​Today marks Day 65 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff as we revisit one of the true turning-point wins in modern Cowboys history. We’re looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys lore, a countdown that will carry us straight to the 2026 opening game. Our rankings aren’t based on a single criterion; we weigh factors such as the game’s significance for the organization, its memorability, moments that featured unusual events, games that have become part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and performances where Dallas simply dominated. Variety is the spice of life, and we’re reviewing a broad spectrum of Cowboys games. At the bottom, you’ll find links to each day of the countdown so you can revisit any entries you may have missed.
Today’s spotlight is a pivotal clash from Week 13 of the 1991 season, when Dallas traveled to RFK Stadium as a 6-5 club still proving that Jimmy Johnson’s rebuilding project had real teeth. Washington entered the game 11-0, undefeated and on a path toward contending for Super Bowl XXVI. The Skins landed the first blow, with Martin Mayhew picking off Troy Aikman and returning it 31 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter. Facing an undefeated rival in their house, that early 7-0 deficit could have kicked off a long, demoralizing afternoon. Instead, the Cowboys answered with the fearless, relentless football that would become Johnson’s hallmark.
Emmitt Smith ignited Dallas’ response in the second quarter with a 32-yard touchdown run, a gutsy third-and-15 draw that has since become one of the defining plays of the game. Dallas then seized the lead right before halftime when Aikman connected with Alvin Harper for a 34-yard touchdown as time expired in the second, giving the visitors a 14-7 edge. The swing wasn’t just the points on the board; it demonstrated that Dallas was willing to attack rather than simply weather the storm. They went into Washington’s building and forced the previously unbeaten team to chase them.
The second half brought its own tests. Aikman left with a knee injury early in the third quarter, and Steve Beuerlein had to step in. Rather than crumble, the Cowboys kept pressing. Early in the fourth quarter, Beuerlein connected with Michael Irvin for a 23-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7 and delivering one of the early career “Playmaker” moments for Irvin. Washington fought back. Gerald Riggs punched it in from the one to pull within seven, and after Ken Willis added a 42-yard field goal, Mark Rypien found Ricky Sanders for a 29-yard score in the final minute to cut the deficit to 24-21. The Cowboys, however, recovered the onside kick and closed out one of the most significant regular-season upsets in franchise history.
This game earns its place on the countdown because it foreshadowed what lay ahead. The Cowboys weren’t champions yet, but they walked into the home of the eventual Super Bowl champion and announced their presence in no uncertain terms. This victory carried the weight of a turning point, signaling the arrival of a resilient, ambitious Dallas team that would redefine the franchise in the years to come.