And while it appeared he was ready to leave in free agency, the market actually led LVE back to Dallas, where he'll once again anchor the middle of the linebacker corps in Dan Quinn's defense.

LVE's last game – the Wild Card loss to the 49ers – was arguably his best game of the season and maybe the best in the last two years. Vander Esch had 13 tackles, the most since the 2019 season.

Best Of The Best: Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson – A first-round selection by Dallas during the 1975 NFL Draft from Langston University, "Hollywood" Henderson was part of the Cowboys' famous "Dirty Dozen" draft when 12 rookies made the team. None of them had the charisma and flamboyant nature as Henderson, who totaled 12.5 sacks over five seasons with the Cowboys, including a Pro Bowl selection in 1978.

Blast From The Past: Randall Godfrey – Godfrey played just four seasons with the Cowboys after being drafted in 1996 from Georgia in the second round. He totaled five sacks with 309 total tackles across 64 games. Godfrey was playing in a time when the Cowboys didn't put the highest value on linebackers and let him go in free agency. Godfrey signed with the Titans in 2000 but played with a total of five teams before retiring in 2007.

The Play: One of the long-standing members of the 2000s Cowboys in Terence Newman engineered one of the most electrifying plays of the 2006 season for Dallas in their Week 17 matchup against the Lions before heading into the playoffs. Dallas rallied from a 13-0 deficit in the first quarter, engaging in a back and forth contest the rest of the way, including Newman's 56-yard punt return in the third quarter and Terrell Owens' 56-yard touchdown receptions in the fourth. Watch Now.

A steady and consistent performer during his stint in Dallas, Bradie James became a force on the defensive side of the ball for the Cowboys by leading the team in tackles for six consecutive seasons from 2005-2010 – the only player in team history to be credited with six straight years as the tackle leader.

The Cowboys scored their season high in points against Washington last season in a 56-14 win at home. The 56 points in last year's Week 16 contest are the third most in team history and most in 41 years when they scored 59 against the 49ers in 1980 and against the Lions in 1968.

Best of the Best: Kevin Burnett – Dallas drafted Kevin Burnett in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and he stuck around until 2008. Unfortunately, the start of his career was riddled with knee issues that limited his early production. In four seasons, he started just four games over 61 appearances with 149 tackles and four sacks.

Blast from the Past: Quentin Coryatt – Following a collegiate career at Texas A&M where he was named Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Quentin Coryatt was drafted by the Colts with the second overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Cowboys before the 1999 season, hoping he could find his footing in the NFL after struggling in Indianapolis. Instead, an Achilles injury hindered his progress as he played in only four games, including one start.

The Play: In Week 5 of the 1989 season, the Cowboys took advantage of some sloppy offense and a slippery football for a 57-yard fumble recovery. A fumbled snap by the Green Bay offense was kicked nearly 15 yards backwards before Eugene Lockhart finally corralled the ball and took it the rest of the way for the touchdown. Watch now.

In 2016, Dak Prescott set the franchise record for rushing attempts by a rookie quarterback with 57. He finished that season with 282 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He then surpassed that rushing total with 357 yards on the same number of rushing attempts (57) in his second season.

Entering the 2022 season, Dallas holds the second-best regular season winning percentage in the history of the NFL at 57.2%. The Cowboys held a league-best mark until the end of the 2020 regular season when the Green Bay Packers took over the top mark, currently at 57.3%.

Best of the Best: Mike Hegman – He spent 12 seasons with the Cowboys (1976-87), but didn't start until the 1980 season. Hegman was on plenty of successful teams – playing in 16 career playoff games. He actually scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XIII against the Steelers, ripping the ball away from Terry Bradshaw and returning it 37 yards for a touchdown. Hegman finished his career – all with the Cowboys – ranked 16th in team history with 649 tackles.

Blast From The Past: Dixon Edwards – Right place at the right time? Or right place at the wrong time? Edwards could make the argument on both sides. On one hand, his five-year stint with the Cowboys was one of the most successful times in NFL history as he played on five straight playoff teams from 1991-95, including three Super Bowl titles. However, he was also playing during a time in which the Cowboys didn't value linebackers like they do today. Edwards eventually had to leave to get a big payday. He played nine total seasons, but never had anything close to the success had early on in Dallas.

The Play: Let's go with two plays here – especially since they occurred about seven minutes apart. In a 2012 matchup with the Saints, Dez Bryant reeled in a pair of 58-yard touchdowns from Tony Romo, torching the New Orleans secondary on consecutive possessions during the second quarter. Watch now.

The argument between playing Tony Pollard more than Ezekiel Elliott usually comes down to Pollard's big-play ability. That was on display during a win over the Saints last year in which the offense was struggling. But Pollard ripped off a career-long 58-yard touchdown against the Saints that seemed to energize the entire team as the Cowboys rolled past the Saints in the second half. It's that type of run that will keep Pollard on the field even more in 2022. The 58-yard run was the longest run by any Cowboys player since 2017.

So just how good has Ezekiel Elliott been throughout his career? That one will always be up for debate, but as it stands currently, he ranks No. 58 on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 7,386. Last year, Elliott literally limped to his fifth 1,000-yard season. If he can manage to get at least 1,000 yards again in 2022, Zeke would jump to around No. 42 all time, depending on what a couple of other current NFL players do this year.

Best of the Best: Dat Nguyen – It's hard to find a more impressive career and overall story that took place over just seven NFL seasons, than Dat Nguyen. He was the first Vietnamese-American to be drafted and selected as an All-Pro (2003) in the league after a hall of fame career at Texas A&M. The third-round selection spent all seven seasons with the Cowboys and finished with 516 career tackles, seven interceptions while being named to the All-Rookie team in 1999.

Blast from the Past: Anthony Hitchens – Drafted from Iowa during the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Hitchens was instantly thrusted into a "do-it-all" linebacker role with an injury to Sean Lee. His ability to play inside, outside, and middle linebacker allowed him to see early playing time and establish a role in the front seven. Hitchens played in Dallas from 2014 to 2017 before joining the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won Super Bowl LIV just a few years later.

The Play: Deion Sanders took the nickname "Prime Time" to another level on Monday Night Football in 1998when he broke multiple tackles and evaded the entire Giants special teams unit for a dazzling 59-yard punt return. Early in the play, it appeared Deion Sanders was destined for a modest gain before he put a foot in the turf and reversed field to find a seam in a way only Sanders could do. But that wasn't his only highlight of the night. Sanders also had a 71-yard interception for a touchdown, caught a 55-yard pass on offense. In fact, the NFL gave out a special "Prime Time Player of the Week" award for Sanders' performance. Watch Now.

Emmitt Smith tallied a franchise-best 59 games with at least 100 scrimmage yards over the first six years of his career. Through the first six of his career, Ezekiel Elliott has managed 48 such games which ranks 15th most by a Cowboys player in that time period.

Dak Prescott has thrown 59 of his 143-career touchdown passes on second down. The most on a single down by a significant margin throughout his career with the second most being 42 scores thrown on first down.

Best of the Best: Derek Kennard – Known by his teammates as "Big Baby," Kennard played the final three years of his career with the Cowboys in 1994-96. He was mostly a backup, but started 16 games in 1994 as the Cowboys were forced to shuffle the line around due to injuries. Kennard had versatility, playing both guard spots at center during his career, which began with the Cardinals in 1986. He spent time with the Saints before wrapping up his career in Dallas.

Blast From The Past: Don Smerek – A role player during the Cowboys' Doomsday Defense of the 1980s, Smerek spent all seven of his years in Dallas. He only started four career games, but he still had 6.0 sacks in 1983 and 4.5 sacks in 1986.

The Play: There were lots of good choices here, but none better than Miles Austin's game-winning touchdown to beat the Chiefs in 2009. The 60-yard touchdown in overtime not only gave Dallas a 26-20 win in Kansas City, but capped off one of the greatest individual performances in team history. Austin got his first career start because of an injury to Roy Williams, and made the most of it with a 10-catch, 250-yard effort, thanks to the final play where Austin broke free of a tackle and raced 60 yards to give the Cowboys the win. Watch Now.

