Dallas Cowboys Rivalry
One of the greatest rivalries in sports history.
The Commanders–Cowboys rivalry, formerly known as the Cowboys–Redskins rivalry, is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys. In 2005, Sports Illustrated called it the top NFL rivalry of all time and 'one of the greatest in sports.' ESPN ranked it the best rivalry in the NFL. The Sportster has ranked it the 17th biggest rivalry in the world. During the tenure of this rivalry, the two franchises have won 32 combined division titles and eight combined Super Bowls. They are two of the wealthiest franchises in the NFL.
Quick Facts
- Division
- NFC East
- First meeting
- 1960 (Dallas as expansion franchise)
- Notable era
- 1970s-1980s Rivalry Peak
- Playoff implications
- Frequent division title deciders
- Cultural thematic
- Tradition vs. Showmanship
Lore & Background
The rivalry started in 1960 when the Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team. During that year they were in separate conferences, but played once during the season. In 1961, Dallas was placed in the same division as Washington, and from that point on, they have played each other twice in every regular season. The Cowboys lead the overall series, 81–49–2. The two teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the Redskins winning both games. The first game took place in Griffith Stadium on October 9, 1960, and was won by the Redskins 26–14. The Redskins would go on to win two of their first four meetings, and tie the two others.
Reader's Guide
The first four meetings (1960–1961) included a tie; the actual results were 1960 Washington win, 1961 first game Dallas win, 1961 second game Dallas win.
Did You Know?
- Texas oil tycoon Clint Murchison, Jr. bought the rights to the fight song 'Hail to the Redskins' for $2,500 and used it to force George Preston Marshall to approve the Dallas franchise.
- In December 1961, Cowboys fans smuggled 76 chickens into D.C. Stadium as a prank, but the chickens were confiscated before halftime.
- The following year, pranksters placed a turkey in Marshall's hotel suite, causing him to flee.
- In a later prank, a man in a chicken costume threw eggs and released a chicken on the field during the National Anthem; he escaped and was never caught.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys first meet in an NFL game?
The two franchises first faced each other in 1960, the same season Dallas joined the league as an expansion team. That early encounter planted the seed for a rivalry that has run continuously ever since.
Why is the Commanders-Cowboys rivalry considered the biggest in the NFC East?
The geographic closeness of the two cities, the sharp contrast between Washington's traditional identity and Dallas's flashy, media-driven brand, and the fact that the head-to-head result often swings the division title all combine to make this matchup feel larger than a regular-season game. Fans and analysts routinely treat it as the league's marquee NFC East contest.
Which era is considered the golden age of the Washington-Dallas rivalry?
The 1970s and 1980s, often called the Dynasty Years, are widely viewed as the rivalry's peak, with both rosters fielding star-studded lineups and the NFC East crown hanging in the balance week after week. Those two decades produced some of the most iconic head-to-head moments in NFL history.
How often do Commanders-Cowboys games decide the NFC East title?
Because both teams share the same division, their regular-season meeting frequently acts as a direct tiebreaker or outright division decider. That recurring playoff-stakes pressure is a major reason fans treat every annual matchup as a must-win.
What cultural clash sits at the heart of the Commanders-Cowboys rivalry?
The rivalry is framed as a collision between Washington's long-standing, tradition-rooted football culture and Dallas's showmanship-heavy, media-savvy brand. Supporters on each side see the annual meeting as a test of which philosophy of franchise identity ultimately prevails.
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