Eagles-Giants Rivalry
A bitter NFC East rivalry defined by iconic moments and a Cowboys-led series lead.
The Cowboys–Eagles rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960 and were placed in the NFL Western Conference, where they faced the Eagles for the first time. In 1961, Dallas was moved to the NFL Eastern Conference, resulting in two annual meetings with Philadelphia. Following the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, both teams were placed in the NFC East, where they have remained divisional opponents.
Quick Facts
- Conference affiliation
- National Football Conference (NFC) East
- First meeting
- 1933 Season
- Rivalry status
- Active and Ongoing
- Key historical context
- Longest-running division rivalry in the NFC
Lore & Background
The rivalry has been filled with bitterly contested games typical of the NFC East. 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. Notable moments include the 1980 NFC Championship Game (the 'Blue Jersey Game'), the Bounty Bowls of 1989, the 'Porkchop Bowl' in 1990, and the 'Pickle Juice' game in 2000.
Reader's Guide
The matchups have been the most frequently featured on NBC Sunday Night Football with a total of 16. During the 1970s, the Cowboys held a significant advantage, compiling a 17–3 record against the Eagles.
Did You Know?
- On November 12, 1979, Tony Franklin kicked a 59-yard field goal, then the longest in Eagles history, to help the Eagles win their first-ever game at Texas Stadium.
- In the 1980 NFC Championship Game, the Eagles made the Cowboys wear their seemingly cursed blue jerseys and won 20–7.
- In the 1991 season, the Eagles set a record with 11 sacks of Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman in a 24–0 win.
- In October 2003, a Cowboys player returned an onside kick for a touchdown in three seconds, the fastest touchdown in NFL history.
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