This post is part of the 50 Seasons in 50 Weeks Series.The Dallas Cowboys entered into the 1967 offseason knowing that they had come close to knocking off the team of the decade. Former Dallas Morning News and Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule called the 1966 NFL Championship Game one of the three greatest championship games in history, following the 30-28 win by Cleveland over Los Angeles in 1950 and the 23-17 win by Baltimore over the New York Giants in 1958.
The Cowboys did not play flawless football, as they made several mental errors. But even though the Packers made Dallas pay for those mistakes, the game came down to the final seconds before Green Bay could pull out the win.
The 1966 season was one of the greats in team history for the Cowboys. Dallas established more than a dozen team records (see below), some of which stood for years to come.
The Cowboys had to watch the Packers play the Chiefs in Super Bowl I, which Green Bay won, 35-10. The season was not over for nine Cowboys who were named to the Pro Bowl: QB Don Meredith, RB Don Perkins, WR Bob Hayes, C Dave Manders, DT Bob Lilly, DE George Andrie, LB Chuck Howley, CB Cornell Green, and S Mel Renfro.
Below is an update of team and individual records as of 1966.
Dallas Cowboys Records (as of 1966)
Season Team Records
Record No. Year Set Previous Most Wins 10 1966 7 (1965) Most Losses 11 1960 n/a Fewest Losses 3 1966 7 (1965) Most Points 445 1966 398 (1962) Most Points Allowed 402 1962 380 (1961) Fewest Points Allowed 239 1966 280 (1965) Most Yards 5145 1966 4912 (1962) Most Yards Allowed 5325 1963 5184 (1962) Fewest Yards Allowed 3558 1966 3750 (1964) Most Passing Yards 3023 1966 2872 (1962) Most Passing Yards Allowed 4192 1965 3750 (1964) Fewest Passing Yards Allowed 2130 1960 n/a Most Rushing Yards 2122 1966 2040 (1962) Most Rushing Yards Allowed 2242 1960 n/a Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed 1176 1966 1444 (1965) Most 1st Downs 287 1966 248 (1963) Most 1st Downs Allowed 274 1962 254 (1961) Fewest 1st Downs Allowed 211 1964 216 (1960) Most Turnovers Caused 43 1961 26 (1960) Most Turnovers Allowed 50 1960 n/a Fewest Turnovers Allowed 24 1966 35 (1965)
Season Game Records
Most Points: 56 (10/9/1966 vs. Philadelphia)
Most Points Allowed: 52 (12/9/1962 vs. St. Louis)
Fewest Points Allowed: 0 (10/8/1961 vs. Minnesota)
Most Yards: 652 (10/9/1966 vs. Philadelphia)
Most Yards Allowed: 577 (12/9/1962 vs. St. Louis)
Fewest Yards Allowed: 63 (10/24/1965 vs. Green Bay)
Most Passing Yards: 440 (10/9/1966 vs. Philadelphia)
Most Passing Yards Allowed: 437 (11/18/1962 vs. Chicago)
Fewest Passing Yards Allowed: -10 (minus 10) (10/24/1965 vs. Green Bay)
Most Rushing Yards: 241 (12/11/1966 vs. Washington)
Most Rushing Yards Allowed: 289 (10/22/1961 vs. Philadelphia)
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed: 7 (10/30/1966 vs. Pittsburgh)
Most Turnovers Caused: 7 (11/3/1963 vs. Washington)
Most Turnovers Allowed: 7 (twice)
Fewest Turnovers Allowed: 0 (several)
Individual Records
Career
Most Rushing Yards: 4558 (Don Perkins, 1961-1966)
Most Rushing TDs: 32 (Don Perkins, 1961-1966)
Most Passing Yards: 12,865 (Don Meredith, 1960-1966)
Most Passing TDs: 98 (Don Meredith, 1960-1966)
Most Receptions: 272 (Frank Clarke, 1960-1966)
Most Receiving Yards: 5095 (Frank Clarke, 1960-1966)
Most Receiving TDs: 49 (Frank Clarke, 1960-1966)
Most Interceptions: 22 (Don Bishop, 1960-1965)
Most Field Goals: 33 (Danny Villanueva, 1965-1966)
Season
Most Rushing Yards: 945 (Don Perkins, 1962)
Most Rushing TDs: 8 (Don Perkins, 1966; Dan Reeves, 1966)
Most Passing Yards: 2805 (Don Meredith, 1966)
Most Passing TDs: 24 (Don Meredith, 1966)
Most Receptions: 65 (Frank Clarke, 1966)
Most Receiving Yards: 1232 (Bob Hayes, 1966)
Most Receiving TDs: 14 (Frank Clarke, 1962)
Most Interceptions: 25 (Eddie LeBaron, 1960)
Punting Average: 45.4 (Sam Baker, 1962)
Most Field Goals: 14 (Sam Baker, 1962)
Game
Most Rushing Yards: 137 (Don Perkins, twice)
Most Passing Yards: 460 (Don Meredith, 11/10/1963 vs. San Francisco)
Most Passing TDs: 5 (Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith)
Receptions: 11 (Billy Howton, 11/26/1961 vs. Philadelphia)
Receiving Yards: 241 (Frank Clarke, 9/16/1962 vs. Washington)
Interceptions: 2 (several)
Field Goals: 4 (Danny Villanueva, 11/24/1966 vs. Cleveland)
Original Story:
