Cowboys–Redskins rivalry

Dallas Cowboys–Washington Redskins
Regular season history
First meeting	October 9, 1960
First result	Washington Redskins 26, Dallas Cowboys 14
Latest meeting	November 20, 2011
Latest result	Dallas Cowboys 27, Washington Redskins 24 (OT)
Next meeting
Rivalry status	104 meetings[1]
Largest victory	Dallas Cowboys 38, Washington Redskins 3 (1993)
Current streak	Dallas Cowboys with three wins (2010, 2011)
All-time series	Dallas Cowboys lead 62-40-2[1]
Post season history
Last meeting	January 23, 1983
Last result	Washington Redskins 31, Dallas Cowboys 17
All-time postseason series	Washington Redskins lead 2–0[1]
Championship success during tenure of rivalry
Super Bowl titles (8) Dallas Cowboys (5) – 1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995 '*Washington Redskins (3) – 1982, 1987, 1991 NFL Divisional Championships (27) Dallas Cowboys (20) – 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007, 2009 Washington Redskins (7) – 1972, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1999 Super Bowl appearances (13)[2] Dallas Cowboys (8) – 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1995 Washington Redskins (5) – 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991

The Cowboys–Redskins rivalry is a sports rivalry between two professional American football teams in the National Football League (NFL), the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. Sports Illustrated has called it the top NFL rivalry of all time and "one of the greatest in sports."^[3] During the tenure of this rivalry, the two franchises have won 27 combined division titles and eight combined Super Bowls.^[4] They are the two wealthiest franchises in the NFL.^[5] The rivalry started in 1960 when the Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team.^[6] During that year they were in separate conferences, but played once during the season. In 1961, Dallas was placed in the same division as the Redskins, and from that point on, they have played each other twice during every regular season.

Beginning

Texas oil tycoon Clint Murchison, Jr. was having a hard time bringing an NFL team to Dallas, Texas. He tried buying two teams, but the negotiations fell through. In 1958, Murchison heard that George Preston Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, was eager to sell the team. Just as the sale was about to be finalized, Marshall called for a change in terms. Murchison was outraged and canceled the whole deal.^[7]

Around this time, Marshall had a falling out with the Redskin band director, Barnee Breeskin. Breeskin had written the music to the Redskins fight song, now a staple at the stadium; additionally, Marshall's wife penned the lyrics to the song.^[7] Breeskin wanted revenge after the failed negotiations with Marshall. He approached Tom Webb, Murchison’s lawyer, and sold the rights for $2,500.^[7]

Murchison then decided to create his own team, with the support of NFL expansion committee chairman, George Halas. Halas decided to put the proposition of a Dallas franchise before the NFL owners, which needed to have unanimous approval in order to pass. The only owner against the proposal was George Preston Marshall. However, Marshall found out that Murchison owned the rights to Washington's fight song, so a deal was finally struck. If Marshall showed his approval of the Dallas franchise, Murchison would return the song. The Cowboys were then founded and began playing in 1960.^[7]

To build the roster of an expansion team, Dallas was allowed to pick certain players from certain teams per League rules. Murchison selected the Redskins' Pro Bowl quarterback, Eddie LeBaron, who would become the Cowboys' first starting quarterback. Somehow, Marshall had forgotten to move LeBaron to the team's "protected" list.

First Few Games

Though both teams would become juggernauts in the NFL, the beginning of the rivalry was not all that exciting. The first game took place in Griffith Stadium on October 9, 1960 and was won by the Redskins. It was the only game they would win that year. The Cowboys would go winless that season. The Redskins would win two of the first four and tied the two others.

Cowboy Chicken Club

In December 1961, an unknown number of Cowboys fans sneaked into D. C. Stadium, armed with bags of chicken feed.^[7] When Alaskan snow dogs were to drag Santa Claus onto the field during the halftime show, the pranksters would unleash dozens of hungry chickens onto the field - 75 white, one black.^[8] The significance of the black chicken was to symbolize how Marshall was the only owner in the league who would not recruit an African-American football player; Marshall stating, "We'll start signing Negroes when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites."^[9]

The chickens fit into two large crates, which were smuggled into the stadium the morning of the game. The chickens and the smugglers went unspotted until halftime, when a stadium usher noticed a man guarding the crates and heard the chickens. Though the guard tried to bribe the official with $100 dollars, he was quickly reported and arrested, and the chickens confiscated. As it turned out, the "official" was actually Redskins general manager Dick McCann.

The following year and the night before the third Redskins-Cowboys match-up in less than a year, pranksters sneaked into Marshall's hotel suite and dropped off a large turkey in the bathroom. When Marshall went into the bathroom, the turkey puffed up and gobbled at him, causing Marshall to flee his room. "Chickens are nice", Marshall said, "but a man shouldn't fool with a mad turkey."

Just minutes before kickoff, while "Hail to the Redskins" blared throughout the stadiums, four banners reading "CHICKENS" - one at each 50-yard line and one in each end zone center - were unfurled in the stadium's upper decks.^[7] Two acrobats, hired by Cowboys fans and Chicken Club founders Bob Thompson and Irv Davidson (along with the University of Maryland students with the banners) rushed onto the field dressed in chicken costumes and began to throw colored eggs.^[7] One was apprehended by a guard, but the other proved to be too elusive. By this time, the band was playing the National Anthem, therefore unable to move. The lone chicken-acrobat reached into this bag and released a chicken, then returned to his egg-throwing. Running to a sideline, he then attempted to leave the stadium by jumping over a bench, but slipped.

A group of security guards then apprehended him, but he was able to break free. He made it back to the 50-yard line, turned a cartwheel, then ran and flopped onto the 30-yard line. By this time, only aware that the National Anthem was over, the two teams rushed onto the field in the middle of the chaos. In the midst of the ruckus, the man made it off the field and into the stands. Although the real chicken was caught, the acrobat-chicken was never apprehended.^[7]

The next day, while reporting the 38-10 Cowboys victory, the Dallas News scoring summary ended with, Attendance-49,888 (and one chicken).^[7]

1965 – 1967

From 1965 through 1967, the Redskins and Cowboys, led by Sonny Jurgensen and Don Meredith respectively, played four games against each other that produced a combined total of 222 points with only ten points of overall difference between the two teams.

November 28, 1965, DC Stadium: The Cowboys quickly took a 21-0 lead on a pass play, a running play and a 60-yard fumble recovery. Despite Jurgensen's 26-yard touchdown pass to Charley Taylor, the fans in the stands called for him to be benched in favor of second string quarterback Dick Shiner. However, Jurgensen then drove the Redskins down field for a second touchdown to cut the Cowboys lead to 24-13. They then scored a rushing touchdown to make it 24-20. But just when the Redskins were gaining momentum, Meredith tossed a 53-yard scoring touch to Frank Clarke. Jurgensen was then able to throw another touchdown pass to Bobby Mitchell to make it 31-27. The Redskins got the ball back on their 20-yard line with less than two minutes to go. After working his way down the field, Jurgensen passed to tight end Angelo Coia to give the Redskins their first lead, 34-31, with about one minute to play. But Meredith was not done either. He drove the Cowboys to the Redskins 37-yard line with seven seconds to go. Danny Villanueva was then brought in and attempted a tying field goal, but it was blocked by Redskins defensive back Lonnie Sanders. Final: Redskins, 34 – Cowboys, 31

November 13, 1966, DC Stadium: In the second quarter with the score 7-6 Dallas, Meredith threw a 52-yard touchdown to Bob Hayes, followed in the third quarter with a 95-yard repeat, making the score 21-7. Then Washington scored three consecutive times with Jurgensen's 4-yard pass to Jerry Smith and 78-yard pass to Charley Taylor, followed by a Charlie Gogolak field goal, giving them the lead, 23-21. Meredith then drove the Cowboys down field to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Dan Reeves. But the Redskins matched their score on a drive ending with Jurgensen's 18-yard scoring pass to Taylor, making it 30-28. Meredith got the ball back with no timeouts and the Redskins playing deep prevent. Somehow, he was able to drive them to the Redskins 33. The Redskins mounted a strong pass rush to push the Cowboys out of field goal range. But apparently it was too strong. Meredith was hit just as he scrambled out of bounds. The penalty put the Cowboys on the Redskins 12 for an easy Villanueva field goal. Final: Cowboys, 31 – Redskins, 30

December 11, 1966, The Cotton Bowl: The Redskins took a 10-7 lead at the half after linebacker John Reger recovered a block punt and ran it in for a score. But Danny Villanueva then kicked a tying 26-yard field goal for the Cowboys and Bob Hays caught a 23-yard pass for the 17-10 lead. The Redskins tied it up on Bobby Mitchell's 11-yard reception from Jurgensen. The Cowboys regained the lead when Dan Reeves broke for a 67-yard touchdown run, making it 24-17. But, the Redskins then drove the field and scored on Jurgensen's 11-yard pass to Jerry Smith, only to have the Cowboys regain the lead with a six-yard touchdown run by Don Perkins, making it 31-24. Jurgensen was then able to hit Charlie Taylor with a 65-yard touchdown pass that Taylor caught between two defenders, tying the game. After good defense, the Redskins got the ball back with two minutes to go. Starting at their 46 yard line, Redskins running back A. D. Whitfield ran right for a 30 yard gain that set up Charlie Gogolak's winning field goal. Final: Redskins, 34 –Cowboys, 31