The birth of the franchise began in 1960, the first season the Cowboys took the field. The expansion team, coached by Tom Landry, lost its first 10 games of the season, before finally registering a 31-31 tie with the Giants. The Cowboys finished their inaugural season with an 0-11-1 record, the only time in team history when they failed to win a game.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has won 60 percent of his regular-season games, dating back to his first year coaching the Packers in 2006. McCarthy has a 143-92-2 record (.604) as a head coach, including last year's 12-5 record. It was McCarthy's first winning season since 2016.

Best of the Best: Nate Newton – One of the most beloved and consistent Cowboys of all-time, Nate Newton is an institution. Six-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl champion, and one of the anchors of arguably the greatest offensive line in history from 1986 to 1998. Throughout his career, he played nearly every position on the offensive line but was one of the best guards in the NFL during the 1990's. Also, Newton turns 61 this December.

Blast from the Past: Blaine Nye – He only registered seven seasons as a starter in the NFL, all of which with Dallas, and still put together quite the resume. Two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro honor in 1972, Nye was an early force during his nine seasons with the Cowboys. From when he was named the starter at right guard in 1970, to his retirement in 1976, he continued to improve every year.

The Play: Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin will forever be a favorite connection among Cowboys lore. This 61-yard bomb is towards the top of the list as Aikman dropped back on 3rd and 11 to launch a deep ball to Irvin in coverage. The second-year receiver evaded a Rams defender to make the grab, then left them in the dust to break the tie and set up an eventual 24-21 win. Watch Now.

Entering the 2022 season, the Cowboys hold a record of 61-48 at AT&T Stadium since its opening in 2009. 58 of those wins came in the regular season and three in the postseason at home. Dallas went 5-3 in their eight home games this past season.

America's Sweethearts, the world-famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were founded in September of 1961. Founded by the legendary Dee Brock as she appoached former president and general manager Tex Schramm with the idea. The formation of the team and the creativity surrounding it belonged to Brock who debuted the squad during the 1961 season.

John Fitzgerald - Though he did not play each of his first two seasons in Dallas, including during the Cowboys' first Super Bowl winning season, Fitzgerald was a fixture at the center position for Roger Staubach during the 1970s. He took part in three more Super Bowl runs from 1975-1978.

Blast From The Past: Brian Baldinger – Dallas signed Baldinger as an undrafted free agent following the 1982 NFL Draft from Duke. He stayed with the team through the 1987 season, totaling four starts across 55 games. Like many other players in Cowboys history, Baldinger has become a successful football broadcaster and is known for his "BaldyBreakdowns" – a popular video analysis of the NFL.

The Play: Coming off the first of three titles in four years in 1992, Dallas would follow that up with their second straight during the 1993 season, but not without some notable milestones along the way. The Cowboys hosted the Eagles in Week 9 with pouring rain coming down on the field in Texas Stadium en route to a 23-10 win. But it was Emmitt Smith who put the exclamation point on the day with a 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap off a 237-yard day, breaking the single-game franchise record of 206 set by Tony Dorsett in 1977, also against the Eagles. Smith's record lasted nearly 20 years until rookie DeMarco Murray ripped off 253 yards against the Rams. Watch Now.

Cowboys rookie kicker Jonathan Garibay will try to win the job this preseason and training camp. To do that, he'll have to prove he can be consistent, especially inside of 50 yards where the majority of his attempts will be. But he's proven he has a strong leg – evident by his game-winning 62-yard field goal in 2021 to help Texas Tech defeat Iowa State.

Tony Romo holds the team record for passing attempts in a game by attempting 62 throws twice during the 2012 season against Washington and the Giants.

Dallas set the franchise record with 62 sacks in a single season in 1985. Ed Jones led the Cowboys with 13 sacks, while Jim Jeffcoat and Randy White were just behind with 12 and 10.5, respectively. The closest the Cowboys have come to that mark is 59 sacks, set in 2008, led by 20 from DeMarcus Ware.

Best of the Best: Larry Cole – When you play long enough – even at defensive tackle – big plays are going to come your way. Cole was a staple on the Doomsday Defense for 13 years, playing from 1968-80. In that time, he scored four touchdowns – including one during his rookie year and one in his final season. But Cole's biggest play likely was a tackle for loss against Washington in the 1979 regular-season finale. That play allowed the Cowboys to get the ball back again, letting Roger Staubach rally the team for his final victory – a 35-34 win at Texas Stadium.

Blast From The Past: Kyle Kosier – Surrounded by players on the offensive line that were either Pro Bowlers, first-round picks or both, Kosier was a steady player for his time – 2006-2011. Despite playing with guys like Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo, Kosier was often dubbed as one of the most underrated players on the team, especially by quarterback Tony Romo. Kosier played 10 years in the league, including his final six with the Cowboys.

The Play: This was the "other" memorable play from the 1993 Thanksgiving Day game on ice. Long before Leon Lett's slip-and-slide fumble, rookie receiver Kevin Williams had his own fun in the snow, sliding into the end zone after a 63-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter. Watch Now.

Former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher found his way into the record books a few times with the longest field goal in team history. But his longest kick was a 63-yard field goal against the Eagles in 2019. Maher is credited with the four longest field goals in team history. And his 63-yarder is tied for third-longest in NFL history.

While the Cowboys might have had some occasional issues scoring in the red zone, they ranked sixth in the NFL with a 63.08 touchdown average. The best way to improve that stat will be to fix a stagnant running game, especially in the 20.

Best of the Best: Tom Rafferty– One of the most productive centers in franchise history, Rafferty was a starter for the majority of 13 seasons from 1977-89. Since he took over as the starter in 1977 – the season the Cowboys won their second Super Bowl – Rafferty only missed a total of three games until the 1989 season when he was eventually replaced by Mark Stepnoski.

Blast From The Past: Montrae Holland – Rather quiet off the field, Holland was a solid contributor to the Cowboys' offensive line in his three seasons (2008, 2010-11). Holland started the final 10 games of the 2011 season, which proved to be his final season in the NFL. Overall, he played eight years, including the first four with the Saints.

The Play: Eight years earlier, the Cowboys were able to trade their best player – Herschel Walker – for a ton of draft picks that eventually built the dynasty of the 90s. But in a 1997 game against the Jaguars, Walker was back on the Cowboys in a backup role. Trailing by three in the final minutes, Troy Aikman found Walker out of the backfield for a first down. But Walker still had his world-class speed and outran the entire Jags secondary to the end zone for a game-winning touchdown. Watch Now.

Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons became an instant superstar, turning heads mainly with his ability to rush the passer and get sacks. But let's not forget Parsons did record 64 tackles, good for fifth on the team. And 12 of those tackles were behind the line of scrimmage.

The year of 1964 doesn't seem like a memorable one for the Cowboys, who went just 5-8-1, posting their fourth straight losing season. But something happened that year that changed the course of the franchise forever. Instead of looking for a new coach, the Cowboys decided to give Tom Landry a 10-year contract, which is still believed to be the longest in pro sports history that time. It turned out to be the right move as Landry didn't have a losing season for the next 22 years.

Best of the Best: Andre Gurode – From the moment Andre Gurode was taken in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, he was a core member of the Cowboys offensive front. Over the next eight years, he tallied five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections before departing for Baltimore in 2011. Part of history with Emmitt Smith's record-breaking run against Seattle in 2002 and other countless moments for nearly a decade.

Blast from the Past: Ron Leary – Once thought of as a Day Two level of player in the 2012 NFL Draft, Leary was signed as an undrafted free agent thanks to a knee condition. After struggling to make the active roster for a year, he eventually made a leap to the starting job in 2014 and was a key contributor on one of the best offensive lines in the league. However, eventual competition from La'el Collins pushed him out of a starting job and eventually out of Dallas in 2017.

The Play: Known for wrecking NFL backfields throughout his career, it's surprising to think one of Jim Jeffcoat's finest moments came on an interception. In the final home game of the 1985 regular season, Jeffcoat elevated at the line of scrimmage to bat a pass into the air for an easy interception. From then-on-out, it was nothing but green grass as the defensive end took it 65 yards for a crucial pick-six in a 28-21 win over the New York Giants. This was Jeffcoat's second of four career touchdowns for the Cowboys. Watch Now.

Over his 65 punts in 2021, Bryan Anger set a franchise record and led the NFL with a net average of 44.6 yards per punt. That number was the fourth-highest by a player over a single season in NFL history. He also set the record with 48.4 gross yards per punt as well.

Hall of Famer "Bullet" Bob Hayes wasted no time introducing himself to the NFL. During rookie season in 1965, he tallied 1,003 yards receiving and led the NFL with 12 touchdowns. Both marks still remain as franchise rookie records and he is the only player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in his first season.

Best of the Best: George Andrie – Dallas has just completed their second season in existence when Gil Brandt helped make the selection of Andrie from Marquette in the 6th round of the 1962 draft. He became a key cog of the Doomsday Defense alongside Bob Lily, earning five straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1965-1969 with 98.5 career sacks and helping Dallas defeat the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI for their first championship.

Blast From The Past: Kevin Gogan – While the late 1980s were not extremely kind to the Cowboys they did land Gogan in the eighth round in the 1987 draft out of Washington. Gogan played seven seasons in Dallas, including winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993 before departing for the Raiders.

The Play: While the 2009 season ended in a tough loss to Brett Favre and the Vikings in the playoffs, the Cowboys finished the regular season atop the NFC East. The Cowboys boasted a strong offensive unit and got out to a quick start in the season against the Buccaneers on the road in Week 1. Dallas led 13-7 coming into the second half before Tony Romo hit Roy Williams in stride up the right hash for a 66-yard touchdown to take the 34-21 victory. Watch Now.

Connor McGovern is set to enter his third season in Dallas after compiling 14 starts across 30 games over his first two seasons. With depth on the offensive line proving to be a crucial area for the Cowboys this season, the Penn State alum could see an increased role this season. While the Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith in the first round, presumably to unseat McGovern at left guard, that hasn't exactly happened this offseason just yet. McGovern was praised by head coach Mike McCarthy for his consistency this summer. And with Smith getting some left tackle reps as well, it's not a given that McGovern will be a backup just yet. It'll be an interesting training camp for sure for McGovern and some of the other linemen battling for starting spots.

The Cowboys playing on Thanksgiving Day has become a rite of passage for across multiple generations. But it started on November 24th, 1966, against the Cleveland Browns. Since then, the Cowboys have a 31-22-1 record, including a current three-game losing streak on Turkey Day.

Best of the Best: Pat Donovan – His entire nine-year career was spent in Dallas, where Donovan earned four straight Pro Bowls from 1979-82. Donovan was one of the team's best left tackles of all-time. Once he took over as the starter in 1977, Donovan started 109 consecutive games until missing one in 1983, which was his last pro season.

Blast From The Past: Russell Maryland – Only three times in Cowboys history has the franchise drafted a player No. 1 overall in the draft. After "Too Tall" Jones in 1974 and Troy Aikman in 1989, Russell Maryland was picked first in the 1991 draft. Maryland obviously had plenty of ties to Cowboys coaching staff, which had recruited Maryland to the University of Miami. Although he didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations of the No. 1 pick, Maryland did make a Pro Bowl in 1993 and was a key member of a rotating defensive line for his five years in Dallas. Maryland earned three Super Bowl rings before playing four years with the Raiders and one last year in Green Bay, giving him a 10-year career.

The Play: Linebackers usually don't cover a lot of ground in the open field but Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson was far from ordinary. He had already returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in 1975. And three years later, he was at it again – this time with an interception near the sideline against the Rams, before returning it 67 yards for a touchdown in a 1978 game. Watch Now.

Has it already been six years since Dak Prescott was a rookie? That glorious 2016 season saw plenty of highlights from the eventual Rookie of the Year. But Prescott also set an NFL rookie record with a 67.8 completion percentage. Although New England's Mac Jones threatened the record in 2021 with a 67.7 completion percentage, Prescott still has the rookie mark, entering the 2022 season. It's also the third-best percentage by any Cowboys player at any point in their career.

The year 1967 started and ended in similar, yet disappointing fashion. On Jan. 1, 1967, the Cowboys lost to the Packers in the NFL Championship Game, 34-27, ending the 1966 season. Then later that year, the 1967 season ended on Dec. 31 in the infamous "Ice Bowl" with the Packers scoring late in the game to win 21-17 in the first-ever NFC Championship Game to advance to Super Bowl I.

Best of the Best: Herb Scott – Of the long linage of great Cowboys' offensive lineman, Herb Scott is certainly in the conversation for one of the best. The Virginia Beach native and Virginia Union College alumnus was a 13th round pick by Dallas in 1975. He went on to be a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time first team All-Pro player and was a part of the 1977 Super Bowl winning squad.

Blast From The Past: Doug Free – Free was one of the more unheralded members of the mid 2000s Cowboys teams. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft from Northern Illinois, Free played in just one game in his rookie season before coming an iron man for Dallas at the tackle spot. He would play seven consecutive seasons from 2010-2016 without missing a start before his retirement following the 2016 season.

The Play: During the 1984 season, Dallas got out to a quick 3-1 start before they returned home to face the vaunted 80s defense of the Chicago Bears and coach Mike Ditka. But the Cowboys had offensive weapons of their own to combat the Monsters of the Midway with running back Tony Dorsett and their own legendary coach in Tom Landry. Down 7-3 in the first half, Cowboys quarterback Gary Hogeboom hit Dorsett on a routine screen pass that went for a 68-yard touchdown, eventually leading to a 23-14 win. Watch Now.

With some question marks on the offensive line heading into the 2022 season, Matt Farniok enters into his second year with the Cowboys at the guard spot with a real chance to contribute. After a solid offseason, he can help increase depth at the position and possibly even compete for a starting spot at center.

Last season, Dallas ranked third in the NFL with 68 knockdowns on the defensive end. The year prior in 2020, the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league with just 45 knockdowns at 26th.

Best of the Best: George Hegamin – One of the forgotten pieces of the 1990's offensive line, Hegamin was a quality back-up piece for one of the greatest fronts in history. After being drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft, he started 10 of his 31 games with the Cowboys until 1997. After struggling for playing time early in his career, he filled in for nine starts in his final season as a Cowboy due to injuries up front.

Blast from the Past: Henry Melton – Emerging from nearby DeSoto, Texas, Melton made his way to Dallas in 2014 after four seasons with the Chicago Bears. His signing was a hopeful one after earning a Pro Bowl bid in 2012. However, a torn ACL three games into the 2013 season hindered his consistency when he signed with Dallas a year later. Melton played through a few injuries in training camp and started three games for Dallas and registered five sacks.

The Play: Over his legendary Cowboys tenure, DeMarcus Ware scored just two defensive touchdowns. This was his first, as Greg Ellis jarred the ball loose from Donovan McNabb. Ware looked up and reeled in the fumble before taking off for a 69-yard touchdown return, giving the Cowboys a 14-10 lead. Watch Now.

In a 1978 NFL Films highlight piece, writer Bob Ryan dubbed a line saying the Cowboys were as familiar to the public as anyone, due to their vast success in the 1970's. This led to the first mention of Dallas being "America's Team," read by narrator John Facenda. The nickname has stuck, through the ups and the downs, in many forms of media over the history of the franchise.

The first Dallas defender to ever register double-digit interceptions in a single season was Mel Renfro in 1969. His 10 receptions stood as a franchise record until Everson Walls tallied 11 in 1981 and Trevon Diggs tied that mark last season.

Best of the Best: Zack Martin – Tough call here, especially since there's a Hall of Fame player on the other side, but when it's all said and done, Zack Martin could be the best offensive lineman in Cowboys history, aside from maybe Larry Allen. Martin already has seven Pro Bowls in his eight-year career, including another this past season. When he's healthy, Martin is still one of the very best players in the NFL at his position.

