1996 Wild Card Vikings @ Cowboys

Emmitt Smith and the 10-6 Cowboys come into the '96 playoffs looking to defend their third championship in four years, as they host Brad Johnson and the 9-7 Vikings.

[@billierenfro705]

So thankful to have been able to witness my favorite team winning 3 Super Bowls out of 4 seasons and getting to watch the triplets entire careers and all of the other stars that were on those teams. This is why there’s so many people even today in 2022, that are Cowboys haters, they got so sick of seeing their team getting trounced by the Cowboys and then watching the Cowboys win the SB so many times. I now see it to a certain extent with the Patriots after their extraordinary run when Tom Brady was their starting QB.

[@mattwallace2221]

You realize the cowboys had the weakest dynasty in the nfl. Packers 5 championships in 7 years, steelers 4 in 6, 49ers 4 in 14, patriots 6 in 20, cowboys 3 out of 4. The dynasty fell quick and now the cowboys are just a laugh for the rest of the nfl fans.

[@pjtheory]

This was Barry Switzer's best coaching job with the Cowboys. The list of issues with this team was staggering, yet they somehow headed into a meaningless game at RFK with a 10-5 record. Irvin was suspended for the first 5 games of the season, back issues led to the retirements of Novacek and Haley, Lett was suspended for the latter part of year after being the front runner for Defensive Player of the Year, Smith played the entire season with bone chips in his ankle, and Aikman suddenly morphed into a JAG. Despite this laundry list of obstacles, Switzer's Cowboys dominated the Vikings and one could argue that if Irvin and Sanders were not injured the following week in Carolina, Switzer would have coached in his 3rd straight NFC Championship Game.

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

PhilC LOL jagoff or just another guy? 😂

[@pjtheory]

AQUA: I used the old Bill Parcells created JAG term which stands for Just Another Guy. In 1996, Aikman was the classic JAG as evidenced by his regular season stat line of 12 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

[@supersexysega]

Someone who actually gets it. Holy shit I am floored. Not to mention EriK Williams was never the same guy post 94' and neither was Kevin Smith after missing 95. Switzer get's shit on by a bunch of casuals all the time. Like you said and people don't really grasp is that Troy Aikman was a Jag from 96 throughout the rest of his career. He uses Switzer as a scapegaot which is super bitch material.

[@robertcortez8014]

÷÷²²²\|⅔Ee÷²²0f

[@walterlv01]

Excellent take. They also beat both of that year's Super Bowl teams (GB and NE, not allowing a touchdown to either), won at San Francisco which was rare, blew out Jimmy Johnson in Miami, and were a missed FG against Indy and end-zone INT against Philly from going 12-4 in spite of all their issues.

[@martinodoni8943]

Tell you what, whether you love the Dallas Cowboys or loathe them is irrelevant here. Never mind who you wanted to win. Just sit back and enjoy watching one of Troy Aikman's greatest displays of pure passing brilliance. When he was on song, Aikman was the most accurate passer in the history of the NFL - yes even better than the likes of Dan Marino - and in the first half of this game, he produced a dazzling succession of millimetre-perfect throws to pick the Vikings' defense to pieces. Just admire the flawless, steady spiral he gets on almost all of his passes, and then reflect on what a shame it was that he never won another play-off game. Should have won at least one more Super Bowl ring.

[@thefrase7884]

Once they went on the road it was pretty easy to see they were done

[@steve1220871]

George Teague...such a solid player..and of course defending the STAR

[@jefferystewart5576]

If you go back and look at that clip, or better yet watch the full game, you'll see that he only knocked Owens off the star for a second before getting nailed from, and then Owens gets back on the midfield star, so ultimately he accomplished nothing. I think personally it was part frustration as Dallas was defeated that game 41-24 and T.O had 2, maybe 3 tds.

[@pp3k3jamail]

fuck the star

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

His son was a great point guard for the Hawks too.

[@denverwood5290]

​@jefferystewart5576 Your point makes no difference. Teague still defended the star.

