Sweet 16, Region 3: Cowboys top 64 plays of all-time

Sweet 16 continues over here at Blogging The Boys as we narrow down your favorite plays of all time in Cowboys history. Checking in on Region 1, we have Alvin Harper’s slant pass in the NFC Championship with over a 100 vote lead on Tony Romo’s famous over the head snap recovery against the St. Louis Rams. Ezekiel Elliott’s screen play against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Deion Sanders punt return against the New York Giants need some serious help if they are to have a shot. Go here if you have yet to cast your vote.

And yesterday, we had Region 2 for you. It’s still early, but it appears that Tony Dorsett’s 99-yarder on Monday Night Football is running away with his group. Go here if you want to get in on the action.

Today, we got another group of winners for your viewing pleasure. Let’s take a quick look how they got here:

Big man with a big chase

Jerry Jones has drafted three players who have entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many may think it’s the triplets - Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin; however, Irvin was drafted in 1988 during the Tom Landry era. That third guy is none other than Larry Allen, whose selection in the 1994 NFL Draft may be the single greatest GM move ever made by a Jones owned team that didn’t still have Jimmy Johnson. Allen played 14 seasons in the NFL, and was a phenomenal blocker, but the play he made that people remember the most had nothing to do with blocking.

South Dakota Fan:

Watching Larry allen defy the laws of physics is an amazing experience. There is no way a man that big should be able to run that fast. I don’t believe my own eyes.

Can’t keep a good man down

Speaking of Hall of Famers from the ‘90s, the draft selection of Emmitt Smith back in 1990 was a game-changing moment for the Cowboys. The team traded away their star running back Herschel Walker the previous year, and the pick used to grab Smith was one of the many the Minnesota Vikings gave up in the deal. Emmitt was special right out of the gate, and his ability to find his way out of traffic was shown again and again, but none was more memorable than the day he made the Atlanta Falcons look silly.

Rome One:

I was eating Buffalo Wings (with beer) at a Buffalo Bar when 22 went all ‘Zerby Derby’ on the Atlanta Defense. ‘Zerby Derby 22’ all the way!

The secret is in the dirt

Did you know that during Jason Witten’s rookie season, he broke his jaw and had surgery that required three plates? Ouch! That injury caused him to miss one game, and it was that game and that game only that Witten has ever missed during his 16-year career. So, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that Witten once ran down the field after catching a pass without wearing a helmet as his toughness is unrivaled. It’s a moment worthy of a giant mural, that just so happens to be on display at The Star in Frisco.

lilwrangler:

Because I despise Philthadelphia so much I voted for Witten blowing up two of their defenders and almost scoring without a helmet.

Smooth operator

Tony Dorsett makes his second appearance in the Sweet 16 round with a great run after the catch against the Baltimore Colts. Not only did the Hall of Fame running back finish his career with over 12,000 rushing yards (trailing only Walter Payton at the time he retired), but he ran with such grace that it was a treat to watch. Dorsett’s touchdown against the Colts showed his elusiveness, great cutting ability, and blazing speed once he gets in the open field. He even finished it off by giving him teammates “five” before crossing the goal line.

pugbuddy:

That Dorsett catch and run was simply a thing of beauty. Tony D was SO smooth; he was just a flawless runner. Lots of good plays in this set. All of them are really nice.