History of the Cowboys on Opening Day

[Hostile]

1960...Sep 24, L, 35-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1961...Sep 17, W, 27-24, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1962...Sep 16, T, 35-35, vs Washington Commanders
1963...Sep 14, L, 34-7, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1964...Sep 12, L, 16-6, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1965...Sep 19, W, 31-2, vs New York Giants
1966...Sep 18, W, 52-7, vs New York Giants
1967...Sep 17, W, 21-14, at Cleveland Browns
1968...Sep 15, W, 59-13, vs Detroit Lions
1969...Sep 21, W, 24-3, vs St. Louis Cardinals

1970...Sep 20, W, 17-7, at Philadelphia Eagles
1971...Sep 19, W, 49-37, at Buffalo Bills
1972...Sep 17, W, 28-6, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1973...Sep 16, W, 20-17, at Chicago Bears
1974...Sep 15, W, 24-0, at Atlanta Falcons
1975...Sep 21, W, 18-7, vs Los Angeles Rams
1976...Sep 12, W, 27-7, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1977...Sep 18, W, 16-10, at Minnesota Vikings (OT)
1978...Sep 4, W, 38-0, vs Baltimore Colts
1979...Sep 2, W, 22-21, at St. Louis Cardinals

1980...Sep 8, W, 17-3, at Washington Commanders
1981...Sep 6, W, 26-10, at Washington Commanders
1982...Sep 13, L, 36-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1983...Sep 5, W, 31-30, at Washington Commanders
1984...Sep 3 W, 20-13, at Los Angeles Rams
1985...Sep 9, W, 44-14, vs Washington Commanders
1986...Sep 8, W, 31-28, vs New York Giants
1987...Sep 13, L, 24-13, at St. Louis Cardinals
1988...Sep 4, L, 24-21, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1989...Sep 10, L, 28-0, at New Orleans Saints

1990...Sep 9, W, 17-14, vs San Diego Chargers
1991...Sep 1, W, 26-14, at Cleveland Browns
1992...Sep 7, W, 23-10, vs Washington Commanders
1993...Sep 6, L, 38-16, at Washington Commanders
1994...Sep 4, W, 26-9, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1995...Sep 4, W, 35-0, at New York Giants
1996...Sep 2, L, 22-6, at Chicago Bears
1997... Aug 31, W, 37-7, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1998...Sep 6, W, 38-10, vs Arizona Cardinals
1999...Sep 12, W, 41-35, at Washington Commanders

2000...Sep 3, L, 41-14, vs Philadelphia Eagles
2001...Sep 9, L, 10-6, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2002...Sep 8, L, 19-10, at Houston Texans
2003...Sep 7, L, 27-13, vs Atlanta Falcons
2004...Sep 12, L, 35-17, at Minnesota Vikings
2005...Sep 11, W, 28-24, at San Diego Chargers

Longest winning streak, 17 games, 1965 to 1981.
Longest losing streak, 5 games, 2000 to 2004.

All time record, 31-14-1. 69%

Record at home, 14-7-1. 67%

Record on the road, 17-7. 71%


1960's...6-3-1.
1970's...10-0.
1980's...6-4.
1990's...8-2.
2000-2005...1-5.

Landry years...22-6-1, 79%.
Johnson years...3-2, 60%.
Switzer years...3-1, 75%.
Gailey years...2-0, 100%.
Campo years...0-3, 0%
Parcells years...1-2, 33%.


1133 points scored.
820 points allowed.


59, most points scored in a win.
28, most points scored in a loss (2 times)
37, most points allowed in a win.
41, most points allowed in a loss.


Versus...

Pittsburgh Steelers, 3-3.
Washington Commanders, 6-1-1.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals, 3-3.
New York Giants, 4-0.
Cleveland Browns, 2-0.
Detroit Lions, 1-0.
Philadelphia Eagles, 2-1.
Buffalo Bills, 1-0.
Chicago Bears, 1-1.
Atlanta Falcons, 1-1.
Los Angeles Rams, 2-0.
Minnesota Vikings, 1-1.
Baltimore Colts, 1-0.
New Orleans Saints, 0-1.
San Diego Chargers, 2-0.
Houston Texans, 0-1.

 

[TheHustler]

Houston Texans, 0-1.

Sigh. :bang2: :bang2:

 

[Gibby!]

So can we count week 2 as opening day? :

 

[Hostile]

I was amazed how many times we opened against Pittsburgh. We've played them as much as the rest of the AFC combined, and more than we've played 2 division opponents. Kind of a strange anamoly of all of this.

 

[Gibby!]

Superbowl rematches?

And 0-1 against the Saints. Simply disgraceful :

 

[jcblanco22]

Interesting stuff Hos, thanks for posting it.

A few personal sidebars on some of these, perhaps others can chime in with their own recollections:

The 31-28 win over the Giants on MNF in '86 was great. I remember Herschel running it in from the 5 on a draw as I watched in secret in my room with the sound all the way down on a black and white set (in '86 :laugh1:, it was a spare old one still being kept around). My 15 year-old imagination had us going to the big game with Herschel on the strength of that one play, LOL.

The 44-14 lambasting of the Skins in '85 (edit: I originally had '83 in there, and '83 was actually a terrific game with Tony Hill catching those 2 touchdowns late to give us the improbable 31-30 victory) also seemed like a harbinger of wonderful things to come, but alas, it would end short of the ultimate goal again. Still satisfying to kick off the season whipping on them though.

I remember being somewhat shocked that we took the Browns on the road in the '91 opener by almost 2 touchdowns. This game, while paling in insignificance to many others in the build-up to the 3 SB titles of the '90s, always seemed to be underrated in my opinion. If I recall correctly, it was one of the earliest examples of a game where the Triplets all turned in great performances.

The '92 domination of the Skins on MNF to open up was pure euphoria and the next big step. Still, I don't think too many of us were daring to dream Super Bowl just yet at that point in the season.

Didn't it seem that the team would not miss a beat with Switzer at the helm after that '94 opener? I remember thinking that the score looked closer than it really was. Total domination, I recall our defense getting 9 sacks, Emmitt going for 171, Troy throwing for 256, and Irvin catching 9 to the tune of 119 yards if memory serves me correct. Just a total, total manhandling.

Ironically enough, was there a bigger tease to start a season than the '97 lambasting that we gave those same Steelers? This time the victory was by a wider margin, although I still say the '94 opener featured a more dominant performance by our squad. The one thing I'll always remember thinking during and right after that '97 game: "Boy, wait 'till Anthony Miller really gets clicking in this offense".

Who would've thought the Gailey era would end the way it did after all the smiles following the '98 opener? Even Aikman was happy and fending off questions about whether he would become a "running" quarterback in the new offense after he ran two in. Billy Davis even caught a touchdown, and dislocated a finger while doing a split during his celebration, LOL. I just remember thinking that the offensive system and the players' discipline was such a breath of fresh air after a dreadful '97 campaign. I also recall Aeneas Williams's telling remark after the game, about how in the couple of seasons prior they'd pretty much been able to predict Zampese's playcalls ahead of time, and how different this game had been.

'99 has to rank as perhaps my all-time favorite opener. Danny Boy's first game as Commanders owner, and Aikman and Ismail bomb him and his club in overtime! That game was truly incredible, and remembering how we came back from 35-14 in the 4th quarter, with Irvin getting the best of Darrell Green a couple of times, makes it all the more gut-wrenching to think what might have been that year had Michael not gone down for good in Week 4.

Openers leave a special kind of memory that never really fades!

 

[Hostile]

Interesting stuff Hos, thanks for posting it.

A few personal sidebars on some of these, perhaps others can chime in with their own recollections:

I am so glad you posted this.

More than anything, this is what I hoped this thread would evolve into. Sharing our memories of the games. Thank you.

Okay, gotta go read your post now.

 

[Rack]

Great, so we're currently in our longest opening day losing streak in team history.

:bang2:


1965 - 1981 was phenomenal. That stuff just doesn't happen.


I wonder who has the longest opening day winning streak in NFL history?

 

[DallasEast]

1960...Sep 24, L, 35-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1961...Sep 17, W, 27-24, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1962...Sep 16, T, 35-35, vs Washington Commanders
1963...Sep 14, L, 34-7, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1964...Sep 12, L, 16-6, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1965...Sep 19, W, 31-2, vs New York Giants
1966...Sep 18, W, 52-7, vs New York Giants
1967...Sep 17, W, 21-14, at Cleveland Browns
1968...Sep 15, W, 59-13, vs Detroit Lions
1969...Sep 21, W, 24-3, vs St. Louis Cardinals

1970...Sep 20, W, 17-7, at Philadelphia Eagles
1971...Sep 19, W, 49-37, at Buffalo Bills
1972...Sep 17, W, 28-6, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1973...Sep 16, W, 20-17, at Chicago Bears
1974...Sep 15, W, 24-0, at Atlanta Falcons
1975...Sep 21, W, 18-7, vs Los Angeles Rams
1976...Sep 12, W, 27-7, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1977...Sep 18, W, 16-10, at Minnesota Vikings (OT)
1978...Sep 4, W, 38-0, vs Baltimore Colts
1979...Sep 2, W, 22-21, at St. Louis Cardinals

1980...Sep 8, W, 17-3, at Washington Commanders
1981...Sep 6, W, 26-10, at Washington Commanders
1982...Sep 13, L, 36-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1983...Sep 5, W, 31-30, at Washington Commanders
1984...Sep 3 W, 20-13, at Los Angeles Rams
1985...Sep 9, W, 44-14, vs Washington Commanders
1986...Sep 8, W, 31-28, vs New York Giants
1987...Sep 13, L, 24-13, at St. Louis Cardinals
1988...Sep 4, L, 24-21, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1989...Sep 10, L, 28-0, at New Orleans Saints

1990...Sep 9, W, 17-14, vs San Diego Chargers
1991...Sep 1, W, 26-14, at Cleveland Browns
1992...Sep 7, W, 23-10, vs Washington Commanders
1993...Sep 6, L, 38-16, at Washington Commanders
1994...Sep 4, W, 26-9, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1995...Sep 4, W, 35-0, at New York Giants
1996...Sep 2, L, 22-6, at Chicago Bears
1997... Aug 31, W, 37-7, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1998...Sep 6, W, 38-10, vs Arizona Cardinals
1999...Sep 12, W, 41-35, at Washington Commanders

2000...Sep 3, L, 41-14, vs Philadelphia Eagles
2001...Sep 9, L, 10-6, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2002...Sep 8, L, 19-10, at Houston Texans
2003...Sep 7, L, 27-13, vs Atlanta Falcons
2004...Sep 12, L, 35-17, at Minnesota Vikings
2005...Sep 11, W, 28-24, at San Diego Chargers

Longest winning streak, 17 games, 1965 to 1981.
Longest losing streak, 5 games, 2000 to 2004.

All time record, 31-14-1. 69%

Record at home, 14-7-1. 67%

Record on the road, 17-7. 71%


1960's...6-3-1.
1970's...10-0.
1980's...6-4.
1990's...8-2.
2000-2005...1-5.

Landry years...22-6-1, 79%.
Johnson years...3-2, 60%.
Switzer years...3-1, 75%.
Gailey years...2-0, 100%.
Campo years...0-3, 0%
Parcells years...1-2, 33%.


1133 points scored.
820 points allowed.


59, most points scored in a win.
28, most points scored in a loss (2 times)
37, most points allowed in a win.
41, most points allowed in a loss.


Versus...

Pittsburgh Steelers, 3-3.
Washington Commanders, 6-1-1.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals, 3-3.
New York Giants, 4-0.
Cleveland Browns, 2-0.
Detroit Lions, 1-0.
Philadelphia Eagles, 2-1.
Buffalo Bills, 1-0.
Chicago Bears, 1-1.
Atlanta Falcons, 1-1.
Los Angeles Rams, 2-0.
Minnesota Vikings, 1-1.
Baltimore Colts, 1-0.
New Orleans Saints, 0-1.
San Diego Chargers, 2-0.
Houston Texans, 0-1.

...meanwhile, unbeknownst to Hostile, HeavyHitta31 is secretly seeking the aid of James Carville and Karl Rove in order to spin this latest thread in his favor.

Will these political gurus help HeavyHitta31 in his latest attempt to prove Hostile wrong about a topic long since proven correct?

OR

Will they demand that he stop asking them for the impossible for the umpteenth time?

STAY TUNED TRUE BELIEVERS!

 

[Hostile]

The '92 domination of the Skins on MNF to open up was pure euphoria and the next big step. Still, I don't think too many of us were daring to dream Super Bowl just yet at that point in the season.

Making the playoffs in 1991 had me so jazzed for 1992. I wasn't ready to think Super Bowl yet, but oh how I wanted to.

The ultimate let down was 1993, because Emmitt held out. I still think we might have won if he was in uniform. Our only opening day loss to the Skins in 46 years. Amazing when you think about it.

Didn't it seem that the team would not miss a beat with Switzer at the helm after that '94 opener? I remember thinking that the score looked closer than it really was. Total domination, I recall our defense getting 9 sacks, Emmitt going for 171, Troy throwing for 256, and Irvin catching 9 to the tune of 119 yards if memory serves me correct. Just a total, total manhandling.

Charles Haley sacked O'Donnell 4 times. I was screaming 3 peat. Man what a cold shower.

'99 has to rank as perhaps my all-time favorite opener. Danny Boy's first game as Commanders owner, and Aikman and Ismail bomb him and his club in overtime! That game was truly incredible, and remembering how we came back from 35-14 in the 4th quarter, with Irvin getting the best of Darrell Green a couple of times, makes it all the more gut-wrenching to think what might have been that year had Michael not gone down for good in Week 4.

Openers leave a special kind of memory that never really fades!

Yeah they do. One of my favorites was that overtime win against Minnesota in 1977. Staubach scored on a 4 yard run in overtime after the Vikings kicked a late FG to tie it up. Efren Herrera missed a winning FG with like 5 seconds left in regulation and I could tell Roger wasn't putting it on the kicker again. He took over.

 

[Hostile]

Great, so we're currently in our longest opening day losing streak in team history.

:bang2:


1965 - 1981 was phenomenal. That stuff just doesn't happen.


I wonder who has the longest opening day winning streak in NFL history?

We do with that one.

Oh and we won last year, losing streak over.

 

[Hostile]

...meanwhile, unbeknownst to Hostile, HeavyHitta31 is secretly seeking the aid of James Carville and Karl Rove in order to spin this latest thread in his favor.

Will these political gurus help HeavyHitta31 in his latest attempt to prove Hostile wrong about a topic long since proven correct?

OR

Will they demand that he stop asking them for the impossible for the umpteenth time?

STAY TUNED TRUE BELIEVERS!

He needs to stay out of the pool. he's in over his head and can't swim. Not even ringers will help him against the cold hard facts.

 

[jcblanco22]

Hos, I believe that Ismail pic you've got is actually from the 14-7 victory in 2001, the one where Carter came back from the assorted injuries and they bombed Champ on the fly pattern.

Not trying to be nitpicky, but it's just ironic you posted that, because I've noticed that a tape or pictures of that '99 opener seem very difficult to acquire. For whatever insane reason I opted not to do the usual "see-if-it's-a-victory-and-if-it's-not-I'll-just-tape-over-it thing" with my VCR that day and still don't have a copy to this day!!

 

[Hostile]

Hos, I believe that Ismail pic you've got is actually from the 14-7 victory in 2001, the one where Carter came back from the assorted injuries and they bombed Champ on the fly pattern.

Not trying to be nitpicky, but it's just ironic you posted that, because I've noticed that a tape or pictures of that '99 opener seem very difficult to acquire. For whatever insane reason I opted not to do the usual "see-if-it's-a-victory-and-if-it's-not-I'll-just-tape-over-it thing" with my VCR that day and still don't have a copy to this day!!

You may be right, but it still makes me feel good.

 

[jcblanco22]

You may be right, but it still makes me feel good.

LMAO, and that's what beating the 'Skins is all about anyhow.

 

[Rack]

We do with that one.

Oh and we won last year, losing streak over.

I'm gettin' old, Hos. I'm gettin' old.

 

[cowboyeric8]

This thread inspired me to watch the '99 opener, I have a copy. And I'm going to kind of analyze it for you guys like someone would do during the regular season.

Troy Aikman: though he threw 3 ints, he was still phenomonal. His accuracy was asstounding.

Emmitt Smith: He silently ran for over 100 yards and a TD. He certaintly hadn't lost a step in this video. Pure Emmitt all day.

Michael Irvin: Silent for most of the day, until the 4th quarter where he catches 2 TDs. He was getting taken out by Gailey most of the day, and was not happy about it. Pretty stupid if you ask me.

Daryl Johnston: Made great blocks, and at the end of the game he recovered an Emmitt fumble that would have lost the game for the Cowboys.

Raghib Ismail: One tough little SOB, he seemed to be Troy's only target for most of the game. He would make a catch get nailed and get right back up, no talking no nothin, just business. In the opening drive they ran the exact same play they did to win the game, Troy hits him in stride and he simply drops it. And lets just say, he didn't make that mistake later.

David Lafleur: He played like he might be a great TE someday. 2 TDs and he was taking some hits. He left part of the game due to a sprained knee and ankle done on the same play. But he later returned, watching the play I don't know if many people would have gotten up.

Dexter Coakley: Man that little guy was everywhere, and out of control at times. But he made many plays.

Greg Ellis: The second year man, had 2 sacks and one that stopped an important drive for the Commanders. He played well.

The starting corner backs: Due to injury of Deion Sanders and Kevin Smith, Charlie Williams and Kevin Mathis got the start, and they were pretty much torched all day. Though they showed some promise.

Darren Woodson: He was everywhere and the only one making tackles in the secondary. Left for series due to a stinger after he put a nice pop on the guy.

The o-line: Flozell wasn't to good, but Allen and Stepnoski well made up for it, they were moving people.

Richie Cunningham: The idiot little kicker makes an extra point off of the uprights on the final touchdown before OT after coming from 21 behind. It was so close to missing. I think Larry and the rest of the team might have just killed him.

Jeff Ogden: Was a pretty good little return man, he just seemed easy to take down.

Darrell Green: Was horrible, every reciever out there seemed to be beating him, exspecially Irvin and Rocket.

Brad Johnson and Larry Centers played a great game that on a normal day would have killed any team.

The last play of regulation the Commanders bobble the snap of a field goal and it never gets attempted. Would have been an easy chip shot.

This was the last great game with the core of the super bowl Cowboys, but injuries happen and all we are left with is the wonderment of "what could have been."

Cowboys: 41
Commanders: 35

Hey, I hope y'all enjoy reading this as much as I did typing it.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

wow......I remember alot of those.

 

[THUMPER]

One of my favorite opening day memories is actually fairly recent. In 1995 against the Giants, on the first play of the game, Emmitt broke through the right side of the line and sprinted 60+ yards for a TD. I had that shot of him running with a couple of Giants trailing him as my "desktop" for a few years (now it's my grandkids).

I remember watching that play and saying "We are going all the way, just like Emmitt did!". As it turned out I was right and we won the SB that year.

 

[Concord]

1960...Sep 24, L, 35-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1961...Sep 17, W, 27-24, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1962...Sep 16, T, 35-35, vs Washington Commanders
1963...Sep 14, L, 34-7, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1964...Sep 12, L, 16-6, vs St. Louis Cardinals
1965...Sep 19, W, 31-2, vs New York Giants
1966...Sep 18, W, 52-7, vs New York Giants
1967...Sep 17, W, 21-14, at Cleveland Browns
1968...Sep 15, W, 59-13, vs Detroit Lions
1969...Sep 21, W, 24-3, vs St. Louis Cardinals

1970...Sep 20, W, 17-7, at Philadelphia Eagles
1971...Sep 19, W, 49-37, at Buffalo Bills
1972...Sep 17, W, 28-6, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1973...Sep 16, W, 20-17, at Chicago Bears
1974...Sep 15, W, 24-0, at Atlanta Falcons
1975...Sep 21, W, 18-7, vs Los Angeles Rams
1976...Sep 12, W, 27-7, vs Philadelphia Eagles
1977...Sep 18, W, 16-10, at Minnesota Vikings (OT)
1978...Sep 4, W, 38-0, vs Baltimore Colts
1979...Sep 2, W, 22-21, at St. Louis Cardinals

1980...Sep 8, W, 17-3, at Washington Commanders
1981...Sep 6, W, 26-10, at Washington Commanders
1982...Sep 13, L, 36-28, vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1983...Sep 5, W, 31-30, at Washington Commanders
1984...Sep 3 W, 20-13, at Los Angeles Rams
1985...Sep 9, W, 44-14, vs Washington Commanders
1986...Sep 8, W, 31-28, vs New York Giants
1987...Sep 13, L, 24-13, at St. Louis Cardinals
1988...Sep 4, L, 24-21, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1989...Sep 10, L, 28-0, at New Orleans Saints

1990...Sep 9, W, 17-14, vs San Diego Chargers
1991...Sep 1, W, 26-14, at Cleveland Browns
1992...Sep 7, W, 23-10, vs Washington Commanders
1993...Sep 6, L, 38-16, at Washington Commanders
1994...Sep 4, W, 26-9, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1995...Sep 4, W, 35-0, at New York Giants
1996...Sep 2, L, 22-6, at Chicago Bears
1997... Aug 31, W, 37-7, at Pittsburgh Steelers
1998...Sep 6, W, 38-10, vs Arizona Cardinals
1999...Sep 12, W, 41-35, at Washington Commanders

2000...Sep 3, L, 41-14, vs Philadelphia Eagles
2001...Sep 9, L, 10-6, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2002...Sep 8, L, 19-10, at Houston Texans
2003...Sep 7, L, 27-13, vs Atlanta Falcons
2004...Sep 12, L, 35-17, at Minnesota Vikings
2005...Sep 11, W, 28-24, at San Diego Chargers

From 1965 to 1986 we only lost 1 opening game...Incredible!