The NFL has a number of long-standing rivalries between different teams. One of them is the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders. This rivalry has existed for decades at this point and includes some great moments. Without further ado, let’s discuss the rivalry between the Cowboys and the Commanders.
Cowboys vs. Commanders: A Brief History
This rivalry begins in 1960 with the founding of the Dallas Cowboys. The owner of Washington’s team at the time, George Preston Marshall, only agreed to let the Cowboys’ creation in order to reacquire the rights to a fight song for the Washington NFL team. The team was known as the Redskins back then. The team changed its name fairly recently.
The Cowboys, along with the then Redskins, were the only NFL teams in the Southern United States at the time. The Cowboys competing with the Redskins’ presence in the South was one reason why Marshall opposed the creation of the Cowboys in the first place. In terms of their on-field rivalry, this also begins in 1960.
The two teams played each other for the first time on October 9th, 1960. This first meeting ended in a win for Washington as they beat the Cowboys 26-14. However, the two teams were in different divisions during the Cowboys’ first season in the NFL.
That changed in 1961. Since then, the two teams have been part of the NFC East. Playing in the same division has only intensified the rivalry. The Redskins won their first two games against the Cowboys and had ties in the next two games.
As of the time of this writing, the Cowboys and the now Commanders have played each other a total of 126 times. The Cowboys have won 78 of those meetings, although they have never beaten the Commanders in the playoffs. These 78 wins constitute part of the Cowboys’ 57.6% winning percentage in the NFL’s regular season, which we discussed in another article.
The Commanders have won 48 of those meetings. As previously mentioned, two games between the Cowboys and the Commanders ended in ties.
What Are the Recent Results in this Rivalry?
The Dallas Cowboys won their two most recent games against the Commanders. These include a 45-10 win in Dallas and a 38-10 win on the Commanders’ home field of Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland in the 2023 NFL season. Dak Prescott led the Cowboys to both of these wins.
His performances against the Commanders are one reason why he is beloved by Cowboys fans. That is why many of them have bought merchandise relating to him. The Cowboys beat the Commanders 25-10 in Dallas but lost to the Commanders 26-6 in Landover in the 2022 NFL season.
What is The Significance of This Rivalry?
Games between the Commanders and the Cowboys often have an important impact on which team wins the NFC East. As proof of that fact, the Cowboys clinched the NFC East title with a 38-10 win over the Commanders in week 18 of the most recent season. The fact that these two teams often battle for NFC East supremacy adds more fuel to the rivalry.
Cowboys vs. Commanders: A Great Rivalry
The Cowboys vs. Commanders rivalry is one of the most heated rivalries in the NFL. Both fanbases celebrate their respective teams’ wins in this rivalry passionately. We have more sports rivalries to cover. Check back soon for more content about sports rivalries.