The Cowboys finished the 1985 season with a record of 10 wins and 6 losses…..as it was good for first place in the NFC East….thus earning a trip to the playoffs… which turned out to be the final postseason appearance for the Cowboys under Tom Landry….where they lost in a divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams.
Tom Landry’s team got off to a fast start by opening the season with 44-14 trouncing of their longtime nemesis….the Washington Redskins…. and later defeating the Steelers for the first time since 1972….to give the team a 5–1 record and an early two-game lead over the rest of the division. However, the team was up and down the rest of the season while finishing out the season 5–5….which allowed both the Giants and Redskins to catch up with them at 10–6….but twowins each over both the Giants and Redskins allowed the Cowboys to win the division based on the tie-breaking rules.
During the inconsistent stretch toward the end of the season….the Cowboys suffered two of the most embarrassing defeats in team history….whereas on November 17th….the undefeated Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and gave the Cowboys a 44–0 beating that was the worst loss in team history….as it was also the first time in 218 games that the Cowboys had not scored. Three weeks later the team traveled to Cincinnat….where the Bengals handed them a 50–24 loss….while piling up 570 yards in the process…. which was the most yards the Cowboys had given up also in team history….however, the Cowboys proved to be a resilient bunch after winning a crucial game at home against the Giants the following week …..a win that gave them their first NFC East Division title since 1981… and also the final division title for Coach Landry. That game would prove to be the last highlight of the season, as the team was shut out in the playoffs for the first time in team history, 20–0, by the Rams in Anaheim, CA….which would also prove to be the final playoff appearance for the Cowboys under Landry.
With the previous season’s quarterback controversy behind him….Danny White led the Cowboys’ passing game to number three overall in the league…..as WR Tony Hill posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards….as WR Mike Renfro blossomed in his second season with the Cowboys….while TE Doug Cosbie had another pro bowl season. Turnovers proved to be a problem though….when White and backup QB Gary Hogeboom combined to throw 24 interceptions….as RB Tony Dorsett was the only reliable ball carrier on the roster….in a season where he rushed for 1,307 yards….while surpassing 10,000 yards for his career.
On the defensive side of the ball…..the Cowboys registered 62 sacks and 33 interceptions….as CB Everson Walls became the first player to ever lead the league in interceptions three times with nine picks for the year. The big plays covered up a pass defense that ranked 27th in the league….and a defense that ranked 23rd overall….wjem the secondary allowed big plays through the air throughout the season….for this pourous defense would allow Rams RB Eric Dickerson to rush for a playoff record 248 yards in this Divisional Playoff Game seen herewith..
