NorthTexan95
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Earlier today Hos ignited a long thread by posting numerous stats of the Cowboys-Commanders rivalry. Commanders fans posted some of their own stats in a bit of a rebuttal. This made me want to do some research of my own. Therefore, I created a spreadsheet where I list each teams’ yearly record and all the games between the teams. I’ll post the overall stats and make a few comments below.
Dallas Cowboys (since inception in 1960)
Reg. Season: 401-298-7 .573
Playoffs: 33-22 .600
Total: 434-320-7 .575
Playoff Appearances: 27
Title Game Appearances: 8
NFL Champions: 5
Washington Commanders (1960 to present)
Reg. Season: 359-326-12 .524
Playoffs: 20-12 .625
Total: 379-338-12 .528
Playoff Appearances: 15
Title Game Appearances: 4
NFL Champions: 3
Washington Commanders (since inception in 1937)
Reg. Season: 517-473-27 .522
Playoffs: 23-16 .590
Total: 540-489-27 .524
Playoff Appearances: 21
Title Game Appearances: 10
NFL Champions: 5
Dallas vs Washington Head-to-Head
Reg. Season: Dallas leads 55-34-2 .615 (Washington pct is .385)
Playoffs: Washington leads Dallas 2-0
Total: Dallas leads 55-36-2 .602 (Washington pct is .398)
*Sweeps: Dallas has swept Washington 14 times, Washington has swept Dallas 4 times.
(Only counting the years the teams played two regular season game against each other).
Comments – Regular Season
It feels silly to compare the two teams as since 1960 Dallas is the best team in the league. Regular season, playoffs, championships, etc … there’s no doubt. Washington has been a good team themselves (sometimes very good), before and after 1960, but not at the same level as Dallas.
Since 1960 Dallas has a significant lead over the Washington Commanders. Dallas has 42 more regular season wins (and .049 pct lead) than Washington which averages to less than one win a season. One win a year doesn’t sound like much but it adds up over 40 plus years.
Dallas has dominated the regular season matchups against Washington. A .602 winning percentage is dominating in any sport in any time. How much has this domination lead to the differences in overall regular season winning percentage?
If you subtract the games between Dallas and Washington from each teams regular season record from 1960 you get the following numbers:
Dallas Cowboys: 346-264-5 .567
Washington: 325-271-10.545
Now the difference is cut in half to a still significant 21 games. It’s more than just domination over the Commanders which accounts for the difference. What if Washington had been able to dominate the Cowboys as much as Dallas has dominated Washington? If you flip their records versus each other (suppose Washington led the series 55-36-2) you get the following totals:
Washington: 380-325-12 .554
Dallas Cowboys: 380-319-7 .543
Finally, Washington has taken a lead. This just shows that Dallas isn’t just beating up on Washington.
Comments – Playoffs
The 25 year playoff drought for the Washington Commanders (yes, 25 years!) from 1945 to 1970 really skews the numbers against the Commanders. The 27-15 lead in playoff appearances for Dallas since 1960 is huge. The 27-21 all time in playoff appearances for Dallas is more of an indictment against Washington than it is an positive for Dallas.
Granted, since 1960 Washington has a higher winning percentage than Dallas … but it’s by only one game. If Washington had lost one playoff game Dallas would have the higher number. This is basically a draw. Washing can claim a win but it’s rather hollow.
Counting the pre-Super Bowl days (as I think more people should) Washington has won 5 NFL titles. I believe those early championships are just a valid as the Super Bowls. Washington has appears in 10 championship games (two more than Dallas) but this is a rather worthless point, especially considering Washington didn’t have to win a playoff game before the championship in 5 of those 6 pre-Super Bowl years.
What’s more amazing is considering Washington has been around for an extra 23 years but Dallas has more playoff appearances and playoff wins. Both teams have very similar winning percentage in the playoffs and the same number of titles.
In My Opinion
In my opinion, since 1960 Dallas has a significant lead in just about every aspect over Washington. The only category Washington can point to (playoff winning pct) is only by one game and is insignificant. The most dominating stat, though, is the .603 winning percentage of Dallas over Washington. That is amazing in its domination … a through but-whipping. Of course, since 1960, the 5 championships to 3 is the end all stat since “that’s why they play the game”.
Washington fans should be proud of their team. You won’t find too many teams with better histories … but Dallas is definitely one of those teams.
Dallas Cowboys (since inception in 1960)
Reg. Season: 401-298-7 .573
Playoffs: 33-22 .600
Total: 434-320-7 .575
Playoff Appearances: 27
Title Game Appearances: 8
NFL Champions: 5
Washington Commanders (1960 to present)
Reg. Season: 359-326-12 .524
Playoffs: 20-12 .625
Total: 379-338-12 .528
Playoff Appearances: 15
Title Game Appearances: 4
NFL Champions: 3
Washington Commanders (since inception in 1937)
Reg. Season: 517-473-27 .522
Playoffs: 23-16 .590
Total: 540-489-27 .524
Playoff Appearances: 21
Title Game Appearances: 10
NFL Champions: 5
Dallas vs Washington Head-to-Head
Reg. Season: Dallas leads 55-34-2 .615 (Washington pct is .385)
Playoffs: Washington leads Dallas 2-0
Total: Dallas leads 55-36-2 .602 (Washington pct is .398)
*Sweeps: Dallas has swept Washington 14 times, Washington has swept Dallas 4 times.
(Only counting the years the teams played two regular season game against each other).
Comments – Regular Season
It feels silly to compare the two teams as since 1960 Dallas is the best team in the league. Regular season, playoffs, championships, etc … there’s no doubt. Washington has been a good team themselves (sometimes very good), before and after 1960, but not at the same level as Dallas.
Since 1960 Dallas has a significant lead over the Washington Commanders. Dallas has 42 more regular season wins (and .049 pct lead) than Washington which averages to less than one win a season. One win a year doesn’t sound like much but it adds up over 40 plus years.
Dallas has dominated the regular season matchups against Washington. A .602 winning percentage is dominating in any sport in any time. How much has this domination lead to the differences in overall regular season winning percentage?
If you subtract the games between Dallas and Washington from each teams regular season record from 1960 you get the following numbers:
Dallas Cowboys: 346-264-5 .567
Washington: 325-271-10.545
Now the difference is cut in half to a still significant 21 games. It’s more than just domination over the Commanders which accounts for the difference. What if Washington had been able to dominate the Cowboys as much as Dallas has dominated Washington? If you flip their records versus each other (suppose Washington led the series 55-36-2) you get the following totals:
Washington: 380-325-12 .554
Dallas Cowboys: 380-319-7 .543
Finally, Washington has taken a lead. This just shows that Dallas isn’t just beating up on Washington.
Comments – Playoffs
The 25 year playoff drought for the Washington Commanders (yes, 25 years!) from 1945 to 1970 really skews the numbers against the Commanders. The 27-15 lead in playoff appearances for Dallas since 1960 is huge. The 27-21 all time in playoff appearances for Dallas is more of an indictment against Washington than it is an positive for Dallas.
Granted, since 1960 Washington has a higher winning percentage than Dallas … but it’s by only one game. If Washington had lost one playoff game Dallas would have the higher number. This is basically a draw. Washing can claim a win but it’s rather hollow.
Counting the pre-Super Bowl days (as I think more people should) Washington has won 5 NFL titles. I believe those early championships are just a valid as the Super Bowls. Washington has appears in 10 championship games (two more than Dallas) but this is a rather worthless point, especially considering Washington didn’t have to win a playoff game before the championship in 5 of those 6 pre-Super Bowl years.
What’s more amazing is considering Washington has been around for an extra 23 years but Dallas has more playoff appearances and playoff wins. Both teams have very similar winning percentage in the playoffs and the same number of titles.
In My Opinion
In my opinion, since 1960 Dallas has a significant lead in just about every aspect over Washington. The only category Washington can point to (playoff winning pct) is only by one game and is insignificant. The most dominating stat, though, is the .603 winning percentage of Dallas over Washington. That is amazing in its domination … a through but-whipping. Of course, since 1960, the 5 championships to 3 is the end all stat since “that’s why they play the game”.
Washington fans should be proud of their team. You won’t find too many teams with better histories … but Dallas is definitely one of those teams.