Blast From The Past: Rayfield Wright – This past spring, the Cowboys lost one of their greatest players in Wright, who passed away at the age of 76. Wright is considered the first great lineman in team history. He was finally recognized for his achievements by getting into the Ring of Honor in 2004 and then the Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Play: Arguably, one of the most important plays in franchise history, and it wasn't even a touchdown. But in the 1992 NFC Championship Game, the Cowboys held a 24-20 lead over the 49ers, who had just scored and had all the momentum with four minutes to play. But instead of sitting on the ball and trying to milk the clock, the Cowboys stayed aggressive. On first down from the 20, Troy Aikman fired a pass to Alvin Harper, who took off for a 70-yard completion that would eventually lead to the game-clinching score. That play propelled the Cowboys to not only the Super Bowl, but it started a dynasty of three titles in a four-year span.

In 1970, the Cowboys finally made it over the hump, advancing to their first-ever Super Bowl. However, a sloppy performance by both teams – resulting in a multitude of errors and turnovers, was eventually won by the Colts on a last-second field goal. To this day, it's the only Super Bowl where a player from the losing team won MVP as Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley claimed the honor.

Best of the Best: Mark Tuinei– An undrafted free agent from Hawaii back in 1983, Tuinei actually began his career as a defensive lineman before eventually switching to tackle. After starting only 23 games in the first six seasons of his career, Tuinei was the full-time starter in 1989 when Jimmy Johnson took over. From there, his game improved along with the team as he was one of the anchors of the "Great Wall of Dallas." Tuinei made two Pro Bowls (1994 & 1995) before his career ended in 1997.

Blast From The Past: La'el Collins – This is hardly a player from the "past" considering Collins was released this offseason and designated a June 1 cut. But he did spent seven years in Dallas after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Collins was dubbed the "enforcer" by owner Jerry Jones for his toughness and having his teammates' backs, especially the quarterback. Collins signed in Cincinnati, where he will block for Bengals QB Joe Burrow. The Cowboys should see Collins back in Week 2 as Cincinnati returns to AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2016.

The Play: It's not used often, especially in Dallas, but the Cowboys worked the "flea-flicker" to perfection in a 2005 win over the Chiefs. A fake run by Marion Barber got the ball back into Drew Bledsoe's hands before he heaved a bomb to a wide open Terry Glenn for the 71-yard touchdown in what turned into a dramatic 31-28 win over the Chiefs. Watch Now.

The Cowboys have played in just three home stadiums. The second of which opened in 1971 as the team introduced Texas Stadium, a unique, state-of-the-art venue that served as the Cowboys' home turf for 38 seasons.

Finally, the title of "Next Year's Champions" could be put to rest. In 1971, the Cowboys overcame a plethora of issues, including a mid-season quarterback controversy to put the pieces together on the team's first-ever championship run. The Cowboys capped off the 71 season with a 24-3 win in Super Bowl VI over the Dolphins.

Best of the Best: Ed 'Too Tall" Jones – Jones was the No.1 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft by the Cowboys from Tennessee State. The 6'9 defensive instantly became a franchise icon for Dallas by serving as an integral part of the "Doomsday Defense" with 106 sacks. He helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances and one title in 1978 while racking up three Pro Bowl appearances and earning First Team All-Pro honors in 1982 during his 16 seasons.

Blast From The Past: Travis Fredrick – The Cowboys selected Fredrick with the 31st pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin to help anchor the middle of the offensive line. All Fredrick did in return was become a 4-time Pro Bowler and was named AP First Team All-Pro in 2016. He played six seasons with the Cowboys, and never missed a game except for missing the 2018 season with Guillain-Barre Syndrome before retiring after the 2019 season.

The Play: After opening the 2008 season on the road against the Cleveland Browns with a win, the Cowboys returned home to Texas Stadium for a Sunday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia kicked a field goal on their opening drive, they handed the ball to Dallas for their first chance, culminating in a 72-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Terrell Owens. That would be one of Owens' two touchdown receptions for the Cowboys en route to a 41-37 win. Dallas would finish the season at 9-7 and finish third in the NFC East. It would also be Owens' final season with the Cowboys. Watch Now.

1972 proved to be a year full of milestones and record-breaking feats for the Cowboys. Calvin Hill became the first Cowboy to rush for 1,000 yards, cementing the record on December 9th against Washington at Texas Stadium with 111 yards for the game. In total, Hill totaled 1,036 yards and a record 245 carries.

Jason Witten finished his Cowboys career with 72 receiving touchdowns, most by a tight end in franchise history. His total number finished just one shy of Dez Bryant's record mark of 73 touchdown grabs.

Best of the Best: Larry Allen – One of the most decorated Cowboys offensive linemen of all time, Larry Allen could also be considered as one of the best the NFL has ever seen. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013, named to both the 1990's and 2000's All-Decade Teams and the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor after over 200 games played in his career.

Blast from the Past: Ralph Neely – Towards the top of the list of under-the-radar greats to play for the franchise. Neely went from a second-round pick in 1965 to a two-time Super Bowl champion, a member of the 1960's All-Decade Team and a four-time All-Pro. While he's not a member of the Hall of Fame or Ring of Honor, his presence on the offensive line in the early decades is an all-time great contribution.

The Play: All who watched the Cowboys in the 1990's and 2000's know exactly what type of athlete Larry Allen was. There isn't a single play that completely shows his grit and athleticism quite like the way he tracked down a potential pick-six in 1994. New Orleans linebacker Darion Conner picked off a Troy Aikman pass and was headed to the endzone before the 6-foot-3, 335-pound Allen caught him from behind. A 56-yard return that was stopped 16 yards short because of the rookie's effort. Watch Now.

Dez Bryant holds the all-time Cowboys mark with 73 career receiving touchdowns. Edging out a pair of Hall of Famers in Bob Hayes who had 71 and Michael Irvin who finished with 65.

2022 first round pick Tyler Smith will wear number 73 as a rookie this season. Smith has often referred to Larry Allen as his favorite former Cowboy. He's the first to wear the number since Joe Looney in 2020.

Best of the Best: Bob Lilly – Mr. Cowboy. Not only was Bob Lilly the first draft choice in the history of the Cowboys franchise, but he was one f the best. His long list of career achievements includes being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, Ring of Honor, and both a member of the 1960s and 1970s All-Decade Teams. Lilly will always be remembered as an all-time great and a foundational piece to the early years of the franchise.

The Play: One of the shining moments in the early history of the Cowboys organization. Bob Lilly cemented a 29-yard loss with a sack of the retreating Bob Griese in Super Bowl VI. The first quarter loss still stands as the biggest for a single play in Super Bowl history and set the tone for a 24-3 drumming of the Dolphins. Watch Now.

74 is the only Dallas jersey number to only have been worn by a singular player. Bob Lilly is the only player to wear the number. Other numbers that were worn previously but have gone unworn since a franchise great last sported the number are 8 (Troy Aikman), 12 (Roger Staubach) and 22 (Emmitt Smith).

Over the history of the Cowboys franchise, they've played in a total of 74 Sunday Night Football games. Entering 2022, they hold a record of 37-37 and will put their .500 record on the line Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Best of the Best: Jethro Pugh– One of the greatest players in team history to never make a Pro Bowl, Pugh spent 14 seasons in Dallas (1965-78). He played in four Super Bowls and was a starter for 12 years, being a formidable member of "Doomsday Defense." Pugh currently ranks sixth in team history with 95.5 sacks.

Blast From The Past: Marc Colombo – In 2005, Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells was intrigued about a player he once valued as a top-tier first-round pick who was now available. So the Cowboys signed Marc Colombo, with the hopes he could finally get healthy and develop into the player the entire NFL expected he would be. It turned out to be true as Colombo was a five-year starter at right tackle, helping the Cowboys form one of the best offensive lines in football from 2006-2010.

The Play: In 1989, the Cowboys lost eight straight games to start the season before getting an upset win over Washington. One week later, they're in Phoenix, looking for a second win. Down by four, late in the game, rookie Troy Aikman fired a pass to speedy James Dixon, who went the distance on a 75-yard touchdown. Aikman didn't see the score, as he was belted and suffered a concussion just before the throw. The Cowboys took the lead but it was short-lived, as the Cardinals rallied for a late touchdown to steal the win, keeping Dallas with just one win in the eventual 1-15 season. Watch Now.

No team has been on the wrong side of Cowboys victories more than Washington. Dallas has won 75 games against the franchise over the year, the most of any opponent (75-47-2). When the teams square off on Oct. 2 in Dallas, it will be the Cowboys' first-ever game against the team now nicknamed the "Commanders."

The Cowboys had one of the more memorable draft classes in the history of the franchise in 1975, when they had 12 players make the team. The rookies were dubbed the "Dirty Dozen," headlined by No. 2 overall pick Randy White. The Cowboys used those host of rookies to boost the team to a playoff run that included the "Hail Mary" before an eventual Super Bowl loss to the Steelers.

Best of the Best: Flozell Adams– A second-round pick in 1998, Adams started his career at guard, waiting for his turn to be the next left tackle. That would take place two years later but it wasn't until 2003 did Flozell really become the player the Cowboys were expecting. That's when Bill Parcells showed up and made re-signing Adams a No. 1 priority. After that, Adams made the Pro Bowl five of the next six years, only missing it because of a knee injury. Adams will go down as one of the best left tackles in Cowboys history.

Blast From The Past: John Niland – Just like Adams is one of the best at his position, the same could be said for Niland, one of the first great linemen in team history. Niland made six straight Pro Bowls from 1968-73, starting at left guard for two Super Bowl teams. After nine years in Dallas, Niland played his final season with the Eagles in 1975.

The Play: In the 1999 season opener, the Cowboys wanted to see what kind of speed Rocket Ismail had in his first game with his new team. In the first quarter in Washington, Troy Aikman fired a deep ball to Rocket that went incomplete. But they would definitely hook up again. The Cowboys rallied from 21 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game and send it to overtime. That's where the Cowboys got the ball back and Aikman again went to Ismail, who had no issues hauling in this 76-yard score, giving the Cowboys a dramatic 41-35 win.

No player in team history carried his team the way Emmitt Smith did. For the entire 1990's decade and beyond, Smith racked up a team-record 76 games of 100 yards rushing or more. And when that happened, the Cowboys definitely had their success, owning a record of 57-19 when Emmitt hit the 100-yard mark. To compare, Ezekiel Elliott has 30 100-yard games with the Cowboys winning 26 of those contests.

The Cowboys allowed 76 plays last season of 20 yards or more – either by run or pass. That's an average of just 4.4 plays during the regular season. However, in the NFC Wild Card loss to the 49ers, the Cowboys gave up just three plays of 20+ yards and still were out of the game until the final few minutes.

Best of the Best: Tyron Smith – Since his selection in the top 10 of the 2011 NFL draft, Tyron Smith has been among the league's best offensive lineman. Eight Pro Bowl selections, four-time All-Pro, and a member of the 2010's All-Decade team, Smith has cemented himself among some of the greats to ever play up front for the Cowboys.

Blast From the Past: Jim Jeffcoat – Replacing the great Harvey Martin, Jeffcoat was pushed into a starting role in 1984 and exploded on the scene with 11.5 sacks and 82 tackles. He never missed a game during his 12 seasons in Dallas and won two Super Bowls with the franchise. He later returned in a coaching role from 1998 to 2004 coaching the defensive line.

The Play: With the 2011 'battle in the bay' against San Francisco pushed into overtime, it was time for an unlikely hero to emerge. Following a defensive stop, Tony Romo opened the next drive with a deep strike over the middle to Jesse Holley, who took it down to the one-yard line. The longest reception of Holley's career set up a 19-yard Dan Bailey field goal for a 27-24 Cowboys win. Watch Now.

Since he joined the Cowboys in 2018, Amari Cooper converted 77% of his third down receptions into first downs. He also converted 77% of his 2021 receptions into a first down or a touchdown, ninth-most in the NFL. Dallas will have to replace that production following his trade to Cleveland in March.

Tony Romo and Dak Prescott are the only two quarterbacks in franchise history with over 30 passing touchdowns in a single season. Out of those campaigns, Tony Romo had a franchise-best 3.77 touchdown to interception ratio in 2014. Prescott was second with a 3.70 ratio last season.

Best of the Best: Leon Lett – Great player for Super Bowl winning teams, and now a veteran assistant coach on the staff under two different regimes. But even Lett knows he'll always be remembered more for two infamous plays in the 1992 & 1993 seasons. Aside from Lett's premature celebration that led to a fumble in Super Bowl XXVII or his slip-and-slide mishap on a snowy Thanksgiving loss to the Dolphins, he was a two-time Pro Bowler and an anchor of a defensive line that was star-studded and productive for an entire decade. A seventh-round pick in 1991 out of Emporia State, Lett played 10 seasons with Dallas and another in Denver.

John Dutton – The Doomsday Defense had a lot of well-known names in the 70s and then into the 80s. But it wasn't just "Too Tall" Jones, Randy White and Harvey Martin. John Dutton was also a force in the middle. He played five seasons with the Colts before joining the Cowboys in 1979. Dutton spent the last nine years in Dallas, where he had seven seasons of at least 2 sacks. Before joining the Cowboys, Dutton had a 17-sack season with the Colts in 1975.

The Play: With the score tied in the fourth quarter against the Eagles in 2012, Dwayne Harris gave the Cowboys the lead with a 78-yard punt return in front of the Dallas sideline. Harris got some great blocks and was barely even touched en route to the end zone. The Cowboys took that momentum and rolled to a 38-23 win in Philadelphia. Watch Now.

Only two tight ends in Cowboys history have caught 78 passes or more in a season: Jason Witten and Dalton Schultz, who had a career-high 78 receptions last season, leading to him getting the 1-year franchise tag. Now, Witten did accomplish that feat seven times, but even though, Schultz has found himself in elite company based off last year's performance.

Two years ago, Terence Steele was an undrafted tackle from Texas Tech, likely hoping to land a spot on the practice squad. He ended up starting the season opener and most of the entire season in 2020, followed up by 13 starts last season. Now, he's the projected right tackle starter as the Cowboys parted ways with La'el Collins. Steele is the only offensive lineman in team history to start a game and catch a touchdown pass.

Best of the Best: Harvey Martin – Hometown hero Harvey Martin rose from humble beginnings out of Dallas' South Oak Cliff High School, to East Texas State, before becoming an all-time great for the Cowboys. Martin was one of the pillars of the Doomsday Defense winning MVP for Super Bowl XII, and Defensive Player of the Year in 1977.

Blast from the Past: Erik Williams – Affectionately remembered by the moniker "Big E" Williams was an All-Pro contributor on the offensive line throughout the 1990's. He began his career by sliding Nate Newton to the tackle spot and starting at right tackle. He won three Super Bowls, was named to four Pro Bowls, and was a key member of the "Great Wall of Dallas" offensive line.

The Play: Entering the 1992 season, only a select few could make the defending champions from Washington look silly. That short list included Kelvin Martin. The player known in the locker room as "K-Mart," did so by putting a foot in the ground and slicing through the heart of the Washington punt team for a 79-yard score to seal a 23-10 victory. Watch Now!

CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys with 79 receptions in 2021. His 1,102 yards and six touchdowns both led the team as well and put him second in franchise history for receiving yards over a player's first two seasons. Only Bob Hayes had more.

Tony Romo ended his career with 79 career multi-touchdown games, most in Cowboys history. Second on that list is Roger Staubach with 48 and Dak Prescott sits tied for third with 44 multi-score games with Danny White.

Best of the Best: Tony Hill – Often overshadowed because he played alongside Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member Drew Pearson, Tony Hill was arguably just as good, especially in terms of production. Hill played all 10 of NFL seasons in Dallas (1977-86), winning a Super Bowl as a rookie although he had a limited role in the offense. But by his second year, Hill was a staple in the offense and ended up with three 1,000-yard seasons and three Pro Bowl selections. Hill ranks third in Cowboys history with 7,988 yards, behind only Jason Witten and Michael Irvin.

Blast From The Past: Martellus Bennett – A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2008, Bennett was one of the more flamboyant players in recent years. He was also a pretty productive player, as both a tight end and pass-catcher. Playing behind Jason Witten early in his career might have limited his stats, but he turned into one of the best blocking tight ends in team history. He spent four years in Dallas before playing with the Giants, Bears, Patriots and Packers to finish his 10-year career. Bennett made the Pro Bowl with Chicago in 2014, when he had a season-high 90 catches for 916 yards. In Dallas, his best season was 2010 with 33 catches.

