1988 Dallas Cowboys season
{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Dallas Cowboys
| year = 1988
| record = 3–13
| division_place = 5th NFC East
| coach = Tom Landry
| general manager = Tex Schramm
| owner = Bum Bright
| stadium = Texas Stadium
| radio = KRLD–AM 1080
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| pro_bowlers = RB Herschel Walker
| shortnavlink = Cowboys seasons
}}
The {{nfly|1988}} Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 29th season in the National Football League. The team failed to improve on their 7–8 record from 1987, finishing at 3–13 and missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The 3–13 record in the 1988 season was the Cowboys' second worst season to that point in team history, surpassed only by its winless inaugural season in 1960.
The 1988 season was the final year for head coach Tom Landry, general manager Tex Schramm, and owner Bum Bright. It also featured the rookie season debut of Michael Irvin, one of the franchise's most accomplished players and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Offseason
=NFL draft=
{{main|1988 NFL draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1988
| teamname = Dallas Cowboys
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 11
| player = Michael Irvin
| position = WR
| college = Miami (FL)
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof = yes
| probowl = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 41
| player = Ken Norton
| position = LB
| college = UCLA
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 67
| player = Mark Hutson
| position = OG
| college = Oklahoma
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 94
| player = Dave Widell
| position = OT
| college = Boston College
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 151
| player = Scott Secules
| position = QB
| college = Virginia
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 178
| player = Owen Hooven
| position = OT
| college = Oregon State
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 8
| pick = 205
| player = Mark Higgs
| position = RB
| college = Kentucky
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 9
| pick = 232
| player = Brian Bedford
| position = WR
| college = California
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 10
| pick = 263
| player = Billy Owens
| position = DB
| college = Pittsburgh
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 11
| pick = 290
| player = Chad Hennings
| position = DE
| college = Air Force
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 12
| pick = 317
| player = Ben Hummel
| position = LB
| college = UCLA
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft end}}
=Undrafted free agents=
class="wikitable"
|+ 1988 undrafted free agents of note !Player !Position !College |
Jean Austin
|Cornerback |
Sanjay Beach
|Wide receiver |
Kenny Blacknell
|Linebacker |
Rodney Branch
|Cornerback |
Alvin Briggs
|Safety |
Chase Brown
|Wide receiver |
Craig Burnett
|Quarterback |
David Caylor
|Kicker |
Curtis Chappell
|Wide receiver |
Matt Clark
|Wide receiver |
Ray Coleman
|Defensive line |
Jason Cooper
|Tight end |Duke |
James Crawford
|Running back |
Kent Dean
|Tight end |
David Demore
|Linebacker |Duke |
David DenBraber
|Quarterback |
Bob Driscoll
|Tight end |
Tommy Duhart
|Defensive tackle |Southeastern Oklahoma State |
Jerry Dunlap
|Defensive back |
Todd Friewald
|Defensive end |VMI |
John Garrett
|Wide receiver |
Al Huge
|Defensive tackle |
John Kropke
|Defensive tackle |
Jim Malosky
|Quarterback |
Stanley Monk
|Running back |Duke |
Kelly Ryan
|Quarterback |Yale |
Dewayne Terry
|Safety |Duke |
Sean Washington
|Cornerback |Rutgers |
Summary
The 1988 season was the last of the Tom Landry era. After the 1988 season, the team would undergo drastic changes including a new head coach, and change of ownership from Bum Bright to current owner Jerry Jones.
Notable additions to the team in 1988 included wide receiver Michael Irvin and linebacker Ken Norton Jr. Defensive tackle Chad Hennings was also drafted in 1988 but, due to his obligations to the U.S. Air Force, he would not join the team until 1992.
The 1988 season was the first time since 1976 that future hall-of-fame running back Tony Dorsett was not on the Dallas roster. Dorsett had been relegated to a backup role to Herschel Walker for most of 1987 and was traded to the Denver Broncos during the offseason.
The 1988 season faced hardship from the release of the schedule. In 1987, Dallas had finished at 7–8, in a 3-way tie for second place in the NFC East and tiebreaking rules gave Dallas the “second place position”, even though Dallas finished fifth (last) in the NFC East in 1987 in “union games” (i.e. a strong replacement team had inflated the Boys’ ‘87 record). As a result, their 1988 schedule was primarily against teams that were strong in {{nfly|1987}} (and also in 1988).
