Dec. 26, 1970
Cotton Bowl |
After entering the playoffs by beating five straight opponents with losing records, the Cowboys proved they could beat a hot team with a winning record. A raging defense threw a shutout, and the Cowboys advanced by a baseball score.
Landry smiled when asked what impressed him most. "Zero," said a coach who gloried in watching his first love, iron-fisted defense, win the game.
Dallas' "D" brimmed with heroes. The rush line of George Andrie, Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh and Larry Cole kept coming at quarterbacks Greg Landry and Bill Munson like high tide.
Meanwhile, the secondary of corners Mel Renfro and Herb Adderley, strong safety Cornell Green and rookie free safety Charlie Waters provided near-flawless pass coverage.
It was a day for ball control and the Cowboys' running game was another big plus. Duane Thomas, Walt Garrison and the offensive line took on the Lions' top-ranked rushing defense and whipped off 209 yards, 135 by Thomas.
