The 1995 NFL draft was one of the worst in Dallas Cowboys history. It is infamously known as the "backup draft", because the team considered their roster so strong, they drafted players based on their contributions as backups, which limited the future potential of their selections. The team traded their first-round draft choice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in exchange for two second-round picks. The best player drafted would end up being Eric Bjornson.
The 1995 season, due to the NFL salary cap, once more saw a number of key veterans depart via free agency including wide receiverAlvin Harper to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, safetyJames Washington to the Washington Redskins, centerMark Stepnoski to the Houston Oilers and longtime Cowboys veteran defensive endJim Jeffcoat to the Buffalo Bills. Starting cornerbackKevin Smith was out the remainder of the season after an injury in week one and perhaps the most prominent addition came on September 11, 1995, when Dallas signed All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders away from the San Francisco 49ers. Running backEmmitt Smith would earn his fourth NFL rushing title and set a then-record 25 rushing touchdowns in a season against the Arizona Cardinals to secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The season began with victories against the Giants, Broncos, Vikings in overtime, and Cardinals. In week five at the Redskins Troy Aikman was injured early and the Cowboys suffered their first loss of the season. Aikman returned the next week and led Dallas to wins over Green Bay, San Diego, the Falcons, and the Eagles to move to 8–1. In week ten, the struggling 49ers came to Texas Stadium and shocked the Cowboys, 38–20; the game’s signature play was San Francisco’s second play from scrimmage, from the Niners’ 19-yard line, as Grbac’s pass split Dallas’ safeties and Jerry Rice scored. Dallas rebounded beating the Raiders and the Chiefs to move to 10–2 but then were upset at home by the Washington Redskins. The Cowboys would lose their second game in a row in a controversial loss at Philadelphia where with the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter, Coach Barry Switzer elected to "go for it" on 4th and a foot at the Cowboys 29. The Eagles initially stopped Dallas for no gain but the play was ruled dead because the two-minute warning was reached before Dallas snapped the ball. Switzer then elected to not punt and try again, and this time the play was stopped for a 1-yard loss; Philly took over and soon kicked a field goal to get the win. While the Cowboys in general and Switzer in particular were excoriated by fans and the media, the team became stronger and angrier after this game and eventually used those emotions to end the losing streak. The next week, Dallas appeared headed for a third straight defeat at home to the mediocre Giants but thanks to a clutch late reception by Kevin Williams and a last-second field goal by Chris Boniol, the Cowboys prevailed. Rejuvenated, the team defeated the Arizona Cardinals and secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The movie "Jerry Maguire" used film footage from the Arizona matchup. The Cowboys defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC divisional playoff game followed by a memorable NFC championship game victory against the Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium. The team would go on to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sun Devil Stadium in Arizona in an attempt to tie the NFL record of a fifth league title. Dallas dominated early, but as the Steelers gained momentum and threatened an upset over the heavily favored Cowboys, starting cornerback Larry Brown, after the tragic loss of his son Kristopher during the season, was named Super Bowl XXX Most Valuable Player when he made his second interception of a pass from Steelers quarterbackNeil O'Donnell to seal the game.
Schedule
Standings
Playoffs
Schedule
NFC Championship Game
Super Bowl XXX
Scoring summary
DAL – FG: Chris Boniol 42 yards 3–0 DAL
DAL – TD: Jay Novacek 3 yard pass from Troy Aikman 10–0 DAL
DAL – FG: Chris Boniol 35 yards 13–0 DAL
PIT – TD: Yancey Thigpen 6 yard pass from Neil O'Donnell 13–7 DAL