October 8, 1967, DC Stadium: The Redskins led 14-10 with 70 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys took possession on their 29-yard line. On fourth down with 23 seconds remaining, Meredith hit an open Dan Reeves who beat out linebacker Chris Hanburger to score, making it 17-14. After the kick-off with seven seconds to go, Jurgensen pitched a long pass to Charley Taylor, but he was tackled at the Cowboys 20-yard line as time ran out. Final: Cowboys, 17 – Redskins, 14

Washington would win the rematch in Dallas that season, 27-20, but the Cowboys closed out the decade with four straight wins over the Redskins. In the late 60's the Redskins hired Vince Lombardi to try to stop ex-Giants coordinator Tom Landry. Lombardi's 7-5-2 record with the Redskins was the team's first winning season in 14 years, but he was still swept by the Cowboys. Lombardi's untimely death in 1970 froze Redskins development for two seasons.

1970s

1972

The rivalry was in full-swing by 1971, when Washington hired George Allen as head coach. During the 1972 season, Allen's Redskins met Dallas three times en route to a date with the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII. This is how the season progressed.

After a losing season in 1970, the Redskins' hired George Allen from the Los Angeles Rams. As the 1972 football season approached, preseason predictors were touting the Cowboys, who had defeated the Dolphins, 24-3 in the previous Super Bowl, to again win the NFC East.

The sixth game of the season brought the Cowboys to Washington D.C. Both teams came into the game with a 4-1-0 record. Sonny Jurgensen was Washington's starting quarterback, with Billy Kilmer benched after a previous loss. Craig Morton was the Cowboys' quarterback while the injured Roger Staubach watched from the sideline. Despite Washington's home-field advantage, the Cowboys were favored by a touchdown.

A field goal and a Morton touchdown pass gave Dallas a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, which was extended to 13-0 in the second period. Jurgensen led a Washington drive that climaxed with a pass to Larry Brown for a touchdown, but at the half the Redskins trailed by six points. Another seven points were added to the lead in the third quarter when Walt Garrison scored a touchdown. But then, Larry Brown broke a run for 34 yards and a touchdown to bring the score to 20-14. Curt Knight kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 20-17. Charley Harraway ran for 13 yards to make the score 24-20, Redskins on top. During this offensive scoring period, the Over-the-Hill Gang defense shut down the Cowboys. At the end, Washington had defeated the Cowboys and was in possession of first place in the NFC East.

Now with two games remaining, Washington was 11-1 and had clinched the NFC East title. An ensuing loss to the Cowboys (34-24) was meaningless. It was the first time since the NFL went to a divisional format in 1967 that the Cowboys had not won their division.

The playoffs in 1972 pitted Washington against the Green Bay Packers. The final score was Washington 16, Green Bay 3. The victory sent the Redskins to the NFC Championship Game against the Cowboys who entered the playoffs as a wild-card entry. The Cowboys, who had been runner-up to the Redskins in the regular season defeated the NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers, 30-28.

The game was played in Washington. Staubach was back for the Cowboys, and Dallas fans were thrilled to have him. But Billy Kilmer for the Redskins was the better quarterback that day. After a field goal got the scoring started, Kilmer connected with Charley Taylor on a 15-yard touchdown pass and Washington had a 10-3 lead at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Kilmer again went to Taylor, this time for a 45-yard touchdown. Knight added three more field goals that period and the Over-the-Hill Gang defense allowed only a second-quarter field goal. The final score was Washington 26, Dallas 3.

1973: Redskins 14, Cowboys 7

Roger Staubach had won back the quarterback job after missing most of the 1972 season with a shoulder injury, but Tom Landry pulled him in the third quarter when he missed an important signal and was sacked by the Redskins defense. Dallas led 7-0 when Staubach was replaced by Craig Morton. Late in the fourth quarter, the game was tied 7-7 when Redskins defender Brig Owens picked off Morton's errant pass and raced 26 yards to score a touchdown. The Cowboys threatened in the last seconds to tie the game, but Ken Houston tackled Walt Garrison on the one-yard line as time ran out, preserving the Redskins win.

1974 Thanksgiving Day Game

On November 28, 1974, the Redskins were 8-3 and ready to secure a playoff berth with a win against the Cowboys (6-5) in a nationally televised game in Dallas. With less than ten minutes to go in the third quarter, Washington was leading 16-3, when Redskins linebacker Dave Robinson knocked Roger Staubach out of the game. Rookie Clint Longley led the Cowboys to a last-minute come-from-behind victory, throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left. The final score was Cowboys 24, Redskins 23.

The Redskins were stunned. "I don't have very much to say," coach George Allen said when it was over. "It was probably the toughest loss we ever had."^[10]

1979 season-ending game

December 16, 1979: With the NFC East Division Championship on the line for both teams, Roger Staubach engineered a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback, giving the Cowboys a 35-34 win. In the week leading up to the game, Cowboys’ defensive end Harvey Martin received a funeral wreath, allegedly sent by the Redskins. He kept it in his locker all week for motivation and after the win, he raced into Washington's locker room, opened the door and heaved it into the room, breaking up a team prayer.^[11]

1980s

• Jan. 22, 1983, NFC Championship Game at RFK Stadium, the Redskins defeated the Cowboys to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVII. Prior to the game the stadium physically shook as a capacity crowd of 54,000 chanted "We Want Dallas!" The game is best remembered for the sack by Dexter Manley that sent Cowboys' quarterback Danny White into the locker room shortly before halftime and defensive tackle Daryl Grant's interception of a Gary Hogeboom pass tipped by Manley to score the decisive points. John Riggins rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and the Redskins went on to defeat Miami for their first Super Bowl championship.
• Before a sold-out 1983 season opener on Monday Night Football, the Redskins were leading the visiting Cowboys 23–3. Danny White's second half comeback erased the lead and the Cowboys took an improbable 31–30 victory.
• On December 9, 1984, down 21-6 at halftime, the Redskins came back to defeat the Cowboys, 30-28. Coupled with the 34-14 win earlier in the year, the Redskins enjoyed the first sweep of the Cowboys in series history.
• On September 9, 1985, the season opener of Monday Night Football was played at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys defense intercepted Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann five times. Joe Gibbs would pull Theismann from the game in the 4th quarter due to his poor performance. To rub salt in the wound, fans at Texas Stadium began singing "Happy Birthday" to Theismann, as the game did take place on his birthday. The Cowboys would go on to win in a blowout, 44-14.
• 1987-Scab Game: No team in the NFL had more players cross the picket line during the 1987 strike than the Cowboys, who were 2–0 with their "scab" players entering a game with the Redskins on Monday Night Football. Washington had also won their two games during the strike, but without any veterans. For this game the Cowboys had Danny White, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, Ed Jones among other veterans, but were upset by the replacement Redskins players, 13-7, in a game former Washington head coach Joe Gibbs called "one of my greatest experiences and wins." The Redskins finished 3–0 with the replacements, the strike ending the following week. The Redskins would go on to win Super Bowl XXII later that season. In 2000 Warner Bros. made a movie loosely based on the 1987 Redskins, The Replacements.
• In December of 1988 at RFK stadium, The Cowboys spoiled the playoff hopes for the reigning Super Bowl champion Redskins, 24-17. The upset was led in part to the three touchdown scoring performance of rookie and eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver, Michael Irvin. This game would prove to be the final win for legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.
• The Cowboys lone victory of their woeful 1-15 season in 1989 would come on November 5 against the Redskins at RFK Stadium, 13–3. Ultimately this loss would prevent the 10–6 Redskins from making the playoffs for the second straight year.

1990s

• On November 24, 1991, the 6–5 Cowboys handed the then unbeaten 11–0 Redskins their first defeat and their only defeat at home that season, 24–21. Despite the loss the Redskins would finish 14–2 and go on to the win Super Bowl XXVI. The Cowboys, motivated by the victory, would reel off a six game win streak, finishing 11–5.
• On September 7, 1992, in front a nationally televised Monday night audience, the Cowboys, led by Emmitt Smith's 140 yards rushing, handed the defending Super Bowl champion Redskins an embarrassing 23–10 loss at Texas Stadium in their first game of the season.
• On December 13, 1992, the defending Super Bowl champion Redskins stunned the eventual Super Bowl champion Cowboys 20–17 in Washington thanks to Safety Danny Copeland's fourth quarter recovery of a Troy Aikman fumble in the end zone. This game would prove to be Hall of Fame Head Coach Joe Gibbs' final victory at RFK Stadium.
• On September 6, 1993, in front of a nationally televised Monday night audience, the Redskins gained revenge for their opening week Monday night loss of a year before by defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys 35–16 at RFK to earn Ritchie Petitbon his first victory in his first game as a head coach.
• On the day after Christmas, 1993, the Cowboys would gain revenge for their opening week loss by defeating the Redskins 38–3 at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys' 35 point margin of victory is the largest margin of victory by either team in the rivalry's history. The Cowboys would eventually close out the season with their second straight Super Bowl championship while the Redskins would finish 4–12, their worst regular season record since 1963.

• On December 22, 1996, the Redskins defeated the Cowboys 37–10 in the final game played at RFK Stadium, the Redskins home for the last 36 years.
• In the first game of the 1999 season, the Redskins opened a 35–14 lead. Then Dallas scored three touchdowns during the final 11 minutes of regulation time. A play-action pass in overtime to Raghib Ismail fooled Redskins safety Matt Stevens, and won the game for the visiting Cowboys. This game took place during the middle of a 10 game win streak in the series by the Cowboys, the longest by either team during the tenure of this rivalry.

2000s

• In Week 6 of the 2001 season, the two teams met in a Monday Night Football matchup. What made that particular game unique was that both teams entered the game 0-4, a MNF first. Dallas won 9-7, and won the rematch as well.
• In the 2002 regular season finale, Washington finally ended an 11-game losing streak to the Cowboys, defeating them 20-14. The win allowed Washington to finish 7-9, while Dallas finished 5-11 for the third straight year. Cowboys coach Dave Campo was fired following the 2002 season.
• Week 2 of the 2005 season, the Redskins were at Dallas in a game where Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin were inducted into the Cowboys' "Ring of Honor" with a pre-game and halftime ceremony. Throughout a poorly played game, Dallas kept the Redskins out of the endzone, and led 13–0 with less than four minutes to go. It was at that point that the Redskins, led by quarterback Mark Brunell, took the lead thanks to two long touchdown passes to Santana Moss to win the game.
• Week 15 of the 2005 season saw the Redskins' largest margin of victory against the Cowboys in a 35-7 blowout. The Cowboys lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter after Washington was already ahead 35-0. The victory gave Washington its first sweep against Dallas since the 1995 season. Dallas eventually finished 9-7, while Washington won its last two games to secure the final NFC wildcard playoff berth.
• In Week 9 of the 2006 season, during the fourth quarter, the game was tied 19–19 (due in part to a missed two point conversion by the Cowboys). With 31 seconds to go, the Redskins' recently acquired kicker, Nick Novak, missed a 49-yard field goal wide right. The Cowboys then worked their way up the field to set up Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, for a 35-yard field goal with only seconds remaining. However, the kick was blocked by Troy Vincent, a safety who had been picked up by the Redskins off waivers earlier that week. The ball was scooped up by the Redskins' free safety, Sean Taylor, who ran it back to the Cowboys' 44-yard line, where the Cowboys' offensive lineman Kyle Kosier grabbed him by his facemask in an attempt to tackle him. The game would have gone into overtime had it not been for Kosier's defensive penalty, which added fifteen yards to the end of the return (by rule an NFL game cannot end on a defensive penalty). Novak set up for a 47-yard field goal with no time left on the clock. Despite the recent missed field goal, Novak was able to make this field goal to give the Redskins a thrilling victory with no time on the clock.
• On November 18, 2007, the Cowboys beat the Redskins 28–23 with Terrell Owens gaining 173 yards on eight catches and four touchdowns. In the final game of that same season with the Cowboys already owning the NFC #1 seed, rested several key players due to injury including Owens, and limited Tony Romo to only one series into the second half in order to prevent possible injury before the playoffs. The Redskins held Marion Barber to -1 rushing yards and the Cowboys to a collective one yard rushing, while defeating the Cowboys 27–6 at FedEx Field, earning Washington the NFC's final playoff spot.
• On September 28, 2008, the Redskins beat the Cowboys 26–24 in the final Redskins/Cowboys game at Texas Stadium.
• On November 16, 2008, the Cowboys returned the favor of the 2005 Week 2 game defeat. Darrell Green and Art Monk were honored before the game for their recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In a game that was highly touted for the return of Tony Romo, the Cowboys defense held the Redskins to ten points while the Cowboys scored 14.
• December 27, 2009, the Cowboys shutout the Redskins 17-0. This marked the third time the Cowboys have blanked the Redskins. Washington has never shutout Dallas. 2009 would also be the 15th time the Cowboys have swept the two-game regular season series. Washington has swept the Cowboys only four times.

