Hogeboom started out well, completing 33 passes (club record) for 343 yards and one touchdown in a season opening win on Monday night on national TV against the Los Angeles Rams. However, in the next game against the New York Giants, linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacked him four times and the Cowboys lost, 28-7. Despite the Cowboys 5-3 record, White relieved Hogeboom three games in a row, so Landry went back to the more experienced White against the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants.