The Dallas Cowboys walked off Texas Stadium with a wild 37-26 NFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 16, 1983, but it was Dennis Thurman's unbelievable individual performance that truly made it one for the history books. This game, revisited on Day 62 of the iconic Cowboys countdown, wasn't just a win; it was a masterclass in timely offense and clutch defense from a team battling through a truly unique season.
A Strike-Shortened Season Kicks Off in Style
The 1982 season was already crazy, shortened to just nine regular-season games by a players' strike, then capped off with a special 16-team "Super Bowl Tournament" playoff. Dallas, rocking as the NFC's number two seed, squared off against the third-seeded Packers in a second-round playoff clash packed with postseason history. With Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett in their backfield, the 'Boys started hot, and in an absolutely unusual way! Rafael Septién nailed a 50-yard field goal on the very first drive. Then, just when you thought it couldn't get wilder, Green Bay's Del Rodgers fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Jeff Rohrer scooped it up for Dallas! Septién then added another field goal from 34 yards, putting Dallas up 6-0. Get this: the Cowboys had run 19 straight offensive plays before Green Bay even got a first down. After Green Bay's Lynn Dickey finally connected with James Lofton for a six-yard touchdown to give them a brief 7-6 lead, Dallas responded with an 80-yard drive capped by a two-yard Timmy Newsome touchdown run. The momentum shifted like a pendulum, but then came the play that started turning Dennis Thurman's afternoon into pure franchise lore: with only 1:13 left in the half, Thurman picked off Dickey and took it 39 yards to the house! That gave Dallas a commanding 20-7 lead heading into halftime. Talk about a statement!
Trading Blows in an All-Time Classic
But Green Bay wasn't going to roll over, not in a playoff game like this. Jan Stenerud hit field goals from 30 and 33 yards to try and close the gap, though Septién answered from 24 to keep Dallas ahead 23-13. Then Lofton struck again, and man, what a punch! He took off on a 71-yard touchdown run off a reverse! The missed extra point was huge, leaving Dallas ahead 23-19, but the Packers were absolutely alive, swinging with everything they had. Danny White and the Cowboys answered right back, with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Doug Cosbie, pushing the lead back to 30-19. But Green Bay had one more counterpunch, a gutsy move that kept us on the edge of our seats. Mark Lee intercepted White and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown, cutting Dallas' lead to 30-26 midway through the final quarter. This game had everything: defense, timely offense, and unbelievable individual plays, making it memorable for sure.
With the 2026 opening game just around the corner, looking back at classics like this 1983 playoff thriller reminds us what makes NFL football so great. Every single snap, every fumble, every pick-six matters, especially when the stakes are this high. This legendary showdown with the Packers is a perfect example of how a team can dominate early, face adversity, and still pull out a victory fueled by grit and a few incredible individual performances. We're counting down the days to see what new iconic moments the 2026 season will bring!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.