NFL game summary for 10/21/1979:
Roger Staubach threw two touchdown passes and Tony Dorsett posted his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game to help Dallas take sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Staubach's scoring passes of 10 yards each to Billy Joe DuPree and Tony Hill preceded St. Louis rookie Roy Green's record-tying 106-yard kickoff return. Rafael Septien kicked field goals of 29 and 51 yards and the Cowboys' defense added a safety and seven quarterback sacks.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 147.7 (12) | 177.7 (13) | 325.4 (11) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 121.0 (6) | 171.6 (17) | 292.6 (11) | 18 | |
 | OFFENSE | 181.4 (2) | 223.6 (3) | 405.0 (1) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 115.1 (5) | 163.1 (14) | 278.3 (8) | 15 |
Line: Cowboys by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (2-6-0) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Dallas Cowboys (7-1-0) | 3 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
( 0- 3) DAL Rafael Septien 51 yard field goal
( 3- 3) STL Steve Little 51 yard field goal
( 6- 3) STL Steve Little 41 yard field goal
( 6-10) DAL Billy Joe DuPree 10 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 6-17) DAL Tony Hill 10 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(13-17) STL Roy Green 106 yard kickoff return (Steve Little kick)
(13-19) DAL Safety, ball kicked through end zone
(13-22) DAL Rafael Septien 29 yard field goal
STL DAL
First Downs: 18 12
Rushes-yards: 33-137 32-155
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-38-156-0 11-25-164-2
Sacked-yards: 7-58 0-0
Net pass yards: 98 164
Net yards/pass: 2.2 6.6
Total net yards: 235 319
Total plays: 78 (42% run) 57 (56% run)
Yards/play: 3.0 5.6
Fumbles-lost: 4-2 1-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 4-36 6-55
Attendance: 64,300
Passing:
STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 38 for 156 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 11 of 25 for 164 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
STL: Ottis Anderson, 20 for 105 yards; Wayne Morris, 8 for 23 yards; Theotis Brown, 3 for 9 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards; Steve Little, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 20 for 111 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 21 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 4 for 12 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 9 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
STL: Ottis Anderson, 5 for 39 yards; Jimmy Childs, 2 for 26 yards; Gary Parris, 2 for 18 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 17 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 10 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 24 yards; Theotis Brown, 1 for 11 yards; Dave Stief, 1 for 11 yards DAL: Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Tony Dorsett, 2 for 16 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 29 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 28 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 12 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
STL: Roy Green, 2 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Willard Harrell, 1 for 31 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 2 for 41 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 32 yards; Ron Springs, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Roy Green, 2 for 13 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Ken Stone, 1 for 21 yards; Carl Allen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
STL: Steve Little, 5 for 249 yards DAL: Danny White, 6 for 260 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Steve Little, 2/4 DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/3
STL: Jim Hart, 16 of 38 for 156 yards DAL: Roger Staubach, 11 of 25 for 164 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
STL: Ottis Anderson, 20 for 105 yards; Wayne Morris, 8 for 23 yards; Theotis Brown, 3 for 9 yards; Jim Hart, 1 for 0 yards; Steve Little, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 20 for 111 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 21 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 4 for 12 yards; Roger Staubach, 1 for 9 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
STL: Ottis Anderson, 5 for 39 yards; Jimmy Childs, 2 for 26 yards; Gary Parris, 2 for 18 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 17 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 10 yards; Pat Tilley, 1 for 24 yards; Theotis Brown, 1 for 11 yards; Dave Stief, 1 for 11 yards DAL: Billy Joe DuPree, 3 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Tony Dorsett, 2 for 16 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 29 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 28 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 12 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
STL: Roy Green, 2 for 125 yards and 1 TD; Willard Harrell, 1 for 31 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 2 for 41 yards; Tony Hill, 1 for 32 yards; Ron Springs, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Roy Green, 2 for 13 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 20 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Ken Stone, 1 for 21 yards; Carl Allen, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
STL: Steve Little, 5 for 249 yards DAL: Danny White, 6 for 260 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Steve Little, 2/4 DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/3