A 1993 Thanksgiving matchup at an ice-covered Texas Stadium ended with a blocked field goal, a recovery after a defensive lineman touched the ball, and a Miami upset that became one of the most replayed moments in Cowboys history.
With 15 seconds left and Dallas leading 14-13, a blocked 41-yard field goal was touched by Leon Lett on the frozen turf, allowing Miami to recover and kick the game-winning field goal.
This game is remembered less for the final score than for the visuals and aftermath — a rare error followed by a team response that preserved their championship drive.
# The setting: an icy Thanksgiving in Irving, 1993
Thursday, November 25, 1993, Texas Stadium. Freezing rain, snow and sleet coated the artificial turf. The temperature was around 32 degrees at kickoff and dropped into the 20s. The field became the dominant storyline: players and kickers struggled to stay upright while the game unfolded.
# What happened on the field
Miami opened the scoring when Keith Byars broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run. Dallas answered in the second quarter when Troy Aikman found rookie Kevin Williams for a four-yard touchdown. Williams later returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds left before halftime, a play that sent Dallas into the locker room leading 14-7.
Dallas didn't score again. Miami's Pete Stoyanovich kicked field goals of 20 and 31 yards to close the gap. Emmitt Smith carried the ball 16 times for 51 rushing yards and caught nine passes for 46 yards while dealing with a bruised quadriceps.
Late in the fourth quarter, Eddie Murray missed a 32-yard field goal for Dallas. Miami drove into range behind backup quarterback Steve DeBerg, converting a crucial fourth-down completion to Byars. With 15 seconds remaining, Stoyanovich lined up for a 41-yard attempt.
# The visual and emotional aftermath
Players and owner Jerry Jones were celebrating what looked like a Cowboys win moments before the final play. The sight of Lett slipping and touching the ball became one of the most replayed Thanksgiving images in NFL lore. The play is the enduring memory of the game, but the story includes more than a single mistake.
Jimmy Johnson refused to single out Lett for blame and publicly supported him after the loss. The team response was immediate: the Cowboys won their next five regular-season games and all three postseason contests, culminating in a Super Bowl XXVIII title that same season.
# Why this game is on the countdown
# Quick facts
# Bottom line
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