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The Greatest In-Season NFL Turnaround For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans congratulates J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans after a tackle in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans congratulates J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans after a tackle in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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8 Dec 1996: Offensive lineman Nate Newton of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from his stance during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game, 10-6.
8 Dec 1996: Offensive lineman Nate Newton of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from his stance during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game, 10-6. /

Dallas Cowboys:  1996

It was clear to all that the Dallas Cowboys were like an aging king trying to survive his final years on the throne. Age and free agency had gutted the once powerhouse franchise as many of their great players from the previous three Super Bowl teams were retired or elsewhere. Still, they felt they had enough left built around their star trio of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmett Smith to make another run before the window closed.

Then the first month of the 1996 season arrived. Dallas lost three of their first four games, marking the worst start to a season they’d had in seven years. The offense scored six and seven points in two of those three defeats. It was wondered if they had any magic left to draw on. The fifth game didn’t start well with the Eagles taking a 10-7 lead in the 1st quarter.

After that, the Cowboys responded. They did enough to eek out a 23-19 win and then hit their bye. That time off gave them a much-needed breather than they used wisely. They won eight of their remaining 11 games to finish 10-6 and crushed in the wild card round 40-15. It was the last glimpse of that greatness they had before it slipped off into the mists of time.

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