2010s

• September 12, 2010, the Redskins beat the Cowboys. One of the game's highlights was a Fumble return for a TD for the Redskins as time expired in the first half. Late in the fourth quarter, Tony Romo led the team down the field. With three seconds on the clock and the score 13-7, Romo made a touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams that would've at least tied the game, depending on the PAT. However, the touchdown was negated due to a holding call against Alex Barron as time expired, and Washington held on to win.
• December 19, 2010, marked the 100th meeting between the two clubs. The Cowboys built a 20-7 lead by halftime. By the end of the third quarter the Cowboys led 30-14. The Redskins started quarterback Rex Grossman who filled in for the recently benched Donovan McNabb and he brought the Redskins back to an even 30-30 with minutes left to play. Cowboys kicker David Buehler kicked a 39 yard field goal to put Dallas up 33-30 with 50 seconds to play. Rex Grossman then drove the Redskins down the field only to be intercepted by cornerback Terrence Newman to end the game. Dallas' Jason Witten caught 10 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and became only the fourth tight end in NFL history with 600 career catches. He did it the fastest, needing only 125 games.
• September 26, 2011, prior to the game, the Redskins gathered in the middle of the field at Cowboys Stadium where several players were seen to be "stomping on the Star." London Fletcher was also overheard proclaiming to his team, “Why are we standing on this star? Cuz this is our house.” While battling through a fractured rib and punctured lung, Tony Romo overcame 4 botched snaps and several receivers running wrong routes to put the Cowboys within scoring position for the final field goal to ultimately win the game.

Rivalry off the Field

• On December 19, 2005, Dallas Mavericks guard Darrell Armstrong was fined $1,000 for grabbing a microphone before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center and yelling "How 'bout those Redskins!" Only a few hours prior, the Cowboys had been routed by the Redskins 35-7, in the most lopsided loss of Bill Parcells coaching career. Armstrong was raised in North Carolina as a Redskins fan.^[12]
• Dallas coach Tom Landry starred in a 1980s American Express TV commercial in which he made the statement, "You never know when you'll be surrounded by Redskins". Several large men dressed in Washington uniforms encircled Landry, who addressed them with, "Howdy!" After the credit card sales pitch was read, the ad returned to that scene, and Landry quickly elbowed his way out of the circle.^[13]
• After Tom Landry was fired as Cowboys coach by new owner Jerry Jones in 1989, Landry starred in another TV commercial for Quality Hotels, in which he states that he feels so great being out of football that he might take up a new career. Landry then pulls out a guitar and sings the Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson classic, "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be," and after a pause, sings, "Redskins!" At the end of the commercial, Landry says, "You didn't think I would say 'Cowboys', did ya?"

Rivalry statistics

	Cowboys wins	Ties	Redskins wins	Cowboys points	Redskins points
Regular season	62	2	38	2,298	1,897
Postseason	0		2	20	57
Totals	62	2	40	2,318	1,954

Updated September 27, 2011.

Game results

The following is a list of results from all of the meetings between the Cowboys and Redskins from their first meeting on October 9, 1960, to the most recent game on September 26, 2011.

Post season meeting

Tied game

Overtime result

1960s (Cowboys 10-7-2)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
1960	October 9	Washington Redskins	26-14	Dallas Cowboys	Griffith Stadium
1961	November 19	TIE	28-28	TIE	Cotton Bowl
	December 17	Washington Redskins	34-24	Dallas Cowboys	D.C. Stadium
1962	September 16	TIE	35-35	TIE	Cotton Bowl
	November 10	Dallas Cowboys	38-10	Washington Redskins	D.C. Stadium
1963	September 29	Washington Redskins	21-17	Dallas Cowboys	D.C. Stadium
	November 3	Dallas Cowboys	35-20	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl
1964	September 20	Dallas Cowboys	24-18	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl
	November 22	Washington Redskins	28-16	Dallas Cowboys	D.C. Stadium
1965	September 26	Dallas Cowboys	27-7	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl
	November 28	Washington Redskins	34-31	Dallas Cowboys	D.C. Stadium
1966	November 13	Dallas Cowboys	31-30	Washington Redskins	D.C. Stadium
	December 11	Washington Redskins	34-31	Dallas Cowboys	Cotton Bowl
1967	October 8	Dallas Cowboys	17-14	Washington Redskins	D.C. Stadium
	November 19	Washington Redskins	27-20	Dallas Cowboys	Cotton Bowl
1968	November 17	Dallas Cowboys	44-24	Washington Redskins	D.C. Stadium
	November 28	Dallas Cowboys	29-20	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl
1969	November 16	Dallas Cowboys	41-28	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	December 21	Dallas Cowboys	20-10	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl

1970s (Cowboys 12-9)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
1970	November 22	Dallas Cowboys	45-20	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	December 6	Dallas Cowboys	34-3	Washington Redskins	Cotton Bowl
1971	October 3	Washington Redskins	20-16	Dallas Cowboys	Cotton Bowl
	November 21	Dallas Cowboys	13-0	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1972	October 22	Washington Redskins	24-20	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 9	Dallas Cowboys	34-24	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 31	Washington Redskins	26-3	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
1973	October 8	Washington Redskins	14-7	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 9	Dallas Cowboys	27-7	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1974	November 17	Washington Redskins	28-21	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	November 28	Dallas Cowboys	24-23	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1975	November 2	Washington Redskins	30-24 (OT)	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 13	Dallas Cowboys	31-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1976	October 31	Dallas Cowboys	20-7	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	December 12	Washington Redskins	27-14	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
1977	October 16	Dallas Cowboys	34-16	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	November 27	Dallas Cowboys	14-7	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1978	October 2	Washington Redskins	9-5	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	November 23	Dallas Cowboys	37-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1979	November 18	Washington Redskins	34-20	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 16	Dallas Cowboys	35-34	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium

1980s (Cowboys 11-9)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
1980	September 8	Dallas Cowboys	17-3	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	November 27	Dallas Cowboys	14-10	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1981	September 6	Dallas Cowboys	26-10	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	November 22	Dallas Cowboys	24-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1982	December 5	Dallas Cowboys	24-10	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1983	January 22	Washington Redskins	31-17	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	September 5	Dallas Cowboys	31-30	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	December 11	Washington Redskins	31-10	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
1984	October 14	Washington Redskins	34-14	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 9	Washington Redskins	30-28	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
1985	September 9	Dallas Cowboys	44-14	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	November 10	Dallas Cowboys	13-7	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1986	October 12	Dallas Cowboys	30-6	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	November 23	Washington Redskins	41-14	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
1987	October 19	Washington Redskins	13-7	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	December 13	Washington Redskins	24-20	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
1988	October 9	Washington Redskins	35-17	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	December 11	Dallas Cowboys	24-17	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1989	September 24	Washington Redskins	30-7	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	November 5	Dallas Cowboys	13-3	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium

1990s (Cowboys 12-8)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
1990	September 23	Washington Redskins	19-15	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	November 22	Dallas Cowboys	27-17	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1991	September 9	Washington Redskins	33-31	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	November 24	Dallas Cowboys	24-21	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
1992	September 7	Dallas Cowboys	23-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 13	Washington Redskins	20-17	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
1993	September 6	Washington Redskins	35-16	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 26	Dallas Cowboys	38-3	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1994	October 2	Dallas Cowboys	34-7	Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium
	November 20	Dallas Cowboys	31-7	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1995	October 1	Washington Redskins	27-23	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
	December 3	Washington Redskins	24-17	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
1996	November 28	Dallas Cowboys	21-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 22	Washington Redskins	37-10	Dallas Cowboys	RFK Stadium
1997	October 13	Washington Redskins	21-16	Dallas Cowboys	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
	November 16	Dallas Cowboys	17-14	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1998	October 4	Dallas Cowboys	31-10	Washington Redskins	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
	December 27	Dallas Cowboys	23-7	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
1999	September 12	Dallas Cowboys	41-35 (OT)	Washington Redskins	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
	October 24	Dallas Cowboys	38-20	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium

2000s (Cowboys 14-6)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
2000	September 18	Dallas Cowboys	27-21	Washington Redskins	FedExField
	December 10	Dallas Cowboys	32-13	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
2001	October 15	Dallas Cowboys	9-7	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 2	Dallas Cowboys	20-14	Washington Redskins	FedExField
2002	November 28	Dallas Cowboys	27-20	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 29	Washington Redskins	20-14	Dallas Cowboys	FedExField
2003	November 2	Dallas Cowboys	21-14	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 14	Dallas Cowboys	27-0	Washington Redskins	FedExField
2004	September 27	Dallas Cowboys	21-18	Washington Redskins	FedExField
	December 26	Dallas Cowboys	13-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
2005	September 19	Washington Redskins	14-13	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	December 18	Washington Redskins	35-7	Dallas Cowboys	FedExField
2006	September 17	Dallas Cowboys	27-10	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	November 5	Washington Redskins	22-19	Dallas Cowboys	FedExField
2007	November 18	Dallas Cowboys	28-23	Washington Redskins	Texas Stadium
	December 30	Washington Redskins	27-6	Dallas Cowboys	FedExField
2008	September 28	Washington Redskins	26-24	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium
	November 16	Dallas Cowboys	14-10	Washington Redskins	FedExField
2009	November 22	Dallas Cowboys	7-6	Washington Redskins	Cowboys Stadium
	December 27	Dallas Cowboys	17-0	Washington Redskins	FedExField

