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Updated: June 17, 2011, 4:00 PM
The Top 10
Top 10: Memorable Weather Games
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow robphillips3 on Twitter
(Editor's Note: From the home office in Irving, Texas, DallasCowboys.com has this week's top 10 list, a ranking of the best free agent signings in team history as selected by the website writing staff - Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis. A new countdown will debut each Friday.)
Fortunes in the National Football League, especially these days, are about as predictable as the weather.
For this week's Top 10, we've compiled and ranked the 10 most memorable weather games in Cowboys history. It's a list that would make John Madden proud - gridiron warriors battling the elements, and each other, for 60 minutes.
These aren't the 10 worst weather conditions by temperature. Preference was given to the magnitude of the game as well as the memories forged in the heat, rain, snow or mud.
Let's start with No. 10, where we have a tie for the last spot.
10(a). at Philadelphia (Dec. 10, 1989)
Better known as "Bounty Bowl II," the fallout from Buddy Ryan's alleged Thanksgiving "bounties" on Troy Aikman and Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas two weeks earlier. The Cowboys lost both Bounty Bowls, this time a 20-10 defeat at freezing Veterans Stadium. Eagles fans made the game into their own little snowball fight, tossing snow and beers at Jimmy Johnson as security rushed him off the field. Nothing like a little holiday cheer.
10(b). at Cleveland (Dec. 12, 1970)
The Cowboys didn't let freezing temperatures, sleet and a field full of mud get in their way of a fourth straight victory. The unruly conditions did play a big factor in the play of both teams, but the Cowboys were able to kick two field goals and win 6-2 in front of 74,458 fans in Cleveland - the largest attendance for any Cowboys game that season.
9. at Philadelphia (Oct. 31, 1993)
The rain at the Vet was relentless, and so were Emmitt Smith's runs. The future NFL MVP rushed for a Cowboys single-game record 237 yards on 30 carries in a 23-10 win over the Eagles. It was the sixth-highest total in league history, and he saved the best for last: a 62-yard touchdown with 3:45 left to seal things for the Super Bowl champs.
8. vs. L.A. Rams (Dec. 26, 1983)
The frosty 27-degree temperature at Texas Stadium - the second-coldest home playoff game in team history - was the least of the Cowboys' problems. The Rams eliminated the favored Cowboys, 24-17, in the wild-card round by scoring 17 points in the second half - all off Dallas turnovers.
7. vs. Philadelphia (Jan. 7, 1996)
On to the coldest home playoff game in team history: 26 degrees at kickoff. Deion Sanders was hot, though, impacting the game in all three phases: an interception on defense, a 21-yard reverse for a touchdown on offense and two long punt returns. The Cowboys rolled over the Eagles, 30-11, to reach the NFC title game.
6. at Philadelphia (Dec. 10, 1995)
Tied for the third-coldest game in team history (19 degrees), and better known as the "Load Left" disaster, just two weeks before their above-mentioned playoff rematch with Philly. This was not Barry Switzer's finest moment as head coach. Sitting in deep in their own territory with a tie score, Switzer called two straight unsuccessful short-yardage plays in the final minute. The Eagles stuffed Emmitt Smith on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, regained possession in Cowboys territory and kicked the winning field goal.
5. vs. Philadelphia (Sept. 3, 2000)
From extreme cold to extreme heat, the 2000 opener at Texas Stadium had a team-record 109 temperature at kickoff. Eagles players claimed they stayed hydrated by drinking a combination of water and pickle juice in their 41-14 blowout win. Now forever known as the "Pickle Juice" game, it was a terrible start to a 5-11 season.
The Top 10
Top 10: Memorable Weather Games
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow robphillips3 on Twitter
(Editor's Note: From the home office in Irving, Texas, DallasCowboys.com has this week's top 10 list, a ranking of the best free agent signings in team history as selected by the website writing staff - Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis. A new countdown will debut each Friday.)
Fortunes in the National Football League, especially these days, are about as predictable as the weather.
For this week's Top 10, we've compiled and ranked the 10 most memorable weather games in Cowboys history. It's a list that would make John Madden proud - gridiron warriors battling the elements, and each other, for 60 minutes.
These aren't the 10 worst weather conditions by temperature. Preference was given to the magnitude of the game as well as the memories forged in the heat, rain, snow or mud.
Let's start with No. 10, where we have a tie for the last spot.
10(a). at Philadelphia (Dec. 10, 1989)
Better known as "Bounty Bowl II," the fallout from Buddy Ryan's alleged Thanksgiving "bounties" on Troy Aikman and Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas two weeks earlier. The Cowboys lost both Bounty Bowls, this time a 20-10 defeat at freezing Veterans Stadium. Eagles fans made the game into their own little snowball fight, tossing snow and beers at Jimmy Johnson as security rushed him off the field. Nothing like a little holiday cheer.
10(b). at Cleveland (Dec. 12, 1970)
The Cowboys didn't let freezing temperatures, sleet and a field full of mud get in their way of a fourth straight victory. The unruly conditions did play a big factor in the play of both teams, but the Cowboys were able to kick two field goals and win 6-2 in front of 74,458 fans in Cleveland - the largest attendance for any Cowboys game that season.
9. at Philadelphia (Oct. 31, 1993)
The rain at the Vet was relentless, and so were Emmitt Smith's runs. The future NFL MVP rushed for a Cowboys single-game record 237 yards on 30 carries in a 23-10 win over the Eagles. It was the sixth-highest total in league history, and he saved the best for last: a 62-yard touchdown with 3:45 left to seal things for the Super Bowl champs.
8. vs. L.A. Rams (Dec. 26, 1983)
The frosty 27-degree temperature at Texas Stadium - the second-coldest home playoff game in team history - was the least of the Cowboys' problems. The Rams eliminated the favored Cowboys, 24-17, in the wild-card round by scoring 17 points in the second half - all off Dallas turnovers.
7. vs. Philadelphia (Jan. 7, 1996)
On to the coldest home playoff game in team history: 26 degrees at kickoff. Deion Sanders was hot, though, impacting the game in all three phases: an interception on defense, a 21-yard reverse for a touchdown on offense and two long punt returns. The Cowboys rolled over the Eagles, 30-11, to reach the NFC title game.
6. at Philadelphia (Dec. 10, 1995)
Tied for the third-coldest game in team history (19 degrees), and better known as the "Load Left" disaster, just two weeks before their above-mentioned playoff rematch with Philly. This was not Barry Switzer's finest moment as head coach. Sitting in deep in their own territory with a tie score, Switzer called two straight unsuccessful short-yardage plays in the final minute. The Eagles stuffed Emmitt Smith on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, regained possession in Cowboys territory and kicked the winning field goal.
5. vs. Philadelphia (Sept. 3, 2000)
From extreme cold to extreme heat, the 2000 opener at Texas Stadium had a team-record 109 temperature at kickoff. Eagles players claimed they stayed hydrated by drinking a combination of water and pickle juice in their 41-14 blowout win. Now forever known as the "Pickle Juice" game, it was a terrible start to a 5-11 season.
