The Dallas Cowboys are one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Since 1960, the team has won 560 games and five Super Bowls. Their history and success have earned them the title of “America’s Team.”
However, even with all of that success, it’s still difficult to win in the NFL. Have the Cowboys ever gone undefeated at home in a single season?
When Did the Dallas Cowboys Go Undefeated at Home?
The Cowboys were formed in 1960 as a part of the National Football League. The franchise, just 10 years later, became a part of the National Football Conference and NFC East after the NFL merged with the AFL, creating the Super Bowl era of the NFL.
The franchise didn’t take long to find success, maintaining that success for the entirety of the franchise’s existence. The Cowboys hold a 560-413-6 record all time, which is good for the 11th most wins in NFL history.
MORE: List of Most Super Bowl Wins by Team
However, the Cowboys are the only franchise in the top 12 to have less than 1,000 games played, having played in just 979 games.
The Cowboys have gone undefeated at home multiple times. They did it three times: in 1969, 1980, and 1981. They are, however, just one game away from doing it again in 2023.
Their first undefeated season at home came in 1969 when they went 6-0-1 at home. That season, they went 11-2-1 and finished first in the NFL Capitol division. However, they fell short in the Eastern Conference Championship Game (38-14 vs. Cleveland Browns and the NFL Playoff Bowl (31-0 vs. Los Angeles Rams).
The Cowboys’ tie to the San Francisco 49ers is the franchise’s most recent tie. Their six wins came against the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Colts. The Cowboys’ home stadium was then the Cotton Bowl.
The Cowboys’ next undefeated season at home came in 1980 when they finished 12-4 and second in the NFC East. They won two playoff games but ultimately fell in the NFC Championship game to their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas was led by star running back Tony Dorsett, a Hall of Famer.
The Cowboys eight home victories in 1980 came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Cardinals, Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and Eagles. In that season, Dallas played their home games in Texas Stadium.
Last, but certainly not least, the Cowboys’ third undefeated home season came just one season later in 1981, completing a series of two-straight seasons with no home losses. That year, the Cowboys finished 12-4, once again, but won the NFC East. They fell in the NFC Championship to the 49ers.
Dallas’ eight home wins in 1981 were against the Cardinals, Giants, Rams, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Redskins, Chicago Bears, and Eagles. The Cowboys had won 18 home games in a row before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the 1982 season.
In 2023, the Cowboys hold a 7-0 home record heading into Week 17. They, led by MVP-candidate Dak Prescott, have defeated the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Rams, Giants, Washington Commanders, Seahawks, and Eagles. They play their home games at AT&T Stadium in 2023, the third different stadium they’ve played in.
Dallas will have a chance to complete its fourth perfect home season in Week 17 when they face the Detroit Lions in a Saturday night football showdown. The Cowboys sit at 10-5, while the Lions are 11-4. Both teams are vying for the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
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