Steve Pelluer had won the starting quarterback job from veteran Danny White late in the 1987 season and won the job in training camp for 1988. Early in the season, White appeared briefly in relief roles before suffering a season-ending injury in week 7, which elevated Kevin Sweeney to the backup position. Sweeney briefly took over the starting job for Pelluer in weeks 11 and 12, but the results were poor and Pelluer regained the job.
In the season opener, Dallas lost to Pittsburgh, 24–21. The Cowboys had the ball inside the Pittsburgh 10 in the game's closing seconds in position to tie or win the game, but Pelluer was intercepted. After a close win over Phoenix in week two, Dallas lost to the New York Giants, 12–10 (the margin of defeat being a strange safety on the opening kickoff). A last-second goal line stand brought victory over Atlanta in week four but the following week, the Cowboys lost to New Orleans on a last-second Morten Andersen field goal. Two convincing losses followed and at 2–5, the season was in jeopardy.
In week 8, Dallas traveled to Philadelphia. Bad blood still existed from 1987, when Philadelphia coach Buddy Ryan, in the game's closing seconds, called a deep pass play when the Eagles were already leading the game by 10 points. The Cowboys roared to a 20–0 lead in the first half, but the Eagles came back to win 24–23 by scoring a touchdown on the game's final play. The next week, Dallas blew a 10–0 second-half lead to lose to the Phoenix Cardinals and fell to 2–7. The losing streak extended to 10 games before Dallas upset the defending Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins in week 15 in RFK Stadium, which eliminated the Redskins from 1988 playoff contention. The Redskins win marked the end of an era (and Landry's last win) but was also a harbinger as rookie (and future hall-of-fame) wide receiver Irvin caught three touchdown passes. The team lost the next week at Texas Stadium to the Philadelphia Eagles to finish the season 3–13, the worst record in the entire NFL and the team's worst record since 1960, the Cowboys' first season as an expansion team. A bright spot for the season was Walker, who led the NFC in rushing yards.
In addition to Landry, this was also the final season for long-time Cowboys such as president-general manager Tex Schramm, personnel director Gil Brandt, defensive tackle Randy White, quarterback Danny White, linebacker Mike Hegman, and defensive coordinator Ernie Stautner.
=Roster=
class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
colspan="7" style="background:#c5ced6; color:black; border: 2px solid #001942; text-align: center;"|Dallas Cowboys 1988 roster |
---|
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Reserve lists
|
-}} Rod Barksdale WR (IR) 10px
|
-}} Chad Hennings DT (Military Reserve) 10px
Rookies in italics 47 active, 11 inactive |
Regular season
=Schedule=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Week
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Date ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Opponent ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Result ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Record ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Game Site ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Attendance ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}"| Recap |
---|
style="background: #fcc"
! 1 | September 4 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 21–24 | 0–1 | 56,813 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809040pit.htm Recap] |
style="background: #cfc"
! 2 | {{dow tooltip|September 12, 1988}} | at Phoenix Cardinals | W 17–14 | 1–1 | 67,139 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809120crd.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 3 | September 18 | L 10–12 | 1–2 | 55,325 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809180dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #cfc"
! 4 | September 25 | W 26–20 | 2–2 | Texas Stadium | 39,702 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809250dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 5 | {{dow tooltip|October 3, 1988}} | at New Orleans Saints | L 17–20 | 2–3 | 68,474 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810030nor.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 6 | October 9 | L 17–35 | 2–4 | Texas Stadium | 63,325 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810090dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 7 | October 16 | at Chicago Bears | L 7–17 | 2–5 | 64,759 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810160chi.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 8 | October 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 23–24 | 2–6 | 66,309 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810230phi.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 9 | October 30 | L 10–16 | 2–7 | Texas Stadium | 42,196 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198810300dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 10 | November 6 | at New York Giants | L 21–29 | 2–8 | 75,826 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811060nyg.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 11 | November 13 | L 3–43 | 2–9 | Texas Stadium | 57,830 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811130dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 12 | November 20 | L 24–38 | 2–10 | Texas Stadium | 37,865 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811200dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 13 | L 17–25 | 2–11 | Texas Stadium | 50,845 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811240dal.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 14 | December 4 | at Cleveland Browns | L 21–24 | 2–12 | 77,683 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812040cle.htm Recap] |
style="background: #cfc"
! 15 | December 11 | at Washington Redskins | W 24–17 | 3–12 | 51,526 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812110was.htm Recap] |
style="background: #fcc"
! 16 | December 18 | L 7–23 | 3–13 | Texas Stadium | 46,131 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812180dal.htm Recap] |
Division opponents are in bold text
=Game summaries=
==Week 1==
{{Americanfootballbox
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|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 1: Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers
|date=September 4, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Cowboys
|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=7
|home=Steelers
|H1=10 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=7
