Cowboys All Time Opening Game History

[Bobhaze]

This is long, but it contains every opener the Cowboys have played and results….

This September, the Dallas Cowboys will kick off their 65th season as an NFL team. Since it’s opening season in 1960, the Cowboys are 40-23-1 all time in its opening games. The very first regular season Cowboys game was held Sept.24th, 1960 in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. We lost 35-28. Amazingly, the first 7 season openers of Cowboys football were all home games.

OPENING GAMES EACH SEASON (*denotes SB winning season)

• 1960 - vs. Pitts. L 35-28
• 1961 - vs. Pitts. (again!) W 27-24
• 1962 - vs. Washington, T 35-35
• 1963 - vs. St. Louis Cards L 34-7
• 1964 - vs. St. Louis Cards L 16-6
• 1965 - vs. NY Giants W 31-2
• 1966 - vs. NY giants W 52-7
• 1967 - @ Cleveland W 21-14
• 1968 - vs. Detroit Lions W 52-14
• 1969 - vs. St. Louis Cards W 24-14

The Cowboys were 6-3-1 in opening games in the 60s.

• 1970 - @ Phila Eagles W 17-7
• 1971* - @ LA Rams W 45-21
• 1972 - vs. Phila eagles W 28-6
• 1973 - @Chi Bears W 20-17
• 1974 - @Atlanta Falcons W 24-0
• 1975 - vs. LA Rams W 18-7
• 1976 - vs. Phil eagles W 27-7
• 1977*- @Minn Vikings W 16-10 in first reg season OT game in NFL history)
• 1978 - vs. Balt Colts W 38-0
• 1979 - @ St. Louis Cards W 22-21

The Cowboys were undefeated on opening games in the 1970s, going 10-0. In fact from 1965-81, the Cowboys won 17 straight opening games.

• 1980 - @ Washington W 17-3
• 1981 - @ Washington W 26-3
• 1982 - vs. Pitt Steelers L 36-28
• 1983 - @ Washington W 31-30
• 1984 - @LA Rams W 20-13
• 1985- vs Washington W 44-14
• 1986 - vs NYG W 31-28
• 1987 - @ STL Cards L 24-13
• 1988 - @ Pitt Steelers L 24-21
• 1989 - @ New Orl Saints L 28-0

The Cowboys were 6-4 in opening games in the 1980s

• 1990 - vs San Diego Chargers W 17-14
• 1991 - @Cle Browns W 26-14
• 1992*- vs Washington W 23-10
• 1993*- @Washinton L 35-16
• 1994- @ Pitts Steelers W 26-9
• 1995*- @ NY giants W 35-0
• 1996- @ Chi Bears L 22-6
• 1997- @ Pitts Steelers W 27-7
• 1998- vs Ariz Cards W 38-10
• 1999- @ Washington W 41-35 OT

In the 90s, the Cowboys were 8-2 in openers, and amazingly 7 of 10 openers that decade on the road.

• 2000 - vs Phi eagles L 41-14
• 2001 - vs Tampa Bay L 10-6
• 2002- @ Hou Texans L 19-10
• 2003- vs Atl Falcons L 27-13
• 2004- @ Minn Vikings L 35-17
• 2005- @ SD Chargers W 28-24
• 2006- @ Jax Jaguars L 24-17
• 2007- vs NYG W 45-35
• 2008- @ Cle Browns W 28-10
• 2009- @ Tampa Bay W 34-21

The 2000-2009 decade was a bad one for season openers- we were 4-6, including 5 straight losses.

• 2010- @ Washington L 13-7
• 2011- @ NY Jets L 27-24
• 2012- @ NY giants W 24-17
• 2013- vs NY giants W 36-31
• 2014 vs SF Niners L 28-17
• 2015- vs NY giants W 27-26
• 2016- vs NY giants L 20-19
• 2017- vs NY giants W 19-3
• 2018 - @Carolina Panthers L 16-8
• 2019- vs NY giants W 35-17

2010-19, the Cowboys were 6-4 in openers and played the giants 6 times in openers.

• 2020- @LA Rams L 2017
• 2021- @ Tampa Bay L 31-29
• 2022- vs Tampa Bay L 19-3
• 2023- @ NY giants W 40-0

Yes it’s long, but hopefully interesting.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Can the season just start already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bobhaze]

Since 2000, the Cowboys are 11-13 in season openers.
Compare that to their opening game record from 1960-99 which was 30-9-1.

Tom Landry was 22-6-1 in opening games.
Jimmy Johnson was 3-2.
Barry Switzer was 3-1.
Chan Gailey was 2-0.
Dave Campo was 0-3.
Bill Parcells was 2-2.
Wade Phillips was 3-1
Jason Garrett was 5-4
Mike McCarthy is 1-3.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Since 2000, the Cowboys are 11-13 in season openers.

So many of those games the Cowboys sleep walked through them like they were stuck in preseason.

