Editing Dallas Cowboys (section)

==Rivalries==
The [[NFC East]], composed of the Cowboys, [[Philadelphia Eagles]], the [[Washington Commanders]] and [[New York Giants]], is one of the least-changed divisions of the original six formed in the wake of the [[NFL-AFL merger]] (its only major changes being the relocation of the [[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]] franchise from St. Louis to Arizona and its subsequent move to the [[NFC West]] in the league's [[2002 NFL season|2002 realignment]]). Three of the four teams have been division rivals since the Cowboys' entry into the NFL. As such, the Cowboys have some of the longest and fiercest rivalries in the sport.

===Divisional===
====Philadelphia Eagles====
{{Main|Cowboys–Eagles rivalry}}
[[File:Eagles Howard and Thomas pointing.jpg|thumb|A game between the Cowboys and the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in December 2007]]
The competition between the Cowboys and the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] has been particularly intense since the late 1970s, when the long-moribund Eagles returned to contention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/texas-wants-to-know-how-did-the-eagles-become-the-cowboys-biggest-rival/3155241/|title=Texas Wants to Know: How Did Eagles Become the Cowboys' Biggest Rival?|last=Friday|first=Bayley|date=December 22, 2022|website=NBC DFW 5|access-date=December 1, 2023}}</ref> In January 1981, the two teams faced off in the NFC Championship, with Philadelphia winning 20–7. A series of other factors heightened tensions during the 1980s and 1990s, including several provocative actions by Philadelphia fans and Eagles head coach [[Buddy Ryan]]. Among these were the 1989 [[Bounty Bowl]]s in which Ryan allegedly placed a bounty on Dallas kicker [[Luis Zendejas]] and [[Veterans Stadium]] fans pelted the Cowboys with snowballs and other debris.

A 1999 game in [[Philadelphia]] saw Eagles fans cheering as [[Michael Irvin]] lay motionless on the field at Veterans Stadium. In 2008, the rivalry became more intense when in the last game of the year in which both teams could clinch a playoff spot with a victory, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Cowboys 44–6. The following season, the Cowboys avenged that defeat by beating the Eagles three times: twice during the regular season to claim the title as NFC East champions and once more in a wild-card playoff game by a combined score of 78–30, including a 24–0 shutout in week 17. That three-game sweep was Dallas' first over any opponent and the longest winning streak against the Eagles since 1992–1995 when Dallas won seven straight matches against Philadelphia.

During the 2013 season, Dallas won the first meeting 17–3 at [[Lincoln Financial Field]] in Philadelphia. The two teams met again in Week 17 at AT&T Stadium with the winner clinching the 2013 NFC East title. The Cowboys came into the game at a disadvantage with starting quarterback [[Tony Romo]] out with a season-ending back injury, which put backup [[Kyle Orton]] as the starter. It was a tight game with the Eagles up 24–22 with less than 2 minutes to go in regulation. Orton got the ball and started driving down the field when he was intercepted by the Eagles defense, which ended the game and the Cowboys season. In 2014, the Cowboys and Eagles both won against each other on the road with Philadelphia posting a dominant 33–10 win on [[National Football League on Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving Day]] in Dallas, and Dallas returning the favor two weeks later by defeating the Eagles 38–27 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The second game between these rivals clinched a playoff spot for Dallas and led to formerly first-place Philadelphia missing out on the post-season. Dallas leads the all-time series 73–56.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====New York Giants====
{{main|Cowboys–Giants rivalry}}
The first game ever played between the [[New York Giants]] and Cowboys was a 31–31 tie on December 4, 1960. Dallas logged its first win in the series on October 29, 1961, and New York's first was on November 11, 1962. Among the more notable moments in the rivalry was the Giants' defeat of Dallas in the 2007 playoffs en route to their victory in [[Super Bowl XLII]] and winning the first regular-season game played at [[Cowboys Stadium]] in 2009. Dallas currently leads the all-time series 75–47–2.<ref name="footballdb1"/>

