NFL game summary for 12/16/1979:
Roger Staubach hit Tony Hill with an eight-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds remaining to give the Cowboys the NFC East crown and eliminate the Redskins from the playoff race. Staubach, who completed 24 of 42 passes for 336 yards, threw two scoring passes in the final four minutes to bring the Cowboys back from a 34-21 deficit.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 141.5 (15) | 160.6 (22) | 302.1 (19) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 136.0 (14) | 178.1 (16) | 314.1 (16) | 44 | |
 | OFFENSE | 146.4 (11) | 217.8 (5) | 364.2 (2) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 128.2 (11) | 156.8 (6) | 285.1 (7) | 24 |
Line: Cowboys by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins (10-6-0) | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 34 |
| Dallas Cowboys (11-5-0) | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
( 3- 0) WAS Mark Moseley 24 yard field goal
(10- 0) WAS Joe Theismann 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(17- 0) WAS Benny Malone 55 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick)
(17- 7) DAL Ron Springs 1 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(17-14) DAL Preston Pearson 26 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(17-21) DAL Robert Newhouse 2 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick)
(20-21) WAS Mark Moseley 24 yard field goal
(27-21) WAS John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(34-21) WAS John Riggins 66 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
(34-28) DAL Ron Springs 26 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
(34-35) DAL Tony Hill 8 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick)
WAS DAL
First Downs: 21 27
Rushes-yards: 39-206 30-114
Yards/rush: 5.3 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-23-200-0 24-42-336-1
Sacked-yards: 4-33 5-16
Net pass yards: 167 320
Net yards/pass: 6.2 6.8
Total net yards: 373 434
Total plays: 66 (59% run) 77 (38% run)
Yards/play: 5.7 5.6
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-2
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 5-43 5-74
Attendance: 62,867
Passing:
WAS: Joe Theismann, 12 of 23 for 200 yards and 1 TD DAL: Roger Staubach, 24 of 42 for 336 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 22 for 151 yards and 2 TDs; Benny Malone, 7 for 20 yards; Joe Theismann, 5 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 2 for 9 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 8 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 2 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 20 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 9 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Danny Buggs, 2 for 49 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 31 yards; Ricky Thompson, 2 for 19 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 19 yards; Benny Malone, 1 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 1 for 14 yards; Don Warren, 1 for 9 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 8 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 6 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 5 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 1 for 20 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 14 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 14 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 5 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Bobby Hammond, 6 for 123 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 6 for 71 yards; Wade Manning, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 1 for 7 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Mark Murphy, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 5 for 190 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 212 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 2/2
WAS: Joe Theismann, 12 of 23 for 200 yards and 1 TD DAL: Roger Staubach, 24 of 42 for 336 yards and 3 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: John Riggins, 22 for 151 yards and 2 TDs; Benny Malone, 7 for 20 yards; Joe Theismann, 5 for 16 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 2 for 9 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 8 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 2 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 20 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Robert Newhouse, 9 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Butch Johnson, 1 for 13 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Danny Buggs, 2 for 49 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 31 yards; Ricky Thompson, 2 for 19 yards; John McDaniel, 2 for 19 yards; Benny Malone, 1 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 1 for 14 yards; Don Warren, 1 for 9 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 4 yards DAL: Tony Hill, 8 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Ron Springs, 6 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 5 for 108 yards and 1 TD; Drew Pearson, 1 for 20 yards; Butch Johnson, 1 for 14 yards; Jay Saldi, 1 for 14 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 5 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Bobby Hammond, 6 for 123 yards DAL: Ron Springs, 6 for 71 yards; Wade Manning, 1 for 22 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Wade Manning, 1 for 7 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Mark Murphy, 1 for 13 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 5 for 190 yards DAL: Danny White, 5 for 212 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 2/2