|stadium=Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|attendance=56,813
|weather=
|referee=Gordon McCarter
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Tim Brant (play-by-play) and Hank Stram (color commentator)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809040pit.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=21|Home=24}}
==Week 2 at Cardinals==
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|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week Two: Dallas Cowboys (0–1) at Phoenix Cardinals (0–1)
|date=September 12, 1988
|time=9:00 p.m. EDT
|road=Cowboys
|R1=3 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Cardinals
|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=7
|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
|attendance=67,139
|weather=Sunny, {{Convert|89|F|C}}
|referee=Red Cashion
|TV=ABC
|TVAnnouncers=Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, and Frank Gifford
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809120crd.htm Box Score]
|scoring=
|stats=
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{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = left
| Visitor = Dallas Cowboys
| VisitorDisplay = Cowboys
| Home = Phoenix Cardinals
| HomeDisplay = Cardinals
| VisPasser = Steve Pelluer
| VisPassStats = 12/24, 162 Yds, INT
| VisRusher = Herschel Walker
| VisRushStats = 29 Rush, 149 Yds, TD
| VisReceiver = Kelvin Martin
| VisReceivingStats = 5 Rec, 72 Yds
| HomePasser = Neil Lomax
| HomePassStats = 20/34, 266 Yds, 2 TD
| HomeRusher = Earl Ferrell
| HomeRushStats = 11 Rush, 65 Yds
| HomeReceiver = Jay Novacek
| HomeReceivingStats = 4 Rec, 78 Yds, TD
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=DAL|HomeName=PHO|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=6:55
| Team=Cowboys
| DrivePlays=
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=FG
| yards=47
| Kicker=Luis Zendejas
| Visitor=3
| Home=0
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=12:18
| Team=Cardinals
| DrivePlays=
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Earl Ferrell
| QB=Neil Lomax
| yards=16
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Al Del Greco
| 2pt type=run/pass
| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete
| Visitor=3
| Home=7
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=4:35
| Team=Cowboys
| DrivePlays=
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Herschel Walker
| yards=3
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Luis Zendejas
| 2pt type=run/pass
| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete
| Visitor=10
| Home=7
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=5:23
| Team=Cowboys
| DrivePlays=
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Steve Pelluer
| yards=1
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Luis Zendejas
| 2pt type=run/pass
| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete
| Visitor=17
| Home=7
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=3:52
| Team=Cardinals
| DrivePlays=
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Jay Novacek
| QB=Neil Lomax
| yards=23
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Al Del Greco
| 2pt type=run/pass
| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete
| Visitor=17
| Home=14
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=17|Home=14}}
{{Clear}}
==Week 3==
{{Americanfootballbox
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|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 3: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
|date=September 18, 1988
|time=3:00 p.m. CDT
|road=Giants
|R1=5 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=0
|home=Cowboys
|H1=3 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=0
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=55,325
|weather={{convert|82|F}}; Wind {{convert|16|mph|abbr=on}}
|referee=Pat Haggerty
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198809180dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=NYG|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=12|Home=10}}
==Week 4==
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|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 4: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys
|date=September 25, 1988
|time=12 Noon CDT
|road=Falcons
|R1=7 |R2=10 |R3=3 |R4=0
|home=Cowboys
|H1=14 |H2=0 |H3=2 |H4=10
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=39,702
|weather=
|referee=Bob McElwee
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) and Ken Stabler (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=20|Home=26}}
==Week 5==
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|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 5: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints
|date=October 3, 1988
|time=8:00 p.m. CDT
|road=Cowboys
|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=3
|home=Saints
|H1=7 |H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=3
|stadium=Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana
|attendance=68,474
|weather=
|referee=Gene Barth
|TV=ABC
|TVAnnouncers=Frank Gifford (play-by-play) and Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=17|Home=20}}
==Week 6==
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|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 6: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
|date=October 9, 1988
|time=12 Noon CDT
|road=Redskins
|R1=7 |R2=21 |R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Cowboys
|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=0 |H4=7
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=63,255
|weather=
|referee=Gordon McCarter
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=35|Home=17}}
==Week 7==
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|title=Week 7: Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears
|date=October 16, 1988
|time=12 Noon CDT
|road=Cowboys
|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Bears
|H1=0 |H2=17 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=Soldier Field • Chicago, Illinois
|attendance=64,759
|weather=
|referee=Jim Tunney
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan (play-by-play) and Dan Jiggetts (color commentator)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=7|Home=17}}
==Week 8==
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|title=Week 8: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
|date=October 23, 1988
|time=12 Noon CDT
|road=Cowboys
|R1=17 |R2=3 |R3=3 |R4=0
|home=Eagles
|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=14
|stadium=Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|attendance=66,309
