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The Dallas Cowboys will play against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2024. John dives into the greatest Cowboys Thanksgiving moments.
While this season's game isn't likely to be iconic, due to both teams now missing their starting quarterbacks from Week 1, the Cowboys have a rich history and have produced some stunning moments throughout this game's history.
Let's dive into the best of times from this annual contest.
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Randy Moss Obliterates The Team That Passed Him Up
The year is 1998. The Dallas Cowboys had the opportunity to choose a future Hall of Fame wide receiver in the draft but instead chose to go with defensive end Greg Ellis from North Carolina. The Cowboys had told the now HOF wide receiver Randy Moss that they would draft him, but they didn't.
Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin went so far as to apologize to him after the draft. Moss was taken instead by the Minnesota Vikings. He had been having a solid rookie season up to that point, but then it came time to face the team that he felt had wronged him. And he made it pay.
The most iconic Thanksgiving stat line of all time:
- 3 catches
- 3 touchdowns @RandyMoss | #MaddenThanksgiving pic.twitter.com/Qu86rEyBCM— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2024
Moss put himself on the map in front of a national audience. He produced one of the most ridiculous stat lines of all time at his position -- he caught three passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns, immediately making Jerry Jones regret his decision not to pick him. Imagine what this game could've been if Moss and Irvin were on the same team.
History doesn't smile upon the timid. Moss made the Cowboys pay for their transgression.
Leon Lett Blows It For The Cowboys
On Thanksgiving Day in 1993, the Miami Dolphins set up to kick a game-winning field goal against the Dallas Cowboys. It appeared that all hope was lost for them when the kick was blocked. However, in a now historically infamous gaffe, Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett touched the ball, giving Miami another chance at life.
November 25, 1993
Leon Lett.#DallasCowboys #GoFinspic.twitter.com/0Tcc7cHNHp— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) November 25, 2024
The Dolphins then recovered the ball, thus picking up a first down by rule. They would later nail the game-winning field goal. Lett's error cost his team an entire game that it was sure to win if he had simply walked away. Sometimes, it truly is better to do nothing -- you can be rewarded for laziness in the most special of scenarios.
Tony Romo Shreds The Buccaneers In His First Year As Starter
Finally, something that wasn't a negative for America's team! Former Cowboys longtime quarterback Tony Romo emerged as a great NFL quarterback on Thanksgiving Day in 2006 when he destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tossing five touchdowns in a 38-10 rout.
On Thanksgiving. In only his 5th career start…@tonyromo tied a @dallascowboys record with 5 passing TDs against the Buccaneers in 2006! #TBvsDAL (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/hYR92CpESl
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2019
The Bucs were already 3-7, but Romo announced himself to the NFL and the country on national television. He would go on to have a long and excellent career as the signal-caller for the Cowboys. As they say, the rest is history.
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