It is Day 24 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain
dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.
It’s Day 24 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit one of the most painful, yet historically important games, in Cowboys history. Dallas stood 51 seconds away from another Super Bowl appearance, only for Joe Montana and Dwight Clark to create the moment everyone refers to as “The Catch”.
Sunday, January 10, 1982
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Final Score: San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27
The Cowboys entered as established NFC royalty. They had reached the conference championship nine times since the 1970 merger and had already eliminated San Francisco from the playoffs three times during the previous decade. The 49ers represented the emerging challenger, having finished 13-3 under Bill Walsh and beaten Dallas 45-14 during the regular season.
San Francisco opened the scoring when Montana found Freddie Solomon for an eight-yard touchdown. Rafael Septien answered with a 44-yard field goal before a 49ers fumble gave Dallas a short field. Danny White capitalized by throwing a 26-yard touchdown to Tony Hill, moving the Cowboys ahead 10-7.
The lead continued to change hands during the second quarter. Montana escaped pressure and connected with Clark for a 20-yard touchdown, but Dallas responded after a pass-interference penalty moved the ball deep into San Francisco territory. Tony Dorsett completed the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, giving the Cowboys a 17-14 halftime advantage.
San Francisco moved back in front during the third quarter after linebacker Bobby Leopold intercepted White and returned the ball to the Dallas 13-yard line. Johnny Davis eventually scored from two yards out, putting the 49ers ahead 21-17. It was another costly swing in a game filled with turnovers and sudden changes in momentum.
Dallas answered in the fourth quarter. Septien’s 22-yard field goal cut the deficit to one before the defense recovered another San Francisco fumble near midfield. White then found Doug Cosbie for a 21-yard touchdown, restoring a 27-21 Cowboys lead with 10:41 remaining.
The Cowboys appeared ready to protect that advantage after Everson Walls recorded his second interception of Montana. Dallas drained nearly five minutes before punting, leaving San Francisco at its own 11-yard line with 4:54 remaining. Montana responded by directing an 89-yard drive, steadily moving the 49ers into scoring position through short passes, runs and a reverse to Solomon.
Facing third-and-three from the Dallas six, Montana rolled right while Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Larry Bethea applied pressure. He lofted the ball toward the back of the end zone, where Clark leapt above Walls and secured the six-yard touchdown. Ray Wersching’s extra point gave San Francisco a 28-27 lead with 51 seconds left.
The game was not over. White immediately connected with Drew Pearson for 31 yards, and Eric Wright’s tackle prevented Pearson from escaping for a potential touchdown. Dallas had reached the San Francisco 44 with 38 seconds remaining and needed only a field goal, but Lawrence Pillers beat the protection on the next play, forced White to fumble and allowed Jim Stuckey to recover.
This game belongs on the countdown because losses can be as historically significant as victories. “The Catch” did not immediately end Dallas’ relevance, the Cowboys returned to the NFC Championship Game the following season, but it became the symbolic transfer of NFC power. San Francisco advanced to its first Super Bowl, defeated Cincinnati and began a run that produced four championships during the 1980s.
Interesting Facts About the Game
The catch made by Clark that sealed the win for the 49ers is still hotly debated today. Was Montana trying to throw out of bounds and got lucky? Was it directed pass intended for Clark? Let the debate continue
Countdown to kickoff
100, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 62, 61, 60, 59, 58, 57,56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25