 

[fivetwos]

Good thing after 3-4 seasons, no one said “this Landry guy isn’t cutting it.”

What a great man he was. They threw out the mold, that’s for sure.

 

[Motorola]

The Cowboys have played every NFC South team at least one time to start a season - but have never played any AFC East team in a season opener.
All NFC teams have played Dallas to start a season except two - Seattle and ....Green Bay (odd).
10 AFC teams have yet to play the Cowboys to begin a season.

 

[Bobhaze]

Good thing after 3-4 seasons, no one said “this Landry guy isn’t cutting it.”

What a great man he was. They threw out the mold, that’s for sure.

Still blows my mind that under Landry the Cowboys won 17 straight opening games from 1965-81. That is still unbelievable.

 

[Motorola]

Since 2000, the Cowboys are 11-13 in season openers.
Compare that to their opening game record from 1960-99 which was 30-9-1.

Tom Landry was 22-6-1 in opening games.
Jimmy Johnson was 3-2.
Barry Switzer was 3-1.
Chan Gailey was 2-0.
Dave Campo was 0-4.
Bill Parcells was 2-2.
Wade Phillips was 3-1
Jason Garrett was 5-4
Mike McCarthy is 1-3.

Campo was head coach three seasons___2000, 2001, 2002 - so his record is 0-3.

 

[fivetwos]

Still blows my mind that under Landry the Cowboys won 17 straight opening games from 1965-81. That is still unbelievable.

As an adult I’m still amazed that he as a coach, with his personality, made a little kid a Cowboys fan.

Innovative…a trend setter, not a follower. The ultimate in classy human behavior.

We have about the opposite these days. Stripper busses and outdated schemes.

More and more I begin to realize that I’ve had my day with this being fun, or even about football. Jerry’s ego wins. Stephens inheritance benefits. Yay!

 

[maryquality]

Still blows my mind that under Landry the Cowboys won 17 straight opening games from 1965-81. That is still unbelievable.

Yeah, that's amazing. Shows you just what type of coach Tom Landry was. He had them prepared for that opener. I bet the veterans even played in the preseason games!!

 

[VaqueroTD]

This is long, but it contains every opener the Cowboys have played and results….

This September, the Dallas Cowboys will kick off their 65th season as an NFL team. Since it’s opening season in 1960, the Cowboys are 40-23-1 all time in its opening games. The very first regular season Cowboys game was held Sept.24th, 1960 in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. We lost 35-28. Amazingly, the first 7 season openers of Cowboys football were all home games.

OPENING GAMES EACH SEASON (*denotes SB winning season)

• 1960 - vs. Pitts. L 35-28
• 1961 - vs. Pitts. (again!) W 27-24
• 1962 - vs. Washington, T 35-35
• 1963 - vs. St. Louis Cards L 34-7
• 1964 - vs. St. Louis Cards L 16-6
• 1965 - vs. NY Giants W 31-2
• 1966 - vs. NY giants W 52-7
• 1967 - @ Cleveland W 21-14
• 1968 - vs. Detroit Lions W 52-14
• 1969 - vs. St. Louis Cards W 24-14

The Cowboys were 6-3-1 in opening games in the 60s.

• 1970 - @ Phila Eagles W 17-7
• 1971 - @ LA Rams W 45-21
• 1972*- vs. Phila eagles W 28-6
• 1973 - @Chi Bears W 20-17
• 1974 - @Atlanta Falcons W 24-0
• 1975 - vs. LA Rams W 18-7
• 1976 - vs. Phil eagles W 27-7
• 1977*- @Minn Vikings W 16-10 in first reg season OT game in NFL history)
• 1978 - vs. Balt Colts W 38-0
• 1979 - @ St. Louis Cards W 22-21

The Cowboys were undefeated on opening games in the 1970s, going 10-0. In fact from 1965-81, the Cowboys won 17 straight opening games.

• 1980 - @ Washington W 17-3
• 1981 - @ Washington W 26-3
• 1982 - vs. Pitt Steelers L 36-28
• 1983 - @ Washington W 31-30
• 1984 - @LA Rams W 20-13
• 1985- vs Washington W 44-14
• 1986 - vs NYG W 31-28
• 1987 - @ STL Cards L 24-13
• 1988 - @ Pitt Steelers L 24-21
• 1989 - @ New Orl Saints L 28-0

The Cowboys were 6-4 in opening games in the 1980s

• 1990 - vs San Diego Chargers W 17-14
• 1991 - @Cle Browns W 26-14
• 1992*- vs Washington W 23-10
• 1993*- @Washinton L 35-16
• 1994- @ Pitts Steelers W 26-9
• 1995*- @ NY giants W 35-0
• 1996- @ Chi Bears L 22-6
• 1997- @ Pitts Steelers W 27-7
• 1998- vs Ariz Cards W 38-10
• 1999- @ Washington W 41-35 OT

In the 90s, the Cowboys were 8-2 in openers, and amazingly 7 of 10 openers that decade on the road.

