2006 Dallas Cowboys

A slightly improved record of 9 and 7 was still not satisfactory to the Dallas Cowboys, who finished the year behind the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins in the always contentious NFC East. Just the same, the Cowboys sold plenty of tickets to their devoted fans at Texas Stadium, an average of over 63,000 tickets per game.

Owner Jerry Jones has brought the explosive wide-receiver Terrell Owens over from Philadelphia, and now Coach Bill Parcells has the challenge of seeing that Owens' firepower is seen only on the field. Will he be what QBs Tony Romo and Drew Bledsoe need to lead the Pokes back to the Super Bowl they once considered their second home? Less attention has been focused on other potential plusses: the Cowboys drafted a lot of talent and good attitude including LB Bobby Carpenter from Ohio State and TE Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame. They also brought on the most accurate kicker in NFL history, Mike Vanderjagt, because they don't ever want to lose on account of a missed field goal.

Some Dallas Cowboy history: Dallas is one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, having appeared in eight Super Bowls -- more than any other team. The Cowboys won five of these games, a record matched by the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tom Landry, a legend in professional football history, coached the club to two Super Bowl victories during the 1970s, with teams starring quarterback Roger Staubach. Dressed in a jacket, tie, and trademark hat, Landry was a familiar sight on the Dallas Cowboys sideline from 1960 to 1988. During his 29-year career the Hall of Fame strategist guided the Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and compiled 270 career wins.

The Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. During its first season, the team failed to win a single game. In 1965, under Landry, the Cowboys earned their first of nine consecutive trips to the playoffs. Quarterback Don Meredith, receiver Bob Hayes, and running back Dan Reeves propelled Dallas to consecutive NFL Championship Games in 1966 and 1967. Both years, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Cowboys and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Dallas reached Super Bowl V in 1971 after defeating the Houston Oilers and the Detroit Lions in the playoffs. The NFL crown evaded the Cowboys, however, as they lost the game on a last-minute field goal by the Baltimore Colts. The franchise won its first Super Bowl in 1972, besting the Miami Dolphins 24-3.

Dallas entered a rebuilding phase in the late 1980s, and after three consecutive losing seasons, Landry retired in 1989. Landry's replacement was former University of Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson. After two losing seasons he guided Dallas back to the postseason in 1991. Johnson earned coach of the year honors in 1990 for his rebuilding success. With lineups featuring quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith, Dallas captured back-to-back Super Bowls in 1993 and 1994, routing the Buffalo Bills in both games.

After a disagreement with team owner Jerry Jones, Johnson left the Cowboys. Former University of Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer then headed the team from 1994 to 1997. Switzer guided the franchise to a fifth Super Bowl success with a victory over the Steelers in 1996, and the Cowboys became the first team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons. However, in the late 1990s the Cowboys struggled and had little postseason success.