- 2003 Dallas Cowboys season
Infobox NFL_season
team = Dallas Cowboys
year = 2003
record = 10-6
division_place = 2nd inNFC East
coach =Bill Parcells
stadium =Texas Stadium
playoffs = Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Panthers) 29-10Despite the release of
NFL iconEmmitt Smith , the Cowboys fortunes would begin to change with the introduction ofBill Parcells ashead coach .Parcells would begin to reshape the team, particularly on offense, with an overhaul of the coaching staff, including formerNew York Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton . Surprisingly,Parcells would retain much of the defensive staff, includingdefensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and maintain the teams basic4-3 defense instead of immediately installing the3-4 defense which was a trademark of allParcells 's prior teams. This would prove a wise decision, as the Cowboys would finish the season with the top ranked overall defense. Typical of his previous stops,Parcells would start to rebuild his team through the draft. In his first year in Dallas,Parcells would pick futurePro Bowl playerscornerback Terence Newman ,tight end Jason Witten as well as future Cowboys starterlinebacker Bradie James . Also typical of his prior teams,Parcells would bring in veteran players who had played for him at his previous coaching stops, signing fullbackRichie Anderson and speedywide receiver Terry Glenn with whom Parcells had a checkered history.
Though the Cowboys would open the season with a loss, a dramatic come from behind victory the next week against the Giants at New York would spur the teams confidence, particularly in third yearquarterback Quincy Carter . This would be followed by a reunion withEmmitt Smith (now with theArizona Cardinals ) in Dallas. Smith would injury his shoulder early in the game and not return. After starting with a 6-2 record, the Cowboys would go 4-4 in the second half of the season including a loss to the eventualSuper Bowl championNew England Patriots in Foxboro. The game received a lot of hype due toBill Parcells and Patriotshead coach Bill Belichick seemingly strained relationship due to the events following their final season coaching together with theNew York Jets . Though the Cowboys would finish 10-6 and earn a playoff berth, they would lose in the first round to eventualNFC championsCarolina Panthers .Division standings
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