NFL game summary for 09/23/1974:
The Eagles' offense continued to sputter and finished the game without a touchdown for the second straight week, but a 45-yard field goal by Tom Dempsey with 25 seconds remaining provided the margin of victory over the Cowboys. Philadelphia's touchdown came on a 96-yard return of a recovered fumble (fourth longest in NFL history) by cornerback Joe Lavender, after Dallas' rookie Doug Dennison lost the ball at the Eagles' 1-yard line. Dempsey added a 33-yard field goal. Dallas wide receiver Drew Pearson had the best single game receiving performance of the season in the NFC with 10 catches for 161 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 205.0 (2) | 206.0 (4) | 411.0 (2) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 64.0 (1) | 44.0 (1) | 108.0 (1) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 113.0 (19) | 174.0 (6) | 287.0 (9) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 126.0 (11) | 192.0 (22) | 318.0 (20) | 3 |
Line: Cowboys by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (1-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Philadelphia Eagles (1-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
( 7- 0) DAL Doug Dennison 3 yard rush (Mac Percival kick)
( 7- 7) PHI Joe Lavender 96 yard fumble return (Tom Dempsey kick)
( 7-10) PHI Tom Dempsey 33 yard field goal
(10-10) DAL Mac Percival 26 yard field goal
(10-13) PHI Tom Dempsey 45 yard field goal
DAL PHI
First Downs: 20 5
Rushes-yards: 41-168 29-98
Yards/rush: 4.1 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-33-217-2 6-14-92-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-25
Net pass yards: 217 67
Net yards/pass: 6.6 3.9
Total net yards: 385 165
Total plays: 74 (55% run) 46 (63% run)
Yards/play: 5.2 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 3-2
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 5-35 2-8
Attendance: 64,089
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 19 of 33 for 217 yards (2 int) PHI: Roman Gabriel, 6 of 14 for 92 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Robert Newhouse, 22 for 97 yards; Walt Garrison, 11 for 31 yards; Doug Dennison, 4 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Roger Staubach, 2 for 15 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 8 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 6 yards PHI: Tom Sullivan, 16 for 57 yards; Norm Bulaich, 7 for 17 yards; Po James, 3 for 15 yards; Roman Gabriel, 3 for 9 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 10 for 161 yards; Walt Garrison, 3 for 14 yards; Golden Richards, 2 for 19 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 16 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 5 yards PHI: Harold Carmichael, 2 for 45 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 7 yards; Po James, 1 for 34 yards; Tom Sullivan, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Dennis Morgan, 2 for 59 yards; Doug Dennison, 1 for 6 yards; Les Strayhorn, 1 for 1 yard PHI: Randy Jackson, 2 for 34 yards; Po James, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Golden Richards, 1 for 15 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 10 yards; Mel Renfro, 1 for 0 yards PHI: Bill Bradley, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 24 yards PHI: Jerry Patton, 1 for 4 yards; Randy Logan, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DAL: Marv Bateman, 5 for 180 yards PHI: Merritt Kersey, 8 for 286 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mac Percival, 1/4 PHI: Tom Dempsey, 2/2
DAL: Roger Staubach, 19 of 33 for 217 yards (2 int) PHI: Roman Gabriel, 6 of 14 for 92 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Robert Newhouse, 22 for 97 yards; Walt Garrison, 11 for 31 yards; Doug Dennison, 4 for 11 yards and 1 TD; Roger Staubach, 2 for 15 yards; Calvin Hill, 1 for 8 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 6 yards PHI: Tom Sullivan, 16 for 57 yards; Norm Bulaich, 7 for 17 yards; Po James, 3 for 15 yards; Roman Gabriel, 3 for 9 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 10 for 161 yards; Walt Garrison, 3 for 14 yards; Golden Richards, 2 for 19 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 2 for 2 yards; Bob Hayes, 1 for 16 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 5 yards PHI: Harold Carmichael, 2 for 45 yards; Norm Bulaich, 2 for 7 yards; Po James, 1 for 34 yards; Tom Sullivan, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Dennis Morgan, 2 for 59 yards; Doug Dennison, 1 for 6 yards; Les Strayhorn, 1 for 1 yard PHI: Randy Jackson, 2 for 34 yards; Po James, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Golden Richards, 1 for 15 yards; Cliff Harris, 1 for 10 yards; Mel Renfro, 1 for 0 yards PHI: Bill Bradley, 1 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 24 yards PHI: Jerry Patton, 1 for 4 yards; Randy Logan, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
DAL: Marv Bateman, 5 for 180 yards PHI: Merritt Kersey, 8 for 286 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Mac Percival, 1/4 PHI: Tom Dempsey, 2/2