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Commanders–Cowboys rivalry

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The Cowboys–Redskins rivalry is a sports rivalry between two of the most storied 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" [1]. The two clubs have won 31 combined NFC Eastern Division championships and eight combined Super Bowls.

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 the Redskins, and from that point on, they have played each other twice during every regular season.

The Beginning

Texas oil tycoon Clint Murchison was having a hard time bringing an NFL team to Dallas. 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 cancelled the whole deal.

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. Breeskin wanted revenge after the failed negotiations with Marshall. He approached Tom Webb, Murchison’s lawyer, and sold the rights for $2,500.

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 the legendary rivalry began.

Heating Up

The Cowboys-Redskins rivalry dates back to 1960, but things didn't heat up until 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 Miami 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. 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 oddsmakers favored Dallas 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 11-1-0 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 Dallas Cowboys had not triumphed in 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 and the opponent was none other than the Dallas 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 champs, the San Fransisco 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.

Washington then went to the Super Bowl against Miami.

The Cowboy Chicken Club

In December 1961, an unknown number of Cowboys fans snuck into D.C. Stadium, armed with bags of chicken feed. 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. 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 boldly stating, "We'll start signing Negroes when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites."

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 3rd Redskins-Cowboys matchup in less than a year, pranksters snuck into Marshall's hotel suite and dropped off a large turkey named "Eric" 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."[2]

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. 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. 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.

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

Rivalry history

1960s

Oct. 9, 1960: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 26-14.

Nov. 19, 1961: 28-28 tie.

Dec. 17, 1961: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 34-24.

Sept. 16, 1962: 35-35 tie.

Nov. 10, 1962: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 38-10.

Sept. 29, 1963: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 21-17.

Nov. 3, 1963: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 35-20.

Sept. 20, 1964: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 24-18.

Nov. 22, 1964: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 28-16.

Sept. 26, 1965: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-7.

Nov. 28, 1965: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 34-31.

Nov. 13, 1966: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 31-30.

Dec. 11, 1966: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 34-31.

Oct. 8, 1967: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 17-14.

Nov. 19, 1967: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 27-20.

Nov. 17, 1968: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 44-24.

Nov. 28, 1968: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 29-20.

Nov. 16, 1969: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 41-28.

Dec. 21, 1969: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 20-10.

1970s

Nov. 22, 1970: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 45-20.

Dec. 6, 1970: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 34-0.

Nov. 21, 1971: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins 13-0.

Oct. 22, 1972: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 24-20.

Dec. 9, 1972: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 34-24.

Dec. 31, 1972: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 26-3.

Oct. 8, 1973: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 14-7.

Dec. 9, 1973: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-7.

Nov. 17, 1974: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 28-21.

Nov. 28, 1974: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 24-23.

Nov. 2, 1975: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 30-24.

Dec. 13, 1975: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 31-10.

Dec. 12, 1976: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 27-14.

Oct. 16, 1977: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 34-16.

Nov. 27, 1977: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 14-7.

Oct. 2, 1978: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 9-5.

Nov. 23, 1978: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 37-10.

Nov. 18, 1979: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 34-20.

Dec. 16, 1979: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 35-34.

1980s

Nov. 27, 1980: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 14-10.

Sept. 6, 1981: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 26-10.

Nov. 22, 1981: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 24-10.

Dec. 5, 1982: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 24-10.

Jan. 23, 1983: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 31-17.

Sept. 5, 1983: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 31-30.

Dec. 11, 1983: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 31-10.

Oct. 14, 1984: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 34-14.

Dec. 9, 1984: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 30-28.

Sept. 9, 1985: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 44-14.

Oct. 12, 1986: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 30-6.

Nov. 23, 1986: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys 41-14.

Oct. 19, 1987: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 13-7.

Dec. 13, 1987: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 24-20.

Oct. 9, 1988: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 35-17.

Dec. 11, 1988: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins 24-17.

Sept. 24, 1989: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 30-7.

Nov. 5, 1989: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 13-3.

1990s

Sept. 23, 1990: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 19-15.

Nov. 22, 1990: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-17.

Sept. 9, 1991: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 33-31.