2010s (Cowboys 2-1)

Year	Date	Winner	Result	Loser	Location
2010	September 12	Washington Redskins	13-7	Dallas Cowboys	FedEx Field
	December 19	Dallas Cowboys	33-30	Washington Redskins	Cowboys Stadium
2011	September 26	Dallas Cowboys	18-16	Washington Redskins	Cowboys Stadium

Monday Night Football

The Cowboys and Redskins have met 15 times on Monday Night Football, second only to the Raiders & Broncos (matched up 17 times as of September 27, 2011 season); The teams met last in 2011. The series has been played eight times at Washington's home field (five times at RFK Stadium and three times at FedEx Field) and seven times at Dallas' home field (six at Texas Stadium and one at Cowboys Stadium). The Cowboys hold a 8-7 (no ties) lead in this rivalry on Monday Night Football.

Year	Winner	Result	Location
1973	Washington Redskins	14-7	Washington, D.C.
1978	Washington Redskins	9-5	Washington, D.C.
1980	Dallas Cowboys	17-3	Washington, D.C.
1983	Dallas Cowboys	31-30	Washington, D.C.
1985	Dallas Cowboys	44-14	Irving, Texas
1987	Washington Redskins	13-7	Irving, Texas
1991	Washington Redskins	33-31	Irving, Texas
1992	Dallas Cowboys	23-10	Irving, Texas
1993	Washington Redskins	35-16	Washington, D.C.
1997	Washington Redskins	21-16	Landover, Maryland
2000	Dallas Cowboys	27-21	Landover, Maryland
2001	Dallas Cowboys	9-7	Irving, Texas
2004	Dallas Cowboys	21-18	Landover, Maryland
2005	Washington Redskins	14-13	Irving, Texas
2011	Dallas Cowboys	18-16	Arlington, Texas

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys Regular Season/Postseason Results". The Football Database. http://www.footballdb.com/teamvsteam.html?tm=32&opp=9. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
2. ^ All Super Bowls from I through XLI (1966–2006)
3. ^ "Top 10 NFL Rivalries Of All Time". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/12/15/gallery.oldrivals/content.10.html. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
4. ^ "The Cowboys-Redskins rivalry redefines the term ‘fight song’". FOX Sports. http://cadillacof.msn.com/foxsports/article.aspx?category=nfl&articleid=5962642. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
5. ^ "NFL Team Valuations". Forbes. September 2, 2009. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/30/football-values-09_NFL-Team-Valuations_Value.html. 
6. ^ "NFL History 1951-1960". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1951-1960#1960. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "A rivalry for a song ... and chicken feed". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/toomay/020314.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
8. ^ "Cowboys own the Redskins". CowboyCards.com. http://cowboycards.com/Articles/cowboysownRedskins.asp. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
9. ^ "Minority Players and the American Football League". Conigliofamily.com. http://www.conigliofamily.com/MinorityPlayers.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
10. ^ "Cowboy Bomb Shocks Redskins, 24-23". Washington Post. July 23, 1998. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/longterm/1997/history/allart/dw1974b.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
11. ^ "Harvey Martin 1950-2001". Cyberclopedia. Archived from the original on 2009-08-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20090807124537/http://geocities.com/cyberclopedia3/memorial/harveymartin.html. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
12. ^ "Mavs guard Armstrong fined $1,000 for cheering Redskins". USAToday. December 19, 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/mavericks/2005-12-19-armstrong_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
13. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOCdACvfls8&feature=related

External links

• "washingtonpost.com – Redskins History - The Rivalry". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/history/rivalry/rivalry.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
• "Redskins-Cowboys: What's Your Favorite Memory?". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/polls/sports/skins_dallas112.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
• "A rivalry for a song ... and chicken feed". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/toomay/020314.html. Retrieved 2007-10-24. 
• "NFL Playoffs-Cowboys Postseason History". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/1998/playoffs/news/1998/12/30/cowboys_history/. Retrieved 2007-10-24.