The Cowboys’ most memorable Thanksgiving games: Tony Romo’s big day, Randy Moss’ revenge

Editor’s note: Throughout the month of November, we remember some of the best NFL, college football and sports culture occasions around the Thanksgiving holiday in Thanksgiving Sports Moments.

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The first season with double-digit wins for the Dallas Cowboys came in 1966. That was also the same year Dallas hosted its first Thanksgiving Day game. Don Perkins rushed 23 times for 111 yards and the game’s final touchdown as the Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns 26-14.

The Cowboys have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game 55 of the last 57 years. In 1975 and 1977, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted it in place of Dallas. The Cowboys are 32-22-1 in Thanksgiving games but only 4-6 over the last decade.

Here are five of the most memorable Thanksgiving games involving the Cowboys.

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1974: Dallas 24, Washington 23

Legendary Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with Dallas trailing 16-3. The 6-5 Cowboys were forced to go with rookie backup Clint Longley to try to defeat 8-3 Washington. Longley was known for having a big arm, which he showcased on several key throws that day.

The two biggest were a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Joe DuPree, making the score 16-10, and then a 50-yard bomb to Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Drew Pearson with 28 seconds remaining for the game-winning score. Longley completed 11 of 20 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.5 passer rating.

#TBT Thanksgiving 1974, when Clint Longley replaced Staubach and rallied the #Cowboys to a win over the #Redskins.
— Dem Boyz Nation (@DemBoyzNation) August 5, 2016

“Clint Longley is the hope of all obscure players,” legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry told NFL Films while laughing. “They come off the bench in a tight situation and have great glory. That was a tremendous performance. You just couldn’t believe it. When you lose your quarterback and you’re up against Washington, who is a good football team, and you’re behind to start with, and you hadn’t had much success all day, you don’t expect things to happen like that.”

1993: Dolphins 16, Cowboys 14

A rare snowy Thanksgiving Day in Dallas ended up being the final loss of Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys coaching career. Miami Dolphins kicker Pete Stoyanovich had his 41-yard game-winning field goal attempt blocked in the final seconds, leading to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones throwing his arms up in celebration and Cowboys players hugging each other on the sideline.

However, following the blocked kick, Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett slid into the ball as it rolled on the turf near the end zone, unnecessarily attempting to recover it. The Dolphins ended up securing the ball with three seconds remaining. Stoyanovich then nailed a 19-yard field goal as time expired.

"We were shocked! Devastated!
Former @dallascowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson shares his memory from this infamous Thanksgiving football moment: Leon Lett #NFL100
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) November 28, 2019

According to Pro Football Reference, the Cowboys entered as 10-point favorites on the 33-degree day as the Dolphins were without star quarterback Dan Marino. Wide receiver Kevin Williams was responsible for Dallas’ only two touchdowns, a 4-yard reception from Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman and a 64-yard punt return ending with a slide in the snow. The Cowboys went on to win their final five regular-season games and all three postseason games, which included a 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta.

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1994: Cowboys 42, Packers 31

This game is known for third-string quarterback Jason Garrett starting because of injuries to Aikman and backup Rodney Peete. Three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre threw a pair of touchdown passes to help the Green Bay Packers build a 17-3 second-quarter lead, but Garrett provided his best in the second half, connecting with Alvin Harper on a 45-yard touchdown and then Michael Irvin on a 35-yard score. Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, had an outstanding day, running for 133 yards and two touchdowns and catching six of Garrett’s passes for 95 yards.

It was clearly the most memorable of Garrett’s nine NFL starts. He finished with 311 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 109.6 passer rating as the Cowboys improved to 10-2.

We take you back to the time Jason Garrett (311 yards, 2 TDs) outdueled Brett Favre in a @dallascowboys 42-31 win over Green Bay on Thanksgiving! (Nov. 24, 1994)#GBvsDAL: Sunday at 4:25pm ET on FOX
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) October 4, 2019

Sixteen years later, Garrett became the Cowboys’ head coach. He usually tried to downplay his performance when the team’s annual Thanksgiving Day game came around.

“I’ll never forget just how much they rallied around this guy who probably wasn’t good enough, to be honest with you,” Garrett said in 2010. “It was a fun day.”

1998: Vikings 46, Cowboys 36

Randy Moss thought he was going to be drafted by the Cowboys in 1998. The star wide receiver out of Marshall was still available when Dallas went on the clock with the No. 8 pick in the NFL Draft. But the Cowboys chose defensive end Greg Ellis, and Moss didn’t get selected until the Minnesota Vikings took him at No. 21.

Moss never forgot that, and he made the Cowboys pay. In his first game against Dallas, Moss caught three passes for 51, 56 and 56 yards. All three went for touchdowns.

Three catches. Three TDs. 163 yards.
The Cowboys passed on @RandyMoss in the draft.
So when he took the field in Dallas on Thanksgiving of his rookie year, he ripped them up. (Nov. 26, 1998) @Vikings
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) November 22, 2018

“Out of all the teams that I ever played against in my 14-year career, that was the No. 1 team that I never wanted to lose to,” Moss said of the Cowboys in a 2018 ESPN interview. “It was kind of like, ‘Over my dead body.’ I want to win this game. I’m the last guy, throw me the ball.”

Moss said in a September interview on “The Rich Eisen Show” that Jones apologized for not drafting him.

“It really felt good,” Moss said, “because of how much emotions I had on draft day. … I was definitely surprised by it. He didn’t have to do that. It meant a lot.”

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2006: Cowboys 38, Buccaneers 10

In only his fifth career start as Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo threw five touchdown passes, two to receiver Terry Glenn, two to running back Marion Barber and one to Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens. Romo went on to make four Pro Bowls in 10 seasons as Dallas’ franchise quarterback.

“He’s managing the game well, and that’s what he’s supposed to do,” Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said after the game, according to The Associated Press. “He’s a football guy and he’s interested in playing well. But we’ve got a ways to go here. So, put the anointing oil away, OK?”

Thanksgiving Day 2006 … Tony Romo Throws 5 TD Passes Against Tampa Bay #CowboysNation
— GSH (@gman416) November 16, 2019

The game also is remembered for fans hanging a sign with Romo’s name on it in the Ring of Honor during pregame warmups.

“That is an injustice to those guys,” Romo said after the game, per The Associated Press. “Every single one of them have had unbelievable careers. That’s something you aspire to one day. If I could play another 15 years, maybe. … I got things I still have to work on and get better at. Believe me, I haven’t arrived yet, by any means.”

He ended up with one more five-touchdown game in his career, a 51-48 loss to the Denver Broncos in 2013. Many believe Romo’s name one day will be added to the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.

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(Photo of Tony Romo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)