March Madness tournament: Cowboys top 64 plays of all time, Round 1, Group 5

The BTB 64-play tournament continues as we try to narrow down the top play in Dallas Cowboys history. So far, we’ve put 16 different plays out there for your viewing pleasure, and he is how the voting has turned out:

It’s not too late to cast your vote (Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4). Today, we have four new plays to check out.

Washington’s fumble recovery

Emmitt Smith took home the MVP award in Super Bowl XXVIII for his 132-yard, two-touchdown performance, but many could argue that it should’ve gone to Cowboys reserve safety James Washington.

Originally a Plan B free agent in 1989, Washington worked his way on Cowboys roster and had a knack for making big plays on the game’s biggest stage. In the Cowboys first Super Bowl win in the ‘90s, he picked off Jim Kelly that led to the Cowboys first touchdown of the game. And even though rookie Darren Woodson stole his job the following year, Washington still found a way to make plays. As a nickel DB, he had another great Super Bowl performance. He had another pick, forced a fumble, and recovered another fumble that he returned 46 yards for a touchdown. The play changed the momentum and sparked a 24-0 second half run by the Cowboys to become back-to-back Champions.

Longley completes the comeback

Can you believe there is a guy out there that doesn’t like Roger Staubach? That’s blasphemy, right? Clint Longley may be remembered more for the time he suckered punch Staubach in the face only to then be traded, but a couple years prior he did have his moment in the sun.

With three games left and the Cowboys playoff hopes on the line, things were looking bleak for the Cowboys after they trailed the Washington Redskins 16-3 in the third quarter. Oh, and did mention that Staubach exited the game with an injury. But Longley became the unlikely hero when he helped the Cowboys score three second-half touchdowns. The rookie quarterback completed the comeback with a 24-23 win, capped off by this 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with just 35 seconds left in the game.

Folk’s game winner

The 2007 season had to be one of the wildest rides I can remember. The team finished the season 13-3 and were the no. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to a 5-0 start to the season. But that streak should’ve ended after four games because the Cowboys did everything they could to lose their Week 5 Monday night matchup to the Buffalo Bills.

Tony Romo set a new franchise record for touchdown passes that season, but this game stood out as one of his most resilient. Romo turned the ball over six times in that game. He finished the game with four touchdown passes, two for Dallas and two for Buffalo. Despite the atrocious play from Romo throughout the game, he kept fighting, helping the Cowboys score nine points in the final 20 seconds of the game.

Of course, none of it would’ve been possible had it not been for Nick Folk knocking down a field goal, not once, but twice for the game winner.

Romo to Murray on fourth down

With the season on the line, the Cowboys were letting things slip away from them in a crucial Week 16 road game in Washington. After Kai Forbath knocked down his third field goal of the game to give the Redskins a 23-14 lead, things weren’t looking good for the Dallas.

But then came the Cowboys went to work. They put together a 73-yard drive to make it a one-score game; however, it chewed up almost nine minutes of clock. Luckily, the Cowboys defense did their job and gave Tony Romo and company one last shot. They didn’t disappoint. Keyed by a 51-yard reception by Terrance Williams, the Cowboys went 87 yards and finished things off with a clutch fourth down pass to DeMarco Murray.