It was Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1974, Washington at Dallas.
The NFL had 26 teams in those days, and get this: only the top four in each conference qualified for the playoffs. Washington was coached by George Allen (Bruce’s father), and he led the Redskins to a winning record in all seven of his seasons (1971-77) in Washington.
The Redskins under Allen to this point had been 9-4-1 (1971), 11-3 (1972), 10-4 (1973), and were now 8-3 in this 1974 season. Dallas won the NFC in 1970 and 1971, losing the Super Bowl and then winning. Washington had won the NFC in 1972, losing to the Miami Dolphins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII.
Just two weeks earlier, Washington had raced out to a 28-0 first-half lead, but it had to hold on to defeat Dallas 28-21 at RFK Stadium. Now, on this Thanksgiving Day, 1974, the two teams would meet at Texas Stadium in Irving.
Redskins DT Diron Talbert, in those days, liked to talk trash, attempting to distract Cowboys QB Roger Staubach. He spoke of how the Redskins were going to knock Staubach out of the game. From the start, the Redskins defense harassed, chased, and hit Staubach.
Washington led 16-3 in the third quarter when Staubach was hit hard again, this time knocked out of the game. Enter Cowboys’ rookie QB Clint Longley. Longley would only last to play in three NFL seasons (1974-76). However, on this day, he didn’t know the pressure and expectations that would follow. He simply threw the ball carefree and made Cowboys history.
Longley quickly hit Billy Joe Dupree on a 35-yard touchdown down the middle of the field, narrowing the Redskins’ lead to 16-10. When RB Walt Garrison scored from one yard, Dallas led 17-16.
The Redskins woke up to reality, and Duane Thomas ran to his left for a 19-yard touchdown, regaining the lead at 23-17.
Dallas had one last chance. With 28 seconds remaining, Longley dropped back and heaved the ball downfield, where Drew Pearson caught the game-winning 50-yard touchdown for the 24-23 Cowboys win.
Washington defensive back Ken Stone seemed absolutely lost on the play. He was picking up Pearson in coverage, but he wasn’t. Then, he saw Pearson run by him, and it was too late. Stone’s amazingly inept play made a hero out of Longley.
Redskins fans old enough to remember ( I was age 11) will never forget. They can never forget such a poor defensive performance in the second half against an NFL rookie who appeared in only nine games, starting only two.
Longley proved not to be a very good NFL quarterback, but on this one day, his special day, he brought the Redskins one of their worst, unexpected, inexcusable losses in franchise history.
It was not a Happy Thanksgiving for Redskins fans 50 years ago today.