Nov. 24, 1991: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 24-21.

Sept. 7, 1992: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 23-10.

Dec. 13, 1992: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 20-17.

Sept. 6, 1993: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 35-16.

Dec. 26, 1993: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 38-3.

Oct. 2, 1994: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 34-7.

Nov. 20, 1994: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 31-7.

Oct. 1, 1995: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 27-23.

Dec. 3, 1995: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 24-17.

Nov. 28, 1996: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 21-10.

Dec. 22, 1996: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 37-10.

Oct. 13, 1997: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 21-16.

Nov. 16, 1997: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 17-14.

Oct. 4, 1998: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 31-10.

Dec. 27, 1998: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 23-7.

Sept. 12, 1999: Dallas Cowboys over Washington, 41-35 (OT).

Oct. 24, 1999: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 38-20.

2000s

Sept. 18, 2000: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-21.

Dec. 10, 2000: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 32-13.

Oct. 15, 2001: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 9-7.

Dec. 2, 2001: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 20-14.

Nov. 28, 2002: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-20.

Dec. 29, 2002: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 20-14.

Nov. 2, 2003: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 21-14.

Dec. 14, 2003: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-0.

Sep. 27, 2004: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 21-18.

Dec. 26, 2004: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 13-10.

Sep. 19, 2005: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 14-13.

Dec. 18, 2005: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 35-7.

Sep. 17, 2006: Dallas Cowboys over Washington Redskins, 27-10.

Nov. 5, 2006: Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys, 22-19.

By the numbers

  • Overall Record Through '06 season - Dallas 55, Washington 36 (2 ties).
  • Redskins have beaten the Cowboys twice in postseason.
  • Redskins vs. Cowboys on Monday Night Football
1973: Redskins, 14-7 (in Washington)
1978: Redskins, 9-5 (in Washington)
1980: Cowboys, 17-3 (in Washington)
1983: Cowboys, 31-30 (in Washington)
1985: Cowboys, 44-14 (in Dallas)
1987: Redskins, 13-7 (in Dallas)
1991: Redskins, 33-31 (in Dallas)
1992: Cowboys, 23-10 (in Dallas)
1993: Redskins, 35-16 (in Washington)
1997: Redskins, 21-16 (in Washington)
2000: Cowboys, 27-21 (in Washington)
2001: Cowboys, 9-7 (in Dallas)
2004: Cowboys 21-18 (in Washington)
2005: Redskins 14-13 (in Dallas)

Trivia

  • Two of the most storied games in the rivalry have come in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Week 2 of the 2005 season, the Redskins were at Dallas. Throughout the game Dallas had dominated, and were trying to run out the clock in the 4th Quarter with a 13-0 lead. However, with a little more than 4 minutes to go in the game QB Mark Brunell connected with Santana Moss on two touchdowns to win the game. Then in Week 9 of the 2006 season, arguably one of the most awkward game in the rivalry came. Earlier in the season the Cowboys defeated the Redskins by 13 points, and the Redskins were underdogs in the Week 9 matchup in Washington, due to the fact that they had lost 3 strait. In the 4th Quarter the game was tied 19-19. With 30 seconds to go the Redskins recently aquired kicker Nick Novak missed a 47 yard field goal. The Cowboys then worked their way up the field, to set up Mike Vanderjact, the most accurate kicker in NFL history for a 30 odd yard chip shot field goal, with only a few ticks left on the clock. However, the kick was blocked by Troy Vincent, a Defensive Back who had been released by the Buffalo Bills, only weeks earlier. The ball was scooped up by Redskins' Free Saftey, Sean Taylor who was then had his facemask pulled by Vanderjact, and was tackled down the field as time ran out. The game would have went into overtime, but by NFL rule a game cannot end under a defensive penalty, which is what Vanderjact was called for by grabbing the facemask, which was a personal foul giving the Redskins 15 more yards. Nick Novak would once again set up for a 2nd 47 yard field goal with no time left on the clock. Despite missing the first one wide left, Novak was able to boot it home on his 2nd chance. The crowd went wild, the Redskins' bench burst onto the field celebrating as if they had just won the Super Bowl.

References

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