====Washington Commanders====
{{Main|Commanders–Cowboys rivalry}}
The [[Washington Commanders]] and the Dallas Cowboys enjoy what has been called by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' the top NFL rivalry of all time and "one of the greatest in sports". Some sources trace the enmity to before the Cowboys were even formed, due to a longstanding disagreement between Washington owner [[George Preston Marshall]] and Cowboys founder [[Clint Murchison Jr.|Clint Murchison, Jr.]] over the creation of a new football team in the South, due to Marshall's TV monopoly in that region. The two teams' storied on-field rivalry goes back to 1960 when the two clubs first played each other, resulting in a 26–14 Washington victory. Since that time, the two teams have met in 126 regular-season contests and two NFC Championships. Dallas leads the regular season all-time series 78–46–2, and Washington leads the all-time playoff series 2–0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=dal&tm2=was&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Cowboys currently have a 14–7 advantage over Washington at FedEx Field. Some notable moments in the rivalry include Washington's victory over Dallas in the 1982 NFC Championship and the latter's 1989 win over Washington for their only victory that season. The last Cowboys game with Tom Landry as coach was a win over Washington on December 11, 1988. In the 2010s, Washington has struggled to consistently compete for the Division title, but still play the Cowboys particularly tough, posting an impressive upset victory against Dallas in 2014, despite being outclassed by the Cowboys in the overall standings. The 2010s also included an important game in week 17 of 2012 which saw Washington defeat Dallas 28–18 to win the NFC East.

===Conference===
====San Francisco 49ers====
{{main|49ers–Cowboys rivalry}}
The bitter rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and [[San Francisco 49ers]] has been going on since the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munoz |first=Michelle |date=August 27, 2009 |title=Cowboys-49ers: A Rivalry for the Ages |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/243616-cowboys-49ers-a-rivalry-for-the-ages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012084352/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/243616-cowboys-49ers-a-rivalry-for-the-ages |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |access-date=November 4, 2013 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/5/16/1474508/the-greatest-rivalries-in-the-nfl#comments |title=The Greatest Rivalries in the NFL: 49ers-Cowboys |date=May 16, 2010 |publisher=Niners Nation |access-date=November 4, 2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040447/http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/5/16/1474508/the-greatest-rivalries-in-the-nfl#comments |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[NFL Top 10]] ranked this rivalry to be the tenth best in the history of the NFL. San Francisco has played Dallas in seven postseason games. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers in the 1970 and 1971 NFC Championship games, and again in the 1972 Divisional Playoff Game. The 1981 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, which saw the 49ers' [[Joe Montana]] complete a game-winning pass to [[Dwight Clark]] in the final minute (now known as [[The Catch (American football)|The Catch]]) is one of the most famous games in NFL history. The rivalry became even more intense during the 1992–1994 seasons. San Francisco and Dallas faced each other in the NFC Championship Game three separate times. Dallas won the first two match-ups, and San Francisco won the third. In each of these pivotal match-ups, the game's victor went on to win the Super Bowl. Both the Cowboys and the 49ers are tied for third all-time in [[Super Bowl]] victories to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and New England Patriots, with five each. The 49ers-Cowboys rivalry is also part of the larger cultural rivalry between California and Texas. The 49ers lead the all-time series with a record of 20–19–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Green Bay Packers====
{{main|Cowboys–Packers rivalry}}

The rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the [[Green Bay Packers]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/06/packers-cowboys-a-great-nfl-rivalry-is-renewed-sunday/106356050/|title=Packers vs Cowboys: Great NFL rivalry is renewed|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112152/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/06/packers-cowboys-a-great-nfl-rivalry-is-renewed-sunday/106356050/|url-status=live}}</ref> is one of the best known intra-conference [[National Football League rivalries|rivalries]] in the NFL. The two teams do not play every year; instead, they play once every three years due to the NFL's rotating division schedules, or if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions, they would play the ensuing season. The rivalry has also resulted in notable [[playoff]] games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macelli |first=Dawn |date=January 9, 2017 |title=Packers-Cowboys: A Playoff Rivalry As Old As The Super Bowl Itself |url=http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017/1/9/14209072/green-bay-packers-dallas-cowboys-a-playoff-rivalry-as-old-as-the-super-bowl-itself |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114852/https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017/1/9/14209072/green-bay-packers-dallas-cowboys-a-playoff-rivalry-as-old-as-the-super-bowl-itself |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |access-date=September 21, 2018 |work=[[SB Nation|Blogging the Boys]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Tramel|first=Berry|title=Dallas-Green Bay reaches the top of NFL playoff rivalries|url=http://newsok.com/article/5534129|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|date=January 12, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref>

