1 giant sack changed the trajectory of the 1986 season

The Cowboys entered the 1986 with high hopes and with very good reason.

They would have the dynamic running back duo of Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker to pound the football.

Dallas Cowboys Herschel Walker (34) and Tony Dorsett (33). 1/1/1986–10/31/1986 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)

They also brought in Paul Hackett to rejuvenate the passing game with quarterback Danny White. In the draft they added UCLA wide receiver Mike Sherrard in the first round as a deep threat.

By the midway point of the season it looked like another winning season and a playoff run was all but certain. Then one sack changed everything.

A Perfect Debut

Walker’s first game in a Cowboys uniform couldn’t have been better scripted. The former New Jersey General made the Giants unwelcome guests at Texas Stadium.

After Dorsett hauled in a 36-yard pass from White to break a scoreless tie, Walker scored from a yard out for a 14-0 lead.

New York battled back to take a late 28-24 lead only to see Walker score from 10 yards out for a 31-28 Cowboys’ victory. Walker finished with 64 yards rushing on 10 carries and 32 yards on six catches.

Dorsett would gain 117 yards and both he and Walker would score rushing touchdowns in a 31-7 victory over the Lions in Detroit.

White would throw four touchdown passes against the Falcons, but Atlanta would shock Dallas at Texas Stadium. The Falcons scored the last 10 points for a 37-35 victory.

Dallas would rebound in St. Louis as White threw three touchdowns and Ron Fellows returned an interception 34 yards for a 31-7 victory over the Cardinals.

Pelluer Summoned From The Bench

White would miss the next three games. His absence elevated Steve Pelluer to the starting role. His debut was not the greatest.

Pelluer would be sacked five times, including one for a safety, and picked off three times as John Elway and the Broncos rolled to a 29-14 win in Denver.

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 5: Steve Pelluer #16 of the Dallas Cowboys drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game October 5, 1986 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Pelluer played for the Cowboys from 1984-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Dorsett was also out for the game and Walker was a non-factor as the Broncos jumped out to a 22-0 lead at halftime.

Dorsett was back the next week and Pelluer had a much better outing in a 30-6 win at home over the Redskins. Walker scored two touchdowns and Sherrard caught a 27-yard pass for a score.

Pelluer had one touchdown and two interceptions the next week against the Eagles. But the Cowboys defense recorded 10 sacks and Rafael Septien hit a 38-yard field goal for a 17-14 win.

White’s Brief Return

White returned to the starting lineup and led Dallas to a 37-6 win at home over the Cardinals. Walker had a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the game.

The victory moved Dallas to 6-2 at the midway point of the season and the playoffs were all but a lock.

They were locked in a three-way tie with the Giants and Redskins for first in the NFC East but held the tiebreakers against both teams.

The Cowboys traveled to New York for a huge showdown with the Giants. White started out 1-for-3 with just eight yards passing.

Then Carl Banks sacked White, breaking the Cowboys quarterback’s wrist and ending his season. Down 3-0, Pelluer tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mike Renfro to give Dallas a 7-3 halftime lead.

Pelluer would go 28-38 for 339 yards with no interceptions. But he would be sacked five times and the Cowboys would fumble the ball away three times.

The Giants would be heavily outgained but get two Joe Morris touchdowns in the second half. Dorsett’s 23-yard touchdown run would not be enough and Dallas fell 17-14.

It was the beginning of the end for the 1986 season.

Downward Spiral In Dallas

Pelluer would throw five interceptions in an ugly 17-13 home loss to the Raiders the next week. Despite being sacked 11 times, Pelluer would emerge with a 24-21 victory over the Chargers to get Dallas to 7-4.

It would be the last time Dallas would win a game in 1986.

The Cowboys’ offense would sputter over the next three games — falling to the Redskins (41-14), the Seahawks (31-14), and the Rams (29-10).

Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker (34) is knocked backward and heels-over-head during the Cowboys 41-14 loss to the Washington Redskins on November 23, 1986 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)

At 7-7, the playoffs were no longer a possibility. But extending the streak of consecutive winning, and non-losing, seasons was still on the line.

One streak died when Matt Cavanaugh hit Kenny Jackson for a game-winning 31-yard touchdown. The Eagles 23-21 victory assured Dallas would not have a winning season.

Walker had been a monster in the game. He had two 84-yard touchdowns, both rushing and receiving, and finished with 122 yards rushing and 170 receiving.

In the season finale at home against the Bears, Reggie Collier got the start and promptly threw two interceptions. Pelluer came in off the bench but by then it was too late.

Chicago ended Dallas’ non-losing seasons streak with a 24-10 victory. The Cowboys at 7-9 would watch the playoffs at home with everyone else.