Dallas Cowboys Top 10 Thanksgiving Memories: Dominance to ... Dolly Parton

From Clint Longley in the clutch to Leon Lett in the snow, the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving is always a traditional, appetizing feast. ... Our Top 10 Memories, with Dolly Parton up next!

New year. Old tradition. Older rival.

When the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Commanders on Thursday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, it will be about Dolly Parton, the Salvation Army and all the other familiar Thanksgiving trimmings entered around - not turkey - but football. The Cowboys can stay in the thick of the NFC East race, while fans and viewers savor one of the richest, most iconic traditions in American sports.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

A year on Thanksgiving the Cowboys beat the New York Giants in a game in which their four touchdowns were scored by players no longer on the roster: Dalton Schultz (two), Ezekiel Elliott and Peyton Hendershot.

For all but two years - the St. Louis Cardinals took Dallas' place in 1975 and '77 - since former executive Tex Schramm volunteered his team to play on a holiday in 1966, the Cowboys' late-afternoon kickoff has been a Thanksgiving staple. The turkey and dressing. Relatives and heartburn, both of which painfully linger. The post-lunch nap, which is always too short. The Salvation Army's red kettle. The grand halftime musical act, this year featuring one of the queens of country music - Dolly.

More often than not - with a turkey-day record of 32-22-1 - a Cowboys' win is also on the menu. Through the years Thanksgiving has provided indelible memories - good and bad. Our Top 10:

10. 2012 - Washington 38, Cowboys 31: Scintillating rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III burns the turkey and splatters the dressing with three second-quarter touchdown passes en route to a bewildering 28-3 halftime lead.

9. 1987 - Vikings 44, Cowboys 38 (OT): Darrin Nelson’s game-ending, 24-yard touchdown run overcomes Danny White’s five touchdowns and drops 5-6 Dallas out of the playoff race.

8. 2005 - Broncos 24, Cowboys 21 (OT): After Billy Cundiff misses a 34-yard field goal late in regulation, Denver’s Ron Dayne sets up the heart-breaking loss with a 55-yard rumble.

7. 2016 - Cowboys 31, Redskins 26: Dallas pushes its win streak to 10 by getting a combined four touchdowns from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott and surviving a wild 34-point fourth quarter by recovering a late onside kick.

6. 1998 - Vikings 46, Cowboys 36: Rookie receiver Randy Moss haunts the team that passed him over for Greg Ellis in the draft with three touchdowns and 163 yards receiving.

Thanksgiving's menu this year features Cowboys, Commanders and Dolly Parton / Dallas Cowboys

5. 2011 - Cowboys 20, Dolphins 19: A 10-play drive fueled by Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray eats up the final five minutes and sets up Dan Bailey’s game-winning 28-yard field on the game’s final play.

4. 1989 - Eagles 27, Cowboys 0: Philly’s Buddy Ryan injects some “Bounty Bowl” humiliation with a $200 reward for one of his players taking out Cowboys’ kicker Luis Zendejas.

3. 1994 - Cowboys 42, Packers 31: With Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete sidelined with injuries and his team trailing 17-3, Jason Garrett steps in and throws for 311 yards and leads Dallas to a record 36 second-half points.

Thanksgiving Appetizer: Cowboys Feast On Another Tasty Opponent in Devouring Panthers - Top 10 Observations

2. 1993 - Dolphins 16, Cowboys 14: Ice storm. Leon Lett. You know the rest. Grumble mumble …

1. 1974 - Cowboys 24, Redskins 23: Replacing an injured Roger Staubach, Abilene Christian rookie Clint Longley — making his first NFL appearance — orchestrates a dramatic and improbable rally, climaxed by a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds remaining.

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