[@edwardfreeman4732]

Yes the last year I loved how we played

[@thomascrowley9122]

Didn't win a playoff game till 13 years later after this

[@mclohan]

Seriously it’s crazy how a franchise can have so much success and then completely fall off. They might turn into the Red Sox curse of the NFL. I mean they had so much success that 95 percent of the league is still trying to catch up.

[@williamdiemert9866]

Dennis Green R.I.P

[@dallascowboyshighlights9632]

To add more Vikings insult for the huge Hershel Walker trade, he ended up back in Dallas at the end of his career. 😀

[@Mark-xl1ze]

The Cowboys last playoff victory (at Texas Stadium) until 2009.

[@jordantrask2005]

I love the cowboys and the CHARGERS

[@christopherhubner7303]

I was at this game! End of a dynasty 😢

[@eulissbenoit5968]

Jerry Jones completely ruined our push for at least 4 Superbowl titles by letting Jimmy Johnson get away

[@ryanjacobson2508]

By 1996, key Dallas players were retiring or declining, and the reality is that they never were going to replace that talent (keep in mind that Dallas got a ton of draft picks from MN in 1989 which was key to Dallas getting better). Jimmy Johnson's Miami teams were nothing special, either. Johnson is overrated and people are too hard on Switzer.

[@thefrase7884]

@@ryanjacobson2508 .....I agree Ryan....they got lucky on the Herschel Walker trade. Those draft picks could have easily been busts and Johnson’s tenure in Dallas would have been mediocre

[@williamscott8068]

@@thefrase7884 all facts. Salute to the both of you.

[@Steve00077]

The Miami defenses that Jimmy had were pretty special. Jimmy drafted 4 pro bowlers in his four years in Miami, and none of those guys were first round picks. Because Miami was usually in the playoffs, Miami didn’t get high picks, yet Jimmy still found and develop stars that other teams missed on. I thought Jimmy was too hard on himself in Miami and should have tried to stick around longer. This was EXACTLY what Dallas needed to stay on top. Instead they botched a lot of their drafts and passed on Randy Moss. Also, unlike in Miami, Jimmy had the running back in Dallas that he always needed in Miami. He had Aikman, and he had Irvin. His job in Dallas would have been easier with the most important pieces in place.

[@Steve00077]

In both Dallas and Miami, Jimmy Johnson drafts were almost never busts. He usually managed to hit a home run somewhere in the draft. After he left Jerry got more involved with his big ego and it was one swing and miss after another as Dallas kept losing more talent. I believe I’ve seen Aikman say that he looks at the success that Patriots had for 20 years and felt Dallas should have had a dynasty much longer than 4 years.

[@eulissbenoit5968]

Herschel Walker was a beast.He had tremendous strength and speed

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

playing his former team too

[@s.tavares3257]

He was a Cowboy originally.

[@fan0000]

This was the end of the dynasty was almost 8 years old at the time of this game great to see one more dominant home playoff performance before it all came crashing down on the road the next week once the playmaker went out it was a wrap

[@ingurlund9657]

First attack of the game and Kevin Smith is done for PI on Cris Carter. The pass was going way out of bounds but Smith was still penalised for the contact. In the Jan 95 nfc championship game against the 49ers at Candlestick Deion Sanders did a PI on Irvin where he stopped Irvin from lifting his arms, just classic damn pass interference, and on a pass that was infield and there was nothing from the referees. Zip. They just completely bugged out. It still pisses me off.

[@jamesroberts1810]

Irvin got away with alot of pushing off dbs in his career..can't expect the refs not to call that in a championship game

[@donovanwilson1039]

Key Plays: 14:40 DAL: Irvin 21-yd rec from Aikman 20:45 DAL: Aikman 2-yd rush TD 27:20 MIN: Lee 43-yd rec from Johnson/DAL: Receives possession as Minnesota fumbled through the end zone for a touchback 34:00 DAL: Walker 22-yd rush 38:50 DAL: Sanders fumble recovery, lateral to Carver 39:40 DAL: E. Smith 37-yd rush TD 43:15 DAL: Teague 29-yd INT ret TD 47:05 DAL: Sanders 22-yd INT ret 1:14:15 MIN: Carter 30-yd rec TD from Johnson 1:26:50 DAL: E. Smith 1-yd rush TD 1:44:20 MIN: Ismail 50-yd rec from Johnson 1:45:10 MIN: Johnson 5-yd rush TD 1:48:05 DAL: Williams 20-yd rush 1:50:15 MIN: Talley fumble recovery 1:51:40 DAL: D. Smith fumble recovery 1:53:15 DAL: Walker 23-yd rush Key Stats: MIN: Brad Johnson 15/27 pass, 208 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 INT, 3 car, 14 rush yds, 1 TD Amp Lee 7 car, 26 rush yds, 2 rec, 59 rec yds Qadry Ismail 3 rec, 78 yds DAL: Troy Aikman 19/29 pass, 178 pass yds, 1 INT, 2 car, 4 rush yds, 1 TD Emmitt Smith 17 car, 116 yds, 2 TD Michael Irvin 8 rec (15 targets), 103 yds George Teague 1 INT, 1 TD, 4 tackles Deion Sanders 1 INT, 1 FR

[@pedobear8071]

anyone else think the lines on that old texas stadium look crooked. its like they curve up in the middle instead of being straight across the field

[@s.tavares3257]

Yes.. It has a crown in the middle. Favre struggled to get acclimated to that in the 95' NFC Championship.

[@josecarranza7555]

What do you mean?

[@josecarranza7555]

@@s.tavares3257 What do you mean?

[@teddyt]

by the way. if jimmy were coaching shermin williams would have been cut after that fumble being up 40 - 15.

[@spinner9057]

If Jimmy were coaching, the Cowboys would have a week off instead of playing in the Wild Card Game.

[@supersexysega]

If Jimmy were coaching no Deion Sanders. Charles Haley would have been traded in 94'. They would have lost to the Niners in 94' still and quit on him in 95'. Cowboys would have only won 2 SB's.

[@jackduncan5442]

@@supersexysega Pfft. Do you have any evidence that they would of traded Charles Haley? They fleeced the 49ers in 92 and they were gonna give him back up.

[@ingurlund9657]

@@supersexysega Deion Sanders never did shit for the Boys. All that money for him could have gone to getting Norton jr back instead. Now that would have meant something. But then Jimmy would never have lost such a great player as Ken in the first place. And no he wouldn't have traded Haley and he never would have underestimated the 94 49ers. He would have been seeing their improvement and prepping for them from months out. Why? Because spotting the dangers and getting ready for the big games was Jimmy's hallmark. Do I think the Boys would have won easily against the Niners with Jimmy? No. It would have been a war. But do I think the Cowboys could have pulled it off with him prepping them. Yep. A close game but I reckon he could've. Having Norton with the Boys and not the Niners would have been a hell of a start..

[@supersexysega]

@@ingurlund9657 The Cowboys made the right decision letting Norton walk. We continued to have stout/dominant defenses without him. The Sanders contract could have ofcourse been more efficiently spend elsewhere as all big contracts usually can

[@walterlv01]

1:54:52 - this game was played so fast that it ended around sunset in Dallas in December. Never see the late window games end that early these days.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

This was back when the playoff games were played at 12:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

[@comfortat]

WTF was Michaels talking about? The 75 Cowboys were a Wild Card team, and the 1980 Raiders WON the SB as a Wild Card.

[@MrBoswel1]

The end of era

[@nurlanbakeev3610]

Помогает здорово!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@gregorydixon5191]

Jones wanted more credit for their success than he earned

[@richardhamblen5526]

AIKMAN'S 11-1 START OF OF 12 PLAYOFF GAMES, BEST BY ANY QB IN NFL HISTORY, PERIOD..

[@Roland1182]

Tied with Brady.

[@stephenbatey8337]

Do u have dallas vs patriots 1996

[@MrBoswel1]

I remember watching this game

[@josh9180]

27:19 The play that changed the game

[@nurlanbakeev3610]

Американский футбол рекомендуется смотреть утром, в обед и вечером для улучшения настроения... и здоровья😂❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SPTO]

This game was a bit of a mirage. All that season the 'Boys just couldn't get their offense going. This game made fans think they had found their mojo except Carolina had other plans.

[@BigFrank2005]

michael irvin left the game on the opening drive and never came back so that didnt help either

[@SPTO]

@ It's hard to win a lot of championships in football. The New England Patriots of today are a real outlier even among the dynasty teams of the past. It is true, there is a thinking that the Cowboys could've won a championship or two more during that run. Many of the players feel like if Jimmy Johnson was still there they'd have won in '95.

[@teddyt]

yea, we lost the all time great ray donaldson in the 1st quarter, and michael irvin in the 1st quarter. we were moving the ball at will before that. 🙄

[@briancusack4386]

@@SPTO : Yes, exactly. Well said. The Patriots are an outlier, and like many Dallas fans, I believe the 'Boys would have won at least one more SB had Jimmy still been in charge. Who knows what would have happened?

[@ryanr20091]

yeah well honestly the defense was elite but the offense was trash this year and alot of that is a refection on tryoy aikman . theres no way romo would lose with a team like this lol . aikman has always been overrated and was merely a byproduct on how great dallas was because he was terrible in adversity during the late 90s . theres are plenty of qbs i would take over him including romo danny white roger staurbach maybe even presscott. everything has to be perefect for aikman to shine

[@blakebortles6098]

2:40 wtf lol lol

[@Jefe6622]

That skyline looks a lot different now

[@Mark-xl1ze]

Yep

[@jamesroberts1810]

Was it me or the vikes dbs were slow..m

[@tk6137]

this team had not lost novecek haley irvin and donaldson in the first drive of carolina game.. its 4 of 5. they beat gaybay and patcheats during the year.

[@chrisorr4902]

#17 Jason Garrett Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback. Currently the Dallas Cowboys Head Coach

[@spencerpearson3986]

Not anymore

[@shawnmoore1726]

This was the last game the cowboys was at there best and dallas my team we wasn't shit after this game!!!

[@funtyes1970]

not cowboy fan but I can't believe cowboys couldn't make it to NFC championship since 90's , 49ers haven't won a Superbowl since 90's to but at least 49ers been to 3 Superbowl's, it like cowboys have some kind of voodoo going on like a jimmy Johnson course going on cuz cowboys had some really good teams since and should at least got to NFC championship game.

[@l.morningstar2671]

After this game THATS ALL FOLKS 🤣🤣🤣

[@BenSmithTV7]

hi! i know that during the day the NFL Network will run high quality replays of classic games, might be a little better quality upgrade than some of these! still love all that you do

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Next time Vikings visited Dallas, it would be a VERY different story

[@cassmoney5755]

#SKOL facts

[@pp3k3jamail]

@@cassmoney5755 skol= Still keep on Losing

[@cassmoney5755]

@@pp3k3jamail 👎

[@s.tavares3257]

PhillyJay OnePlus 6T, Samsung A51 5G & u skoh: still keep on hating.

[@tk6137]

and your STILL RINGLESS....baaaaaahhhhaaaaaaahhhaaaa....😏🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

[@cornerarcade7913]

The last playoff win till 2009 no?

[@Brad88ford]

The end of all good things.................

[@grimmreaper4443]

I miss ole barry switzer

[@demitirusmcneal1327]

The following week, the Dallas Cowboys were beaten by the Carolina Panthers in the nfc divisional playoff game

[@teddyt]

and the following week carolina got there asses handed to them.

[@ArshadKhan-ys9ey]

DALLAS COWBOYS TEDDYT's MUSIC CHANNEL Cowboys would not have won at Green Bay!

[@jamesroberts1810]

Cowboys oline was beat up

[@clickman443]

It was a hell of a cowboy run but it was at the end. NFL stands for not for long. They're run was better than most

[@tk6137]

losing novecek.. and irvins demons killed our homfield throughout for getting 4 outta of 5...🤦‍♂️ still people forget we lost irvin and our probowler center donaldson after the first couple of plays the following week or we at least make the nfc championship game.

[@VanillaLimeCoke]

5:52 There goes Barry Switzer

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

Our jerseys and helmets were so much cooler than Dallas', we really needed Warren Moon out there on that field in this game. A game manager wasn't going to get the job done on the road against a team this good.

[@mac1766]

Jersey's and helmets don't win games...

[@ecuadormanaog3849]

Was 18 who would have thought would be 31 next playoff win

[@justinroark88]

16:00 lol Dan Dierdorf. In all honesty, those shirts represent a better time in the Cowboys history, despite being hideous.

[@big973e]

Wonder how inebriated Switzer was going into these playoffs?(Recent story about him being hammered after defeating GB leading up to SB XXX for the entire week). Jerry sealed his own fate with that Deion deal, CBA altered so many rules and basically forced the Cowboys to bleed talent on both sides of the ball, plus Switzer was a joke, and there were unfortunate injuries(Erik Williama, Tunei) ---- but this year really was the final episode in the start of Dallas' fall from grace. Switzer should have been fired after blowing the 94 NFCCG

[@supersexysega]

Switzer didn't turn the ball over 3x in the first 5 minutes. He did win the 95' SB though. Would have won in 96' as well but Dallas was missing half an all-pro team against Carolina.

[@MrJorge-cm8zu]

i cant remember a time minnesota ever had a bad team, there always competitive, just not enough to win it all.

[@mac1766]

Always the bridesmaid's, never the bride...

[@jordanhiggins5860]

I thought for sure the cowboys were going back to the super bowl after this performance

[@ArshadKhan-ys9ey]

Jordan Higgins they wouldn’t have been able to beat the Packers in GB!

[@zachrizzo6525]

Packers needed Carolina to beat Dallas. Cowboys seemed to have Favre’s number

[@ArshadKhan-ys9ey]

zach rizzo yes but Packers were undefeated on their home field that year, and the Cowboys were not as strong as in prior years!

[@pp3k3jamail]

if you thought the cowboys were going back to the Superbowl because they beat up on a 9-7 Vikings team then you're more of a moron than I think you are. No way was Dallas going to Carolina and winning. And certainly no way was Dallas winning in Green Bay.

[@pp3k3jamail]

@@zachrizzo6525 cowboys only had Green Bay's number in Dallas you dumbass. All those playoff games and regular-season games were in Dallas. I remember Green Bay complaining saying why do we got to play in Dallas every year. okay if we got to play Dallas in the playoffs in Dallas okay because Dallas had the better record but regular season games in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 we're all in Dallas also Dallas would've got their ass kicked if should they went to Green Bay that year, you saw what happened in next year when Dallas played in Green Green Bay what was the score like 41-10.

[@jimmykeepingit100always6]

Nice fumble Big Mouth Carter

[@jrod2422ify]

We lost the Carolina after this game.

[@JDavis-tj8vp]

End of Cowboys dynasty. 49ers ended the following season.

[@pp3k3jamail]

The 49ers went 13-3 the year after with the number 1 defense in the NFL and we're in the NFC championship game in 1997. Then in 1998 the 49ers were 12-4 and we're one drive away from going to the NFC title game in 1998. You mean 1999 it was when the 49ers dynasty ended.

[@pp3k3jamail]

The 49ers went 13-3 the year after with the number 1 defense in the NFL and we're in the NFC championship game in 1997. Then in 1998 the 49ers were 12-4 and we're one drive away from going to the NFC title game in 1998. You mean 1999 was when the 49ers dynasty ended.

[@JDavis-tj8vp]

Jay WHYTE#Oneplus6T, A20, LG G6, after 1996 49ers continued feasting on their weak division but were never going to get past Packers

[@pp3k3jamail]

@@JDavis-tj8vp they got past the Packers in 98

[@JDavis-tj8vp]

Jay WHYTE#Oneplus6T, A20, LG G6, last big win of their dynasty

[@etexbassfreak]

Since that new turf installation at Texas stadium the Cowboys never won a superbowl. Prior to that the Cowboys won 5 superbowls