The Play: Who says the speedy wide receivers make all the big plays? Sometimes even the players out of the backfield have the longest touchdowns, evident by this 80-yard scoring strike from Danny White to Ron Springs against the Bucs in 1980. Springs was a do-it-all back that complemented the speedy tailback Tony Dorsett. Against the Bucs, Springs snuck out down the seam of the defense, but then used enough speed to get into

Midway through the 2022 season, owner/GM Jerry Jones will turn 80 years of age. Jones was 47 when he purchased the team back in 1989.

The Cowboys signed James Washington in free agency this offseason, with hopes he can take on a larger role, and perhaps help with replacing Amari Cooper. In his four years with the Steelers, Washington's career-high in targets was 2019, when he had 80 passes thrown his way. Of those attempts, he caught 44, the most of his career. The Cowboys would likely take those numbers this year, but then again, that was Washington's best season of his career. Much will be expected from him, although he did miss most of the offseason with a foot injury.

Best of the Best: Terrell Owens – One of the NFL's premiere talents and polarizing personalities, Terrell Owens made his way to Dallas for three memorable seasons from 2006 to 2008. His best season came in 2007 where he led the league in touchdown passes and was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro lists. Owens was later named to the NFL 2000's All-Decade Team and finished with nearly 16,000 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns in his career.

Blast From the Past: Rocket Ismail – Ismail took an unconventional route to the NFL as he elected to join the CFL's Toronto Argonauts instead of being selected by the Cowboys in the 1991 NFL Draft. He eventually debuted in the NFL during the 1993 season before making his way to Dallas in 1999. Following a career-ending injury to Michael Irvin that season, Ismail became the team's leading receiver before struggling through his own injuries over the next two seasons.

The Play: There are only a few better ways to close out a divisional win than an 81-yard strike. That's what Dak Prescott and Rod Smith did against the Giants in 2017 as they connected for Smith's only career receiving touchdown. Dallas was leading by seven and driving in the fourth quarter of a road game in New York when Smith broke open over the middle and Prescott found him for a long trip to the endzone.

1981 was one of the best defensive seasons in the history of the franchise. That season, the defense set a franchise record with 37 interceptions, 11 of which came from rookie Everson Walls. Since then, the Cowboys have only mustered 30-plus interceptions one time (1985 – 33).

Percy Howard caught just one pass in his NFL career. It just so happened that his one grab was a 34-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach in Super Bowl X. He was the second rookie to ever score in a Super Bowl, but that game would be his last in the league.

Best of the Best: Jason Witten- Who else? In fact, that should be a question the Cowboys ask themselves regarding this number. Who else will ever wear No. 82 after Witten? There hasn't been anyone so far and because of the new number rules by the NFL, there are a lot more options for receivers. So it's possible Witten will be the last to wear No. 82. Without a doubt, one of the greatest players to ever play for the Cowboys and one of the best tight ends as well. That's why Jason Witten will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. Not only was Witten a great pass-catcher – evident by numerous records including the most catches and yards in team history – but he was one of the toughest players as well. His 255 games played is the most in franchise history, highlighted by the fact he only missed one game in his 16-year career.

Blast From the Past: James McKnight – He spent 10 seasons in the NFL, but had just one season on the field with the Cowboys. Yet, McKnight made the most of it. After suffering a torn ACL in the 1999 season after signing with the Cowboys, McKnight returned in 2000 to post a career-best 926 receiving yards, despite the Cowboys starting three different quarterbacks. His top three receiving days of his career, including a 164-yard game against the Bengals, all came in that 2000 season. McKnight used that season to join the Dolphins in free agency. Overall, McKnight had 222 receptions in his career.

The Play: To think, the Cowboys actually tried replacing Patrick Crayton on punt returns two weeks earlier. But after an injury to the new returner – Allen Rossum – the Cowboys went back to Crayton, who returned a punt for a touchdown against the Falcons. And then the next week, lit up the Seahawks with this 82-yard punt return to help the Cowboys pull away from Seattle in this 2009 regular-season game. Crayton joined "Bullet" Bob Hayes as the only two players in franchise history to return punts for TDs in consecutive games.

The Cowboys are counting on rookie wide receiver Jalen Tolbert to be a playmaker right away. Obviously, the competition will be much stiffer in the NFL than what Tolbert saw last year at South Alabama. But the third-round pick is coming off an 82-catch season. Tolbert set numerous school records last year, racking up 1,474 yards and eight TD catches.

The 1982 season will go down as one of the more unique seasons in NFL history. A players' strike in the middle of the season forced the league to cancel seven regular-season games. As a result, the NFL opted for a playoff tournament, adding three more teams than usual. The Cowboys (6-3) made the playoffs and won two home games before losing to Washington, 31-17, in the NFC Championship Game. It was the Cowboys' third straight road loss in the NFC Championship.

Best of the Best: Terry Glenn- When Bill Parcells was the head coach in Dallas (2003-06), he didn't hide the fact that he preferred to acquire some of his former players. And one of them he traded for was Glenn, who played for Parcells in New England, but had a disappointing season in Green Bay in 2002 before being dealt to the Cowboys. Glenn shined in Dallas, despite having four different quarterbacks in his four full seasons with the Cowboys. Whether he caught passes from Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Bledsoe or Tony Romo, Glenn was a big-play threat, resulting in two straight 1,000-yard seasons. In 2005, he led the NFL with an 18.3 yard average per catch. Glenn, who played 12 seasons overall, tragically passed away at the age of 43 back in 2017.

Blast From the Past: James Whalen – In the early 2000s, Whalen was a versatile pass-catcher who came to the Cowboys after an illustrious career at Kentucky, where he was the school's single-season catch leader until just recently. Whalen played three seasons in Dallas, enjoying his best year in 2002 when he had 17 catches. Whalen is the only player in Cowboys history to wear four different jersey numbers. Along with 83, he wore 46, 82 and 81. On more than one occasion, Whalen sold his number to a veteran.

The Play: One of the more memorable games of the 2016 season, was the Cowboys' comeback win over the Steelers. While Zeke had the game-winning TD run in the final seconds, he also had this 83-yard touchdown reception. The play started as a play-action run, faking the ball to Elliott, who snuck out in the flat to make the catch. After getting two big blocks from his offensive linemen, Zeke then got another down-the-field block, from No. 83 Terence Williams, who helped pave the way for Zeke's 83-yard touchdown, the longest of his career.

The Cowboys have currently played 83 games on Monday Night Football. They have a 48-35 overall record and will look to extend that with a MNF appearance in New York in Week 3.

When Cowboys legend Roger Staubach retired from the NFL in 1980, he was the league's all-time leader in passer rating with an 83.7 mark. To show how much the game has changed over the last 40 years, Staubach now ranks 56th in NFL history, just ahead of current journeyman QB Bryan Hoyer (82.9 rating).

Best of the Best: Jay Novacek – Over the span of seven seasons in Dallas, Jay Novacek won three Super Bowls, made five straight Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro twice. Widely known as an under-the-radar signing in 1990, he quickly became one of the best signings in team history and will be known as one of the top tight ends as well.

Blast From the Past: Joey Galloway – The tale of Joey Galloway's time in Dallas is one of hope and loss. Dallas traded for the star wide out in 2000, using two first-round picks, before signing him to a deal that made him the second-highest paid receiver in the NFL. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in the first game of his Cowboys tenure and was never the same afterwards. He was then traded in 2004 to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson.

The Play: Woody Dantzler turned an improbable play into an unforgettable moment. On a short kick to the 16-yard line, Dantzler was immediately met with multiple San Francisco defenders but miraculously emerged and bolted to the sideline. A stiff arm, balance, and a burst of speed were enough to get him into open space and into the endzone. Cementing one of the most impressive plays in franchise history. A total of eight 49ers made contact with Dantzler on the play, but zero were able to bring him down.

Dallas posted some prolific offensive numbers as a unit last season. Trailing only Tampa Bay, Dallas finished 2021 tied with Buffalo for second in the NFL with 84 scoring drives. It took the Cowboys an average of 8.1 plays and 59.5 yards to score.

On December 14, 1986, Herschel Walker made history as the only player with two 84-plus yard offensive touchdowns in the same game. It started with a run in the first quarter, followed by a reception in the fourth quarter during a 23-21 loss against Philadelphia.

Best of the Best: Kevin Williams – The former second round pick was the definition of versatility during his four seasons with the Cowboys. In 1994, he became the first player in team history to score a punt return, kick return, rushing, and receiving touchdown all in the same season. He rode his role to becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion and a feared return man.

Blast From the Past: Kevin Ogletree – Ogletree played for seasons with the Cowboys from 2009 to 2012 where he found a role as a return man on special teams. He worked his way to the third spot on the depth chart in 2012 and posted career-best numbers, including eight receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in the season opener that season.

The Play: Part of a rookie season that put the league on notice, Roy Williams celebrated the 2002 regular season finale with an 85-yard pick six against Washington. It was the second time as a rookie that Williams took an interception to the house (both against Washington), which tied the franchise record for pick-sixes in a season at the time.

Dak has started a total of 85 career games. He ranks fifth in NFL history with 169 total touchdowns over a quarterback's first 85 contests. The only names above him are Dan Marino (195), Aaron Rodgers (189), Andrew Luck (182), and Cam Newton (172).

Cowboys have had draft picks reach the Pro Bowl 85 times since 2002, 15 more than any other team over that span. That list includes 29 different players, as well as players who made the Pro Bowl after leaving Dallas.

Best of the Best: Butch Johnson — The Cowboys had no shortage of depth at receiver in the late 70s and early 80s. More than just Drew Pearson and Tony Hill, the Cowboys had Butch Johnson, who played eight seasons as the No. 3 receiver. His biggest moment of his career occurred in Super Bowl XII when he made a diving touchdown catch against the Broncos. Even if the pass probably would've been ruled incomplete in today's game, Johnson's touchdown helped the secure the Cowboys' second championship. Johnson was also known for his electric touchdown celebrations, including the "California Quake."

Blast From the Past: Isaiah Stanback – A fourth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2007, Stanback was a college quarterback from Washington that made the transition to receiver. While he played only two years in Dallas, Stanback went to the Patriots and later the Giants, where he won a Super Bowl ring after the 2011 season. Currently, Stanback is back in Dallas, a regular on podcasts and TV shows as a media member for the Dallas Cowboys.

Dalton Schultz is certainly hopeful of landing a new contract after coming off two career seasons that helped him earn the franchise tag this offseason. He became the second tight end in franchise history, joining Jason Witten, to record 70+ catches and 800+ receiving yards. He's also the only tight end in team history with eight touchdowns or more in a season.

For nearly 15 years, Tony Dorsett held the Cowboys' record for most touchdowns in a career with 86. Emmitt Smith not only came along and shattered it, but finished his Cowboys career with nearly double (164). Dorsett still ranks second all-time with his 86 touchdowns – 77 by rush and 13 TD catches.

The Play:In the middle of the 1993 season, the Cowboys were trying to survive an injury by Troy Aikman against the Cardinals. While Jason Garrett started the game, he was relieved by veteran Bernie Kosar, who was signed just a few days earlier. Kosar didn't have the strongest arm, but he could definitely check it down to Emmitt Smith. On this play, Emmitt did all the work, bouncing off a few defenders before racing 86 yards to the 1-yard line to set up a score.

Best of the Best: Jay Saldi - The Cowboys have never ever had a true superstar wear No. 87. In fact, not many players haven't stayed in the jersey for long. Jay Saldi, a backup tight end, played seven seasons from 1976-82. Saldi was a solid No. 2 tight end, playing behind Pro Bowlers Billy Joe DuPree and then eventually Doug Cosbie.

Blast From the Past: Ken-Yon Rambo - One of the best names in Cowboys history, Rambo played just part of two seasons in Dallas. The former Ohio State had his best game in a 2002 win over the Jaguars when he had clutch fourth-quarter catches to help the Cowboys secure a big upset. Overall, Rambo played four years in the NFL, but another eight in the CFL, where he was an All-Star in 2008.

The Cowboys undoubtedly have to improve the offense line in 2022, which is why they dedicated their first-round pick to Tyler Smith. But according to the analytic website ProFootballFocus, the Cowboys had the best run-blocking group in the league. PFF ranked Cowboys No. 1 in 2021 with a 87.1 grade. The Cowboys might not have seen the best year from Ezekiel Elliott, who barely reached the 1,000-yard plateau, but the combination of Zeke and Tony Pollard, coupled with the O-line's blocking, gave the Cowboys the best unit in the NFL. With Smith likely playing left guard, could they even be better?

Some of the most obscure players in Cowboys history found their way on the 87 roster. In 1987, the NFL had a players strike, which led to the owners using replacement players, also known as "scab" players. The Cowboys went 2-1 in the three games, but unlike other teams, many veteran players such as Tony Dorsett, Danny White and Randy White were contractually obligated to cross the picket line and play during those three games.

The Play:One of the most lethal combinations in the 90s was the quick strike from Aikman to Irvin, who had enough strength to make the comeback route nearly an automatic first down. Against the Cardinals in 1992, Irvin used that strength to turn a first quarter pass into much more as he raced down the sidelines for an 87-yard touchdown. It was the longest play of his career and the first of three TDs that game against the Cards.

Best of the Best: Michael Irvin – It's hard to pick just one guy from this number, especially when it has been celebrated so much over the years. But still, Irvin is arguably the very best receiver in club history and considered the "heart and soul" of the 90s dynasty. Irvin has more catches (750) and receiving yards (11,904) than any other wide receiver in team history and it didn't take long for him to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The "Playmaker" will always go down as one of the very best players the Cowboys have ever had.

Blast From The Past: Antonio Bryant –He doesn't get mentioned with the others, mainly because he played a little more than two years in Dallas, but in terms of talent, Antonio Bryant was right there with the others, if not more talented. Drafted in the second round in 2002, Bryant nearly broke Bob Hayes' rookie record (45 catches) with 44 for 733 yards and six touchdowns. Known as "AB," Bryant had his share of highlight grabs throughout his eight-year career. He did post two 1,000-yard seasons after his time with Dallas, as Bryant played for the Browns, 49ers and Bucs.

It's impossible to list just a single play for the No. 88. So why not a few from some of the best. From Irvin's game-changing TD in the Super Bowl, to Drew Pearson's first clutch playoff moment, to a pair of unreal catches from Dez and CeeDee, here are some of the great plays that you might not see later on this countdown of great moments.

While we think of Pearson, Irvin, Dez and CeeDee when discussing the players that wore No. 88, the Cowboys have had 12 players overall wear the number. Among the players you certainly know, there have been others such as Colin Ridgway, Reggie Rucker, Jackie Harris and Brett Peirce.

The last victory of Tom Landry's legendary career came in 1988 – against Washington – late in the year. The Cowboys limped to a 3-13 finish. But on this late-December day, the Cowboys beat their rivals 24-17, thanks to three TD receptions by a rookie receiver – Michael Irvin, donning the jersey No. 88.

Best of the Best: Billy Joe DuPree – Long before Jason Witten entered the picture, DuPree was one of the first great tight ends in Cowboys history. Drafted in the first round in 1973, DuPree made three Pro Bowls in his 11-year career, which was all spent in Dallas.

Blast From The Past: Randal Williams – In four years with the Cowboys (2001-04), Williams caught just one pass – playing mostly on special teams. But his size and speed combination was rare and the Cowboys kept him around in hopes he could blossom into a contributing player. His best moment occurred in 2003 when he alertly caught the Eagles' onside kick attempt to open the game and raced 37 yards for a touchdown. It still ranks as the quickest touchdown – 3.7 seconds – to begin any NFL game. Williams spent his last two years with the Raiders, listed as a tight end, and caught 28 passes in 2006.

The Play: When you think Herschel Walker and "89," it usually starts with the blockbuster trade that occurred in 1989 between the Cowboys and Vikings. But often forgotten is the fact Walker came back to the Cowboys in 1996 and spent two years as a third-down back and kick returner. Walker still had blazing speed and ripped off this 89-yard return in 1996, the longest play of the season for the Cowboys.

