Dallas Cowboys

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Lore & Background

The rivalry has been filled with bitterly contested games that are typical of the NFC East. Notable moments include Tony Franklin's 59-yard field goal in 1979, the 1980 NFC Championship Game (the 'Blue Jersey Game'), the 1987 strike game, the Bounty Bowls of 1989, the 1990 'Porkchop Bowl', the 1991 regular season meetings, the 1992–1995 playoff matchups, Emmitt Smith's 237-yard rushing game in 1993, James Willis's 104-yard lateral touchdown in 1996, the 1997 game decided by a botched field goal snap, Michael Irvin's career-ending injury in 1999, the 2000 'Pickle Juice' game, the 2002 home opener, the 2003 onside kick and first meeting at Lincoln Financial Field, and the 2004 Monday Night Football game.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of the 2024 season took a sharp turn in late November. After falling to 3–6 with a home loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys snapped a five-game losing streak by shocking division rivals Washington, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns. However, momentum stalled quickly. By Week 14, an Eagles victory over Carolina mathematically eliminated Dallas from NFC East title contention, extending the streak of non-repeat division champions to twenty seasons. The playoff hopes were officially extinguished in Week 16 following a Commanders win over Philadelphia. The season ended on a low note with a sweep by the Eagles for the first time since 2011 and a final record of 7–10, leading to Mike McCarthy's departure as his contract expired without an extension.

Reader's Guide

The matchups have been the most frequently featured on NBC Sunday Night Football with a total of 16. The Cowboys lead the overall series, 75–59. The two teams have met four times in the playoffs, with the Cowboys holding a 3–1 record.

Did You Know?

• Tony Franklin kicked a 59-yard field goal in 1979, then the longest in Eagles history, to help the Eagles win their first-ever game at Texas Stadium.
• The 1980 NFC Championship Game was called the 'Blue Jersey Game' because the Eagles made the Cowboys wear their blue jerseys.
• The 1989 meetings were nicknamed the 'Bounty Bowls' due to accusations that the Eagles set a bounty on Dallas players.
• In the 1990 'Porkchop Bowl', Cowboys fans threw pork chops onto the field after Eagles coach Buddy Ryan was saved from choking on a pork chop.
• The Eagles set a record with 11 sacks of Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman in a 1991 game.