• 2000 - vs Phi eagles L 41-14
• 2001 - vs Tampa Bay L 10-6
• 2002- @ Hou Texans L 19-10
• 2003- vs Atl Falcons L 27-13
• 2004- @ Minn Vikings L 35-17
• 2005- @ SD Chargers W 28-24
• 2006- @ Jax Jaguars L 24-17
• 2007- vs NYG W 45-35
• 2008- @ Cle Browns W 28-10
• 2009- @ Tampa Bay W 34-21

The 2000-2009 decade was a bad one for season openers- we were 4-6, including 5 straight losses.

• 2010- @ Washington L 13-7
• 2011- @ NY Jets L 27-24
• 2012- @ NY giants W 24-17
• 2013- vs NY giants W 36-31
• 2014 vs SF Niners L 28-17
• 2015- vs NY giants W 27-26
• 2016- vs NY giants L 20-19
• 2017- vs NY giants W 19-3
• 2018 - @Carolina Panthers L 16-8
• 2019- vs NY giants W 35-17

2010-19, the Cowboys were 6-4 in openers and played the giants 6 times in openers.

• 2020- @LA Rams L 2017
• 2021- @ Tampa Bay L 31-29
• 2022- vs Tampa Bay L 19-3
• 2023- @ NY giants W 40-0

Yes it’s long, but hopefully interesting.

A lot of memories. The last EXTREMELY painful opening day loss for me was that Texans game. Willing to bet Jerry started thinking about hiring Parcells right after that embarrassment.

1999 game was cool. One of Aikman’s last stands.

 

[plasticman]

Anybody notice the disparity in home openers versus away openers since the merger?

Since 1970.......33 away openers.....21 home opener.....

So much for parity and balance.

 

[MarcusRock]

Anybody notice the disparity in home openers versus away openers since the merger?

Since 1970.......33 away openers.....21 home opener.....

So much for parity and balance.

'Spiracy!!!

Or maybe there was an effort to avoid late Summer Texas heat at the start of the football season until the new stadium was built. Since 2010, there have been 7 home and 7 road openers. See? I can do "theory" with the best of ya's.

 

[Bobhaze]

Anybody notice the disparity in home openers versus away openers since the merger?

Since 1970.......33 away openers.....21 home opener.....

So much for parity and balance.

The NFL has always been weird about opening games - locations and teams. How did the Cowboys get 7 straight home openers in the 60s? Then later several years of being on the road multiple straight years.

It’s the NFL….doesn’t have to make sense.

 

[Bobhaze]

Campo was head coach three seasons___2000, 2001, 2002 - so his record is 0-3.

Thank you - My mistake- I will correct it.

 

[DallasEast]

The NFL has always been weird about opening games - locations and teams. How did the Cowboys get 7 straight home openers in the 60s? Then later several years of being on the road multiple straight years.

It’s the NFL….doesn’t have to make sense.

Bold> I would think that was done for supporting a new franchise, located in a football rich part of the country, by making them as visible as possible--albeit during the 1960's, television-poor era.

 

[Diehardblues]

The NFL has always been weird about opening games - locations and teams. How did the Cowboys get 7 straight home openers in the 60s? Then later several years of being on the road multiple straight years.

It’s the NFL….doesn’t have to make sense.

Yea the 60’s is weird. Wasn’t aware. You did a lot of work here Bob.

I do know once Texas Stadium was built in 1971 and we begin attending most of the home games we didn’t have many home games in Sept because it was like an oven in the stadium with Texas heat. The Cowboys appeared to schedule around it.

Then when Jimmy came he thought the smothering heat could be an advantage( home field advantage )and why he started having Training Camps in Austin to better prepare us for home games in Sept.

 

[plasticman]

The NFL has always been weird about opening games - locations and teams. How did the Cowboys get 7 straight home openers in the 60s? Then later several years of being on the road multiple straight years.

It’s the NFL….doesn’t have to make sense.

I've theorized that it is a common perception that the Cowboys make better "bad guys" than "good guys". They are one of the teams that fans of other teams love to see lose.

Love them or hate them, there is very little indifference when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys. Their national games are always tops in market share

 

[Bobhaze]

It’s interesting to see which teams we’ve played the most in opening games:

• giants - 12 times (6 times since 2010)
• wash- 8 times (7 times in the 80s and 90s)
• cardinals - 6 times (they used to be in our division- we played them in 4 openers in the 60s)
• steelers- 6 times (our first two openers were against the steelers)
• eagles - 4 times

 

[DandyDon52]

The Cowboys have played every NFC South team at least one time to start a season - but have never played any AFC East team in a season opener.
All NFC teams have played Dallas to start a season except two - Seattle and ....Green Bay (odd).
10 AFC teams have yet to play the Cowboys to begin a season.

those teams should be targeted to open with dallas, bound to be 1 or 2 that would make for a good game.
If first game is boring matchup, it is like the season was delayed another week!