The all-time regular seasons series record is 20–17 in favor of the Packers, and the postseason series is also in favor of the Packers at 5–4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Los Angeles Rams====
{{main|Cowboys–Rams rivalry}}
The Cowboys also had a fierce rivalry with the [[Los Angeles Rams]], particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. The two teams played eight postseason games during this period, including two NFC championship games. Between 1975 and 1980, the Cowboys faced the Rams in the playoffs five times in a six-year period. In both 1975 and 1978, the Cowboys won the NFC championship on the road in blowout fashion, only to be followed by close defeats at home in next year's divisional round. The 1980 Wild Card Round saw Dallas follow up last year's playoff defeat with another blowout victory. As of 2022, the Cowboys and Rams tied the all-time regular season series 18–18, but the Rams lead the all-time playoff series 5–4, having recently defeated the Cowboys in the 2018 Divisional Round.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2019 |title=The Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams: The Professor's playoff history course |url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/1/8/18168941/dallas-cowboys-los-angeles-rams-playoff-history-all-time |access-date=September 3, 2021 |publisher=[[SB Nation]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland/St. Louis/LA Rams |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=dal&tm2=ram&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Minnesota Vikings====
{{main|Cowboys–Vikings rivalry}}
Between the Dallas Cowboys and [[Minnesota Vikings]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/seven-1970s-rivalries-that-made-the-nfl-super-steelers-raiders-takes-top-spot/|first=Bryan|last=DeArdo|title=Seven 1970s rivalries that made the NFL 'super': Steelers-Raiders takes top spot|website=CBS|date=September 17, 2021}}</ref> the Cowboys lead the all-time series 18–15. The teams have met seven times in the post-season, the Cowboys third most played playoff opponent. The rivalry is home to many key memories, including the famous 1975 Hail Mary pass against the Vikings, the [[Herschel Walker trade]], the [[Randy Moss]] Thanksgiving game, and [[Brett Favre]] torching the Cowboys in what would be his last playoff win of his career in 2009. As of the 2023 season, the Cowboys lead the all-time series 19–15.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=dal&tm2=min&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Inter Conference===
====Houston Oilers/Houston Texans====
{{main|Governor's Cup (Texas)}}
The Cowboys have an intrastate interconference rivalry with the [[Houston Texans]] for which they compete in either a preseason or regular season game for bragging rights in  [[Texas]], a tradition started between the teams prior to the Oilers relocating to [[Nashville, Tennessee]] to become the [[Tennessee Titans]]. The Texans defeated the Cowboys in the team's inaugural season in 2002. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 4–2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Pittsburgh Steelers====
{{Main|Cowboys–Steelers rivalry}}
The two teams met in the first regular-season game the Cowboys ever played in 1960 (a 35–28 loss to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]), the first-ever regular-season victory for the expansion Cowboys in 1961, and would later meet in three Super Bowls, all of them closely contested events. The Steelers-Cowboys is to date the Super Bowl matchup with the most contests. The Steelers won [[Super Bowl X]] and [[Super Bowl XIII]]; both games were decided in the final seconds, first on a last-second throw by [[Roger Staubach]], then as a fourth-quarter rally by Dallas fell short on an [[onside kick]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl X - Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 18th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197601180dal.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XIII - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys - January 21st, 1979 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197901210dal.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Cowboys won [[Super Bowl XXX]] in January 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXX - Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 28th, 1996 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601280dal.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> It is said that the rivalry was fueled in the 1970s due to the stark contrast of the teams: the Cowboys, being more of a "flashy" team with Roger Staubach's aerial attack and the "flex" [[Doomsday Defense]]; while the Steelers were more of a [[blue-collar worker|"blue-collar"]] team with a strong running game and the 1970s-esque [[Steel Curtain]] defense, a contrast that still exists today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/12/06/sports/steelers/doc493b5cd78829a110461455.txt |title=Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online – Steelers |work=The Times |location=UK |date=December 7, 2008 |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107232922/http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/12/06/sports/steelers/doc493b5cd78829a110461455.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, both teams have national fan bases rivaled by few NFL teams, and both come from areas with a strong following for football at all levels. Dallas leads the all-time series 17–16 including the playoffs.<ref name="footballdb1">{{cite web|url=http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/dallas-cowboys/opponents|title=Dallas Cowboys Records by Opponent|work=FootballDB.com|access-date=December 20, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222071822/http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/dallas-cowboys/opponents|url-status=live}}</ref>