Cowboys–Rams Rivalry

The Cowboys–Rams rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams. As the Cowboys play in the NFC East and the Rams in the NFC West, both teams do not play every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules during which their respective divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if the two teams meet in the playoffs, or have a common position finish in their respective divisions. The rivalry between the two teams peaked during the 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s, during which they met eight times in the playoffs, with each team winning four.

History

The rivalry between the Cowboys and Rams started once Dallas joined the NFL as an expansion team in . They were one of the first two teams to conduct joint practices during the preseason. Initially, the rivalry became a friendly one owing to the friendship between Rams owner Dan Reeves and Cowboys executive Tex Schramm. However, the feud intensified after Schramm accused Rams head coach George Allen of sending a spy to a Cowboys practice, to which Allen countered by arguing that the Cowboys put a scout atop a tree to spy on the Rams.

The Cowboys and Rams faced each other in the playoffs for the first time in . Dallas was coached by Tom Landry, and featured Roger Staubach as the quarterback and the Doomsday Defense led by Hall of Famer Bob Lilly. The Rams, coached by Chuck Knox, featured defensive stalwarts in Jack Youngblood and Merlin Olsen. In that first meeting, the Cowboys prevailed 27–16 at Texas Stadium in the NFC Divisional Round. Two seasons later, the two teams met in the NFC championship game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Despite entering the game as heavy favorites, the Rams lost in a blowout at home, 37–7, sending the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl appearance. However, the Rams returned the favor in the 1976 divisional round, winning a close 14–12 decision in Dallas. It was also the Rams' first road playoff victory.

As was the case in 1975, the 1978 NFC championship game resulted in a blowout victory for the Cowboys on the road, winning 28–0 and clinched the team's fifth Super Bowl appearance. The Cowboys lost both of those games to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But in a similar fashion to 1976, the Rams bounced back in a chippy low-scoring encounter, winning the 1979 divisional round 21–19 in Dallas. In that game, Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo threw three touchdown passes, the last of which gave the Rams the lead for good. This game was also notable as it marked the final game of Roger Staubach's career. The Rams eventually advance to their first Super Bowl, but lost to the Steelers. The two teams met in the playoffs for a third consecutive time, this time in the 1980 Wild Card round. In that game, the Cowboys routed the Rams at home, winning 34–13.

The 1980s saw a Cowboys team in transition, now featuring Danny White as its starting quarterback. Meanwhile, the Rams drafted running back Eric Dickerson in the 1983 NFL draft and quickly became the face of the franchise. The next two playoff meetings resulted in Rams victories. In the 1983 Wild Card round, the Rams stunned the heavily favored Cowboys 24–17 in Dallas, with White committing three interceptions. Then in the 1985 divisional round, Dickerson rushed for a playoff record 248 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams shut out the Cowboys 20–0 in Anaheim Stadium. The game marked Tom Landry's final playoff game as Cowboys head coach, as well as the final NFL playoff game in Anaheim (the Rams moved there in 1980).

The rivalry became dormant over the next two decades. While the Cowboys became a Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s and remained a relevant franchise in subsequent years, the Rams struggled with nine consecutive losing seasons, during which the team relocated to St. Louis in . The Rams eventually won Super Bowl XXXIV in behind The Greatest Show on Turf trio of Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Isaac Bruce, but it also coincided with the decline of the Cowboys' Super Bowl-winning core featuring Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. In 2002, the Cowboys met the Rams for the first time since the latter's move to St. Louis; it was also their first meeting overall since , a 27–23 Rams win on the road. In Dallas' first visit to Edward Jones Dome, the Cowboys prevailed 13–10. The Cowboys made two more visits to St. Louis in 2008 and 2014, splitting those meetings.

After the 2015 season, the Rams returned to Los Angeles, and gradually reemerged as a Super Bowl contender. In , the Rams and Cowboys met in the playoffs for the first time since 1985. In the divisional round, the Rams prevailed 30–22 and went on to play in Super Bowl LIII in a losing cause to the New England Patriots. The game marked the Cowboys' final visit to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The season saw the Rams move to SoFi Stadium, and on September 13, the stadium hosted its first-ever game with the Cowboys as the visiting team. The Rams won 20–17.

Season-by-season results

, -
,
, style=", Rams
38–13
, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, Rams
1–0
, Cowboys' inaugural season. This loss was the Cowboys' seventh of ten straight losses to start the season.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
27–17
, Cotton Bowl
, Tied
1–1
,
, -
,
, style=", Rams
35–13
, Cotton Bowl
, Rams
2–1
, Final meeting at Cotton Bowl. Cowboys lose 1967 NFL Championship. First meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
24–23
, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, Rams
3–1
, Final meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach.
, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
28–21
, Texas Stadium
, Rams
3–2
, First meeting at Texas Stadium. First start in the series for Roger Staubach. Cowboys win Super Bowl VI.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
37–31
, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, Rams
4–2
, First meeting in the series for Chuck Knox as Rams head coach.
, -
! 1973 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
27–16
! Texas Stadium
! Rams
4–3
! NFC Divisional Round. First post-season meeting between the teams.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
18–7
, Texas Stadium
, Tied
4–4
,
, - style="background:#f0f0f0"
! 1975 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
37–7
! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
! Cowboys
5–4
! NFC Championship Game. Cowboys take first lead in the series. Cowboys lose Super Bowl X.
, - style="background:#f0f0f0"
! 1976 playoffs
! style=", Rams
14–12
! Texas Stadium
! Tied
5–5
! NFC Divisional Round. Final meeting in the series for Rams defensive tackle Merlin Olsen. Final meeting for head coach Chuck Knox during his first stint as Rams head coach.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
27–14
, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, Rams
6–5
, First meeting in the series for Ray Malavasi as Rams head coach.
, -
! 1978 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
28–0
! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
! Tied
6–6
! NFC Championship Game. Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2018. Cowboys lose Super Bowl XIII.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
30–6
, Texas Stadium
, Cowboys
7–6
,
, -
! 1979 playoffs
! style=", Rams
21–19
! Texas Stadium
! Tied
7–7
! NFC Divisional Round. Final start in the series for Roger Staubach. Rams lose Super Bowl XIV.
, -

, -
,
, style=", Rams
38–14
, Anaheim Stadium
, Rams
8–7
, First meeting at Anaheim Stadium.
, -
! 1980 playoffs
! style=", Cowboys
34–13
! Texas Stadium
! Tied
8–8
! NFC Wild Card Round.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
29–17
, Texas Stadium
, Cowboys
9–8
, Final meeting in the series for Ray Malavasi as Rams head coach.
, -
! 1983 playoffs
! style=", Rams
24–17
! Texas Stadium
! Tied
9–9
! NFC Wild Card Round. First meeting in the series for John Robinson as Rams head coach and Rams running back Eric Dickerson.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
20–13
, Anaheim Stadium
, Cowboys
10–9
, Final meeting in the series for Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood.
, -
! 1985 playoffs
! style=", Rams
20–0
! Anaheim Stadium
! Tied
10–10
! NFC Divisional Round. Final playoff game at Anaheim Stadium. Final playoff game for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry. Eighth postseason meeting in just a 13-year period.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
29–10
, Anaheim Stadium
, Rams
11–10
, Tom Landry was escorted off the field in the 3rd quarter following the Anaheim Police Department learning of a threat on Landry's life; with Landry later returning after being fitted for a bulletproof vest.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
29–21
, Anaheim Stadium
, Tied
11–11
, Final meeