1963 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1963 Dallas Cowboys season was their fourth in the league. The Cowboys became the only professional football team in Dallas, when the Texans of the AFL announced their move to Kansas City. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 5–8–1, winning only four games.[1] The Cowboys didn't qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
1 |
September 14, 1963 |
St. Louis Cardinals |
L 34–7 |
36,432 |
2 |
September 22, 1963 |
Cleveland Browns |
L 41–24 |
28,710 |
3 |
September 29, 1963 |
at Washington Redskins |
L 21–17 |
40,101 |
4 |
October 6, 1963 |
at Philadelphia Eagles |
L 24–21 |
60,671 |
5 |
October 13, 1963 |
Detroit Lions |
W 17–14 |
27,264 |
6 |
October 20, 1963 |
at New York Giants |
L 37–21 |
62,889 |
7 |
October 27, 1963 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 27–21 |
19,047 |
8 |
November 3, 1963 |
Washington Redskins |
W 35–20 |
18,838 |
9 |
November 10, 1963 |
at San Francisco 49ers |
L 31–24 |
29,563 |
10 |
November 17, 1963 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
W 27–20 |
23,694 |
11 |
November 24, 1963 |
at Cleveland Browns |
L 27–17 |
55,096 |
12 |
December 1, 1963 |
New York Giants |
L 34–27 |
29,653 |
13 |
December 8, 1963 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 24–19 |
24,136 |
14 |
December 15, 1963 |
at St. Louis Cardinals |
W 28–24 |
12,695 |
Game summaries
Week 5
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Lions |
0 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
14 |
• Cowboys |
0 |
7 | 0 | 10 |
17 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Clarke 11 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 7–0 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Baker 13 yard field goal | DAL 10–0 |
|
Q4 |
| DET | Cogdill 30 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick) | DAL 10–7 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Marsh 41 yard run (Baker kick) | DAL 17–7 |
|
Q4 |
| DET | Cogdill 70 yard pass from Morrall (Walker kick) | DAL 17–14 |
|
[2]
Week 8
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Redskins |
0 |
10 | 3 | 7 |
20 |
• Cowboys |
7 |
7 | 7 | 14 |
35 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| DAL | Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 7–0 |
|
Q2 |
| WSH | Dugan 41 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick) | Tie 7–7 |
|
Q2 |
| WSH | Khayat 12 yard field goal | WSH 10–7 |
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Clarke 13 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 14–10 |
|
Q3 |
| WSH | Khayat 49 yard field goal | DAL 14–13 |
|
Q3 |
| DAL | Folkins 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 21–13 |
|
Q4 |
| WSH | Dugan 19 yard pass from Snead (Khayat kick) | DAL 21–20 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Stiger 7 yard run (Baker kick) | DAL 28–20 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Clarke 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 35–20 |
|
[3]
Week 10
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Eagles |
6 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
20 |
• Cowboys |
7 |
10 | 7 | 3 |
27 |
- Date: November 17
- Location: Cotton Bowl
- Game attendance: 23,694
- Game weather: 72°F; wind 18
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
| DAL | Norman 1 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
| PHI | McDonald 26 yard pass from Hill (kick failed) | DAL 7–6 |
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Perkins 2 yard run (Baker kick) | DAL 14–6 |
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Baker 33 yard field goal | DAL 17–6 |
|
Q3 |
| DAL | Clarke 14 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 24–6 |
|
Q3 |
| PHI | Brown 24 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick) | DAL 24–13 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Baker 27 yard field goal | DAL 27–13 |
|
Q4 |
| PHI | Retzlaff 16 yard pass from Hill (Clark kick) | DAL 27–20 |
|
[4]
Week 14
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Cowboys |
0 |
14 | 0 | 14 |
28 |
Cardinals |
0 |
14 | 10 | 0 |
24 |
- Date: December 15
- Location: Busch Stadium
- Game weather: 6°F; wind 11
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Meredith 1 yard run (Baker kick) | DAL 7–0 |
|
Q2 |
| STL | Randle 62 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick) | Tie 7–7 |
|
Q2 |
| STL | Triplett 16 yard pass from Johnson (Bakken kick) | STL 14–7 |
|
Q2 |
| DAL | Lilly 42 yard fumble return (Baker kick) | Tie 14–14 |
|
Q3 |
| STL | Wilson 35 yard run (Bakken kick) | STL 21–14 |
|
Q3 |
| STL | Bakken 11 yard field goal | STL 24–14 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Norman 12 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | STL 24–21 |
|
Q4 |
| DAL | Clarke 25 yard pass from Meredith (Baker kick) | DAL 28–24 |
|
[5]
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Season recap
The Cowboys were expecting to turn their fortunes around and have a good year, but won only 3 of their first 10 games. The assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, stands out as a pivotal moment in the season. Not only was the nation's psyche impacted by this event, but also the image of the city of Dallas was tarnished. On November 24, just two days after this historic event, the NFL decided to play its normal schedule of games, with the Cowboys traveling to face the Cleveland Browns. On game day when the team was introduced, the public address announcer would not say the Dallas Cowboys, they were just the Cowboys. The crowd also vented their frustration and pain at the players during the contest. The Cowboys lost that day 17–27 and would go on to have only one more win in the remaining 3 games.
On September 29, 1963, Billy Howton became the NFL's all-time receiving leader, breaking Don Hutson's record for career receptions and receiving yards. He retired at the end of the year, after playing in 12 seasons with 503 catches, 8,459 yards and 61 touchdowns.
Roster
Dallas Cowboys 1963 roster |
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics
40 Active, 1 Inactive |
References
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Franchise | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Division championships (22) | |
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Conference championships (10) | |
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League Championships (5) | |
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Ring of Honor | |
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Media | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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Seasons (56) | |
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Championship seasons in bold |