|weather=
|referee=Dick Hantak
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Dan Jiggetts (color commentator)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=23|Home=24}}
==Week 9==
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|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 9: Phoenix Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
|date=October 30, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Cardinals
|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=13
|home=Cowboys
|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=10 |H4=0
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=42,196
|weather=
|referee=Bob McElwee
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Dan Fouts (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=PHO|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=16|Home=10}}
==Week 10==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 10: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
|date=November 6, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Cowboys
|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=14
|home=Giants
|H1=10 |H2=16 |H3=0 |H4=3
|stadium=Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey
|attendance=75,826
|weather=
|referee=Johnny Grier
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Terry Bradshaw (color commentator)
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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=DAL|HomeName=NYG|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=21|Home=29}}
==Week 11==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys
|date=November 13, 1988
|time=7:00 p.m. CST
|road=Vikings
|R1=17 |R2=0 |R3=17 |R4=9
|home=Cowboys
|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=57,830
|weather=
|referee=Red Cashion
|TV=ESPN
|TVAnnouncers=Mike Patrick (play-by-play) and Joe Theismann (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811130dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Vikings
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=MIN|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=43|Home=3}}
==Week 12==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
|date=November 20, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Bengals
|R1=7 |R2=17 |R3=7 |R4=7
|home=Cowboys
|H1=3 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=14
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=37,865
|weather=
|referee=Gordon McCarter
|TV=NBC
|TVAnnouncers=Jim Donovan (play-by-play) and Ken Anderson (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811200dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Bengals
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=CIN|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=38|Home=24}}
Until 2024, this was the last home loss to the Bengals.
==Week 13==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 13: Houston Oilers at Dallas Cowboys
|date=November 24, 1988
|time=3:00 p.m. CST
|road=Oilers
|R1=0 |R2=10 |R3=3 |R4=12
|home=Cowboys
|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=0
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=50,845
|weather=
|referee=Gene Barth
|TV=NBC-blacked out locally
|TVAnnouncers=Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Merlin Olsen (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198811240dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Oilers
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=HOU|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=25|Home=17}}
This was the last home loss to the Houston-based team until 2024.
==Week 14==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 14: Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns
|date=December 4, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Cowboys
|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=7
|home=Browns
|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=0 |H4=14
|stadium=Cleveland Stadium • Cleveland, Ohio
|attendance=77,683
|weather=
|referee=Jerry Seeman
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Ken Stabler (color commentator)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812040cle.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-2}}
;Browns
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=DAL|HomeName=CLE|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=21|Home=24}}
==Week 15==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 15: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
|date=December 11, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Cowboys
|R1=3 |R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=7
|home=Redskins
|H1=3 |H2=0 |H3=14 |H4=0
|stadium=RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.
|attendance=51,526
|weather=
|referee=Jerry Markbreit
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Tim Ryan (play-by-play) and Dan Jiggetts (color commentator)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812110was.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-2}}
;Redskins
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=DAL|HomeName=WSH|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=24|Home=17}}
==Week 16==
{{Americanfootballbox
|bg=
|bg2=
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Dallas Cowboys|year=1988|border=2}}; text-align:center
|state=collapsed
|title=Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
|date=December 18, 1988
|time=12 Noon CST
|road=Eagles
|R1=0 |R2=10 |R3=7 |R4=6
|home=Cowboys
|H1=7 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=0
|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
|attendance=46,131
|weather=
|referee=Jim Tunney
|TV=CBS
|TVAnnouncers=Tim Brant (play-by-play) and Hank Stram (color commentator) (blacked out locally)
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812180dal.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
|stats=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
;Eagles
{{Col-2}}
;Cowboys
{{Col-end}}
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=PHI|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=23|Home=7}}
=Standings=
{{1988 NFC East standings}}NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 293
Publications
- The Football Encyclopedia {{ISBN|0-312-11435-4}}
- Total Football {{ISBN|0-06-270170-3}}
- Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes {{ISBN|0-446-51950-2}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal1988.htm 1988 Dallas Cowboys]
- [http://www.profootballhof.com/ Pro Football Hall of Fame]
- [http://www.dallascowboys.com Dallas Cowboys Official Site]
{{Dallas Cowboys}}
{{Dallas Cowboys seasons}}
{{1988 NFL season by team}}