This shot was taken during the Cowboys' 1964 season finale against Pittsburgh. Players shown include Dave Edwards (#52), Jim Ridlon (#42), and Jerry Tubbs (#50). The Steeler running back is John Henry Johnson. Ridlon played for several seasons in San Francisco, and he had some highlights in 1964 with Dallas by scoring two defensive touchdowns.The second half of the 1964 season began to look promising when the Cowboys evened their record at 4-4-1 after week 9. However, a four-game skid late in the season ended any hope of the team finishing at or above .500.
The Dallas defense started showing signs that it could be dominant. No team gained more than 367 total yards against the Cowboys all year, and in four of the final seven games, Dallas opponents gained less than 300.
On the other hand, the Cowboys never managed more than 300 yards during any of the final seven games, and in three of the last four games, Dallas gained fewer than 100 passing yards. That's what we call bad.
Week 8: Dallas 24, Chicago 10
A touchdown run by Don Perkins and a touchdown reception by Jim Stiger helped Dallas jump out to a 17-3 halftime lead. A Don Meredith touchdown run in the fourth quarter finally iced the game for the Cowboys, who improved to 3-4-1 with the win.
Small note: the win marked the first time that the Cowboys ever defeated a defending NFL champion.
Cowboys Spring Bear Trip, 24 to 10 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 9: Dallas 31, N.Y. Giants 21
The Cowboys converted four of five New York turnovers into touchdowns as Dallas improved to 4-4-1 by beating the Giants. Don Meredith threw two touchdown passes to Frank Clarke and another to Tommy McDonald. Defensive back Jim Ridlon also returned an interception for a touchdown, marking the first time he scored during his eight-year career with Dallas and San Francisco.
Cowboys Slap Bobbling Giants, 31-21 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 10: Philadelphia 17, Dallas 14
The Cowboys' hopes of having a winning record ended with a loss to the Eagles. Here's what lost it for the Cowboys:
King Hill, the angel of second rate quarterbacks in the National Football League, took a Philadelphia team which hadn't made a first down the entire second half 96 yards in 17 incredible plays, and with 2:09 remaining, facing fourth and 15 on the Dallas 38, threw a touchdown pass to Pete Retzlaff and beat the Cowboys, 17-14.The Dallas offense managed only 223 yards against the Eagles, which was a season low up to that point. Rather unbelievably, though, Dallas did not manage anywhere close to that many yards during its next three games.
Eagles Burst Cowboy Bubble, 17-14 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 11: Washington 28, Dallas 16
Another Dallas Morning News description says it all: "the Dallas Cowboy offense slipped and clamored around the Cotton Bowl like tinker toy soldiers while the defense played like a tribe of dervishes . . . ." Former Eagle quarterback Sonny Jurgensen threw for more than 300 yards against Dallas, marking the third time he had accomplished the feat again the Cowboys. Dallas was never really in the game as the offense only managed 60 net passing yards.
Redskins Skin Dallas, 28-16 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 12: Green Bay 45, Dallas 21
The Cowboys faced the Packers in week 12 before a crowd of 44,975, which established a new record. The many thousands who showed up saw Dallas be destroyed by Green Bay. It did not help that Dallas was without quarterback Don Meredith and fullback Don Perkins.
Dallas kept things close in the first half thanks to a punt return for a touchdown by rookie Mel Renfro. The Cowboys scored a second touchdown in the first half thanks to the likes of Perry Lee Dunn, John Roach, Billy Lothridge and Buddy Dial. Lothridge was the team's punter and also served as a reserve quarterback. He alternated with Roach and scored a touchdown after recovering his own fumble deep in Green Bay territory.
The second half was awful for Dallas as the Packers raced to a 45-14 lead. A Warren Livingston fumble return for a touchdown gave Dallas 21 points, marking the only time in the final five weeks that the Cowboys scored more than 20.
Green Bay Hobbles Cowboys, 45-21 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 13: Philadelphia 24, Dallas 14
Rookie quarterback Jack Concannon threw two touchdowns as the Eagles knocked off the Cowboys in week 13. Dallas actually led for much of this game, thanks to a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Jimmy Ridlon and a touchdown pass from Don Meredith to Tommy McDonald. However, the Eagles scored 17 fourth quarter points to put the Cowboys away. Dallas managed only 73 net passing yards, giving the Cowboys a total of 187 net passing yards during a three-game span.
Cowboys Rocked to Sleep Again, 24-14 (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Week 14: Dallas 17, Pittsburgh 14
A hobbled Don Meredith helped to give Dallas fans something to cheer about in the season finale. Meredith threw a touchdown to Pettis Norman and helped set up a touchdown run by Perry Lee Dunn in the fourth quarter, giving Dallas a 17-7 lead. The Cowboy defense held the Steelers during two late goalline stands, as Dallas held on to win, 17-14.
Cowboys Clip Steelers, 17-14, in Finale (Dallas Morning News) | Box Score (Pro-Football-Reference)
Tough trivia question: Can you name each of the players in the shot above? No, neither could I. The answer is (l to r): George Andrie, Jim Colvin, Dave Edwards, Cornell Green, and Bob Lilly.
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