Dallas Cowboys Christmas games history

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Football season, that is. Hopefully, the joy of this season will bring a merry playoff push for the Dallas Cowboys.

In their over 60 year history, the Cowboys have played more games on Christmas day than any other team in the NFL. Of the 22 games played on Christmas Day in the league’s history, Dallas has played in five.

This year, the Cowboys don’t play on Christmas, but they will be taking on the Washington Football Team the day after Christmas at AT&T Stadium. Hopefully, the players being Home for the Holidays in the Lone Star State with friends and family will bring good tidings against an NFC East foe.

Until then, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look back at three of those Christmas Day games.

Dallas Cowboys Christmas Day Game History

Dallas played in one of the two first-ever games on Christmas Day in 1971. Luckily, that game brought a holly, jolly W. However, in the five games the Cowboys have played on Dec. 25, they have gone just 2-3. Let’s take a deeper look at three of the exciting matchups.

1. 1971 – Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12

According to the history books, the Cowboys’ defense in 1971 looked as good on Christmas Day as the 2021 Cowboys’ defense looks in the last three of their games. In 1971, the defense forced five turnovers to help Dallas dominate the time of possession. The Cowboys scored twice in the third quarter thanks to a rushing touchdown by Duane Thomas and a Roger Staubach pass to Bob Hayes.

2. 1995 – Dallas Cowboys 37, Arizona Cardinals 13

This Monday night Christmas matchup between two NFC teams was the final game of the regular season in 1995. This W earned the Cowboys homefield advantage throughout the rest of the NFC playoff picture. The victory was led by Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, who passed for 350 yards. Aikman threw two touchdown passes to Kevin Williams. Williams was feeling the holiday spirit, as he caught a career-high nine passes for over 200 yards.

3. 2010 – Dallas Cowboys 26, Arizona Cardinals 27

In a Christmas Day rematch 15 years later, the Cardinals just barely squeaked by the Cowboys. Dallas dominated the game statistically but gave up two pick-sixes early that allowed Arizona to jump to a 21-3 lead. America’s Team started to stage a comeback, pulling ahead with just under two minutes left in the game. The Grinch on the roster was kicker David Buehler, who missed the extra-point attempt (hey, sounds like someone we know on the current squad), which gave Dallas only a two-point lead. This left the door open for Arizona’s Jay Feely to kick a 48-yard game-winning field goal. Bah humbug.

But, enough about the past. Let’s talk about the team the Cowboys will be facing this Christmas weekend: the Washington Football Team.

Dallas Cowboys Christmas week games vs Washington

Even though Dallas has never played Washington on Dec. 25, it seems as though the NFC East rivals face each other a good amount this time of year. In the last 17 years, the Cowboys have played Washington six times during the week of Christmas. Dallas has won four of those six contests and hopes to do the same on Dec 26, 2021, at AT&T Stadium.

Here are how the last six matchups ended up:

1. 2019: Dallas 47, Washington 16
2. 2014: Dallas 44, Washington 17
3. 2012: Dallas 18, Washington 28
4. 2009: Dallas 17, Washington 0
5. 2007: Dallas 6, Washington 27
6. 2004: Dallas 13, Washington 10

This Sunday’s Week 16 matchup brings an opportunity for America’s Team to go 5-0 in the NFC East so far this season. But with the bright lights of Sunday Night Football the night after Christmas, who knows what this rivalry game will bring. Let’s hope that all is bright, and the offense and defense will be jingling all the way to a victory!

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