According to PFF, Micah Parsons had the highest grade last season among all linebackers in the NFL. That includes the inside backers and even the outside pass-rushers. Parsons had a 89.7 rating making him the only rookie to lead his perspective position. Parsons was also the unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The 1989 NFL Draft Class was certainly top-heavy, led by the Cowboys taking Troy Aikman with the No. 1 pick. But the Cowboys had other options, including Barry Sanders, who went No. 3. The Cowboys eventually landed three of the top six picks in that class, later signing both Deion Sanders and Broderick Thomas.

Best of the Best: Jay Ratliff – The 2005 Draft will go down as one of the best all-time classes for the Cowboys, who were able to transition from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 in one year. And while D-Ware, Canty and Spears all helped, the seventh-round pick of Jay Ratliff might have been the best pick overall. Ratliff was able to play nose tackle – albeit undersized – but eventually earned four straight Pro Bowl selections from 2007-10.

Blast From The Past: Alonzo Spellman– A former No. 1 pick by the Bears, Spellman joined the Cowboys in 1999 and played two years in Dallas. Spellman had 5.0 sacks in each of his two seasons. He also had his share of tense moments, including getting ejected after a fight with Washington in 2000. Spellman played 10 seasons and recorded 43 sacks.

The Play: In 1999, the Cowboys were trying to figure out how to play without Michael Irvin, who suffered his career-ending neck injury earlier in the season. By the end of the year, Jason Tucker became one of Troy Aikman's favorite targets. In the season finale with the playoffs on the line, Aikman hit Tucker on a quick slant from the 10-yard line, just hoping to get a first down and some breathing room. Tucker did more than that, ripping off a 90-yard touchdown, which is still tied for third-longest in franchise history.

For the last five years, DeMarcus Lawrence has been the leader of the Cowboys' defense but that could be changing with the emergence of Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs – not to mention D-Law's stats have decreased while the injuries are piling up. But "Tank" is still one of the anchors of this Cowboys' defense. D-Law restructured his contract to lower his base salary but guarantee the next two years in Dallas.

Even though the Cowboys gave up the No. 1 overall pick in 1990, they still managed to hit a Grand Slam by getting Emmitt Smith with the 17th pick. The Cowboys forfeited No. 1 by taking Steve Walsh in the 1989 Supplemental Draft. But after the Herschel Walker trade, the Cowboys not only had a lot of other picks, but they needed a running back. Enter Emmitt Smith and his polka-dotted outfit that he donned when he got to Dallas.

Best of the Best: L.P. Ladouceur – The only player in franchise history to play 16 consecutive years with the Cowboys, LP Ladouceur was arguably the most consistent player to ever wear the star. The deep snapper joined the team in 2005 as the Cowboys were looking for an upgrade at deep snapper. As it turned out, just being on the West Coast for a week led the Cowboys to sign Ladouceur, who kept the job until the end of the 2020 season. He ranks second in games played with 253, two behind Jason Witten.

Blast From The Past: Matt Vanderbeek– The Cowboys have only had six players in franchise history to wear the No. 91. The second player to have it was linebacker/defensive end Matt Vanderbeek, who spent three years with the Colts before he joined the Cowboys in 1993. Vanderbeek was a key member of the special teams as they defended their Super Bowl title. Vanderbeek was a core member of the kicking game for two seasons. He was one of the free-agent signings by Washington in 1995 and finished his seven-year career in D.C.

As the Cowboys look for more stability at the kicker position this year, perhaps with a rookie as well, they can possibly look to the 1997 season, when rookie Richie Cunningham hit a franchise record 34 field goals in one season. Not only did he make a lot of kicks, but he was accurate as well, connecting on 91 percent of his attempts.

The Cowboys' current roster includes Carlos Watkins, who became the first player to wear the jersey and score a touchdown. Watkins intercepted a pass against the Saints and returned it 29 yards for a score.

The Play: DeMarco Murray was supposed to just split carries with Tashard Choice, who actually started the game. But Murray ended up with a career day, sparked by a 91-yard run in the first quarter in which he was barely touched. Murray ripped off the second-longest run in franchise history. He eventually finished the day 253 yards, breaking the Cowboys' single-game record and it still ranks tied for ninth in NFL history for most yards in a game.

Best of the Best: Tony Tolbert – No other number 92 comes close to the legacy and production that Tolbert brought to Dallas in the 1990's. He was selected with a fourth-round pick in 1989 after one of the best collegiate careers in UTEP history. He continued that legacy with three Super Bowl titles, 59 career sacks, along with a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 1996.

Present Player:

Current Player: Dorance Armstrong – Outside of Tolbert, no other player has worn the number 92 for more seasons than Armstrong. It's taken a couple of seasons for the Houston native to find his footing in the NFL, but he is coming off a career season in 2021. His five sacks were third on the team behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence and he is expected to see more playing time this season.

92 Notes:

Jayron Kearse led the Cowboys in 2021 with a career-high 92 tackles. That tally was the best by a Cowboys defensive player since Barry Church had 93 in 2014.

Michael Gallup took a higher percentage of his snaps outside the formation than any other Cowboys wide receiver in 2021. His 92% led the team but he was still third in total snaps outside with 322, behind Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.

In one of the single-most impressive individual plays in franchise history, Tony Dorsett evaded five different defenders for a 92-yard touchdown. This reception against the Colts in 1978 is still listed as the second-longest passing play in Cowboys history and remains the longest since it's occurrence.

Best of the Best: Anthony Spencer – For nearly the first 30 years of the franchise history, the Cowboys didn't give out many numbers in the 90s, if at all. The No. 93 has gone to several players over the last 30+ years, but Anthony Spencer seemed to wear it the best. The 2007 first-round pick got to play opposite of DeMarcus Ware for most of his career. By the middle of his career, Spencer was averaging about 5 sacks per year, but in 2012, he enjoyed a career season with 11, earning him his first and only Pro Bowl selection. Spencer, who had 33 career sacks, eventually retired after eight seasons – all with the Cowboys.

Blast From The Past: Peppi Zellner – The Cowboys have always been known to take mid-round chances in the draft, either from small schools or players that starred in other sports. For Zellner, he actually falls in both categories. The Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round in 1999 from Fort Valley State. Zellner, who was also a standout basketball player, was considered a project player in the NFL. But he played four years in Dallas and then one each with Washington and Arizona. Zellner finished his career with nine sacks.

One fun fact about Zellner, he was one of four players on the 2000 roster with the letters "Zell" in his name, joining Flozell Adams, Izell Reese and Chris Brazzell.

Zack Martin doesn't appear to be slowing down at all. Not only did he earn another All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2021, but according to ProFootballFocus.com, Martin was the fourth-rated player in the NFL with a 93.4 overall grade, which was second among guards behind Joey Bitonio (93.6). The only two players with higher grades were Trent Williams and Aaron Donald.

Arguably the best team in franchise history, the 1993 Cowboys were able to repeat as Super Bowl champions, despite staring 0-2 with Emmitt Smith holding out the first two games without a contract. Other highlights from that season included Smith setting a then-rushing record 237 yards vs. Philly before he eventually won NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

The Cowboys are hoping for several pass-rushers to take the next step here in 2022. But often overlooked in the conversation is Tarell Basham, who joined the Cowboys last year for his fifth pro season. He tied his career-high with 3.5 sacks last year.

The Play: Sometimes, even the rookies can be the best players on the field. In 2010, the Cowboys had their hands full with the Giants on Monday Night Football, but it would've been worse had Dez Bryant not scored three touchdowns. His most dazzling play of the game – and probably the season – occurred when he fielded a punt inside his 10 and eventually started up the field at the 7, resulting in a 93-yard touchdown return – his second punt return for at TD that season.

Best of the Best: DeMarcus Ware – One of the greatest defenders to ever wear a Cowboys uniform, Ware imposed his will on offenses for nine seasons in Dallas. One of just seven players to lead the NFL in sacks for two separate seasons (2008 and 2010). He remains the franchise's all-time leader in sacks (117), fumbles forced (32), tackles for loss (145.0), and quarterback hits (185).