The 1980 Dallas Cowboys season was their 21st in the league. The team improved their previous output of 11–5, winning twelve games. They qualified for the playoffs as an NFC Wild Card, but lost in the Conference Championship game. Dallas led the game 35–10 in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles rallied to lose by only 35–27. This forced Dallas to play an extra week in the playoffs and a road game in Atlanta in the Divisional Round. Dallas ultimately lost at Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game.