NFL game summary for 09/02/1979:
Rafael Septien's 27-yard field goal with 1:15 left lilted Dallas to an NFL record fifteenth straight opening day win. Dallas took a 19-14 lead in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard touchdown pass from running back Ron Springs to wide receiver Tony Hill. St. Louis regained the lead nine minutes later when rookie Ottis Anderson, who rushed for 193 yards on 21 carries, scored on a 76-yard run. Wade Manning returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the St. Louis 48, where Dallas started its winning drive.
Line: Cowboys by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dallas Cowboys (1-0-0) | 3 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 22 |
 St. Louis Cardinals (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
( 3- 0) DAL Rafael Septien 37 yard field goal (10- 0) DAL Robert Newhouse 4 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick) (10- 7) STL Al Chandler 2 yard pass from Jim Hart (Mike Wood kick) (13- 7) DAL Rafael Septien 24 yard field goal (13-14) STL Pat Tilley 18 yard pass from Jim Hart (Mike Wood kick) (19-14) DAL Tony Hill 30 yard pass from Ron Springs (kick failed) (19-21) STL Ottis Anderson 76 yard rush (Mike Wood kick) (22-21) DAL Rafael Septien 27 yard field goal
DAL STL
First Downs: 24 17
Rushes-yards: 41-161 32-237
Yards/rush: 3.9 7.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-35-299-0 12-29-112-2
Sacked-yards: 1-5 1-7
Net pass yards: 294 105
Net yards/pass: 8.2 3.5
Total net yards: 455 342
Total plays: 77 (53% run) 62 (51% run)
Yards/play: 5.9 5.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 6-35 6-50
Attendance: 50,855
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 20 of 34 for 269 yards; Ron Springs, 1 of 1 for 30 yards and 1 TD STL: Jim Hart, 12 of 29 for 112 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Robert Newhouse, 18 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 15 for 30 yards; Larry Brinson, 2 for 9 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 0 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 9 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 6 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 0 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for -1 yards STL: Ottis Anderson, 21 for 193 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 10 for 41 yards; Willard Harrell, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Hill, 5 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 5 for 99 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 32 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 19 yards; Doug Cosbie, 2 for 12 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 10 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 9 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 5 yards STL: Wayne Morris, 4 for 28 yards; Al Chandler, 4 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Mel Gray, 2 for 32 yards; Pat Tilley, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 3 for 83 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 4 for 97 yards; Roy Green, 1 for 33 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 3 for 10 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Aaron Kyle, 2 for 0 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 195 yards STL: Steve Little, 6 for 229 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 3/4 STL: Mike Wood, 0/1
DAL: Roger Staubach, 20 of 34 for 269 yards; Ron Springs, 1 of 1 for 30 yards and 1 TD STL: Jim Hart, 12 of 29 for 112 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
DAL: Robert Newhouse, 18 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 15 for 30 yards; Larry Brinson, 2 for 9 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 0 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 9 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 6 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 0 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for -1 yards STL: Ottis Anderson, 21 for 193 yards and 1 TD; Wayne Morris, 10 for 41 yards; Willard Harrell, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Tony Hill, 5 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 5 for 99 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 32 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 19 yards; Doug Cosbie, 2 for 12 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 10 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 9 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 5 yards STL: Wayne Morris, 4 for 28 yards; Al Chandler, 4 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Mel Gray, 2 for 32 yards; Pat Tilley, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 3 for 83 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 4 for 97 yards; Roy Green, 1 for 33 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 3 for 10 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 1 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
DAL: Aaron Kyle, 2 for 0 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 5 for 195 yards STL: Steve Little, 6 for 229 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 3/4 STL: Mike Wood, 0/1