NFL game summary for 11/22/1979:
Dan Pastorini's 32-yard touchdown pass to Ken Burrough boosted Houston past state rival Dallas. Roger Staubach threw two touchdown passes and Tony Dorsett ran for one score as Dallas took a 21-17 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Houston regained the lead when Pastorini hit Mike Renfro with a 47-yard touchdown pass. Rafael Septien's 44-yard field goal gave Dallas a 24-23 lead before Pastorini and Burrough combined for the game-winning pass. Earl Campbell led all rushers with 195 yards on 33 carries. He had touchdown runs of 27 and 61 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.1 (9) | 142.5 (24) | 292.6 (21) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 137.2 (15) | 161.1 (11) | 298.3 (10) | 42 | |
 | OFFENSE | 146.1 (12) | 227.8 (2) | 373.9 (1) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 126.8 (10) | 157.9 (9) | 284.8 (8) | 20 |
Line: Cowboys by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (10-3-0) | 7 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 30 |
| Dallas Cowboys (8-5-0) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
( 0- 7) DAL Drew Pearson 56 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
( 7- 7) HOU Earl Campbell 61 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7-14) DAL Robert Newhouse 21 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(10-14) HOU Toni Fritsch 27 yard field goal
(10-21) DAL Tony Dorsett 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(17-21) HOU Earl Campbell 27 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(23-21) HOU Mike Renfro 47 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (kick failed)
(23-24) DAL Rafael Septien 44 yard field goal
(30-24) HOU Ken Burrough 32 yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
HOU DAL
First Downs: 17 20
Rushes-yards: 41-224 30-92
Yards/rush: 5.5 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 9-17-163-0 21-30-287-2
Sacked-yards: 1-9 1-8
Net pass yards: 154 279
Net yards/pass: 8.6 9.0
Total net yards: 378 371
Total plays: 59 (69% run) 61 (49% run)
Yards/play: 6.4 6.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 2-1
Turnovers: 0 3
Penalties-yards: 4-45 7-42
Attendance: 63,897
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 9 of 17 for 163 yards and 2 TDs DAL: Roger Staubach, 21 of 30 for 287 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 33 for 195 yards and 2 TDs; Tim Wilson, 4 for 17 yards; Rob Carpenter, 3 for 14 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 12 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 12 for 30 yards; Roger Staubach, 4 for 3 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 6 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 3 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Mike Renfro, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 2 for 16 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 29 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 10 yards DAL: Drew Pearson, 5 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Tony Dorsett, 5 for 36 yards; Preston Pearson, 3 for 16 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 29 yards; Jay Saldi, 2 for 26 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 19 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 51 yards; Carter Hartwig, 2 for 28 yards; Rich Ellender, 1 for 18 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 3 for 64 yards; Steve Wilson, 2 for 41 yards; Larry Brinson, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 1 for 7 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Vernon Perry, 1 for 9 yards; J.C. Wilson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 178 yards DAL: Danny White, 3 for 110 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 9 of 17 for 163 yards and 2 TDs DAL: Roger Staubach, 21 of 30 for 287 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 33 for 195 yards and 2 TDs; Tim Wilson, 4 for 17 yards; Rob Carpenter, 3 for 14 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for -2 yards DAL: Tony Dorsett, 12 for 54 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 12 for 30 yards; Roger Staubach, 4 for 3 yards; Drew Pearson, 1 for 6 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 3 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Mike Renfro, 2 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Mike Barber, 2 for 16 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 29 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 10 yards DAL: Drew Pearson, 5 for 118 yards and 1 TD; Tony Dorsett, 5 for 36 yards; Preston Pearson, 3 for 16 yards; Robert Newhouse, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Tony Hill, 2 for 29 yards; Jay Saldi, 2 for 26 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 19 yards; Doug Cosbie, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 51 yards; Carter Hartwig, 2 for 28 yards; Rich Ellender, 1 for 18 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 3 for 64 yards; Steve Wilson, 2 for 41 yards; Larry Brinson, 1 for 6 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 1 for 7 yards DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 13 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Vernon Perry, 1 for 9 yards; J.C. Wilson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 178 yards DAL: Danny White, 3 for 110 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 1/1 DAL: Rafael Septien, 1/1