<P> In 1995, Jones made a huge free agent splash by signing All - Pro corner Deion Sanders away from San Francisco . Dallas posted another two catch touchdown regular season record and NFC East crown . Emmitt Smith won his Third rushing title and scored a then NFL record 25 rushing touchdowns . After crushing the Eagles 30 - 11 in the divisional playoffs, the Cowboys earned their 8th NFC Championship title by defeating the Green Bay Packers 38--27 at Texas Stadium . The Cowboys then topped the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX 27--17, avenging two four - point losses to Pittsburgh in Super Bowls X and XIII . Coach Switzer followed Johnson to become the second coach to claim a National Championship in college football and a Super Bowl victory in professional football . Only one other coach, Pete Carroll, has since accomplished this feat . To date, this is the most recent Super Bowl appearance for the Cowboys . </P> <P> Injuries and off - field incidents deviled the 1996 Cowboys . Novacek, possibly Aikman's most trusted target, suffered an off - season back injury that ended his career . Irvin was convicted of narcotics possession and suspended for the first five games of the season . In December defensive tackle Leon Lett was given a one - year suspension for failing a narcotics test . Late in the season Irvin and Williams drew national attention when they were accused of assaulting a Dallas woman, although the allegations were later recanted . Haley and Emmitt Smith were also plagued by injuries during the season . Yet Dallas still managed to earn its fifth consecutive NFC East title with a 10--6 record . The Cowboys thumped the Vikings 40 - 15 in the first round of the playoffs, then traveled to Carolina, where they lost to the upstart Panthers 26 - 17 after Irvin and Sanders left the game with injuries . </P> <P> Preseason pundits again put the Cowboys at the top of the NFC in 1997 . However, Dallas finished the season with a disappointing 6--10 record as continued discipline and off - field problems became major distractions . Switzer was arrested during the preseason after a handgun was found in his luggage at an airport metal detector . The team collapsed down the stretch, losing its final 5 games . Switzer resigned as head coach in January 1998 and was replaced by former Steelers offensive coordinator Chan Gailey . </P> <P> After missing the playoffs in 1997, Gailey led the team to a 10--6 record in 1998 as Dallas became the first NFC East team to sweep the division . The Cowboys suffered a humiliating first - round playoff exit, however, when the Arizona Cardinals defeated them at Texas Stadium 20--7 for their first postseason victory in half a century . Jones raised hopes in the off - season, though, signing fleet - footed wide receiver Raghib "Rocket" Ismail . </P>

When was the last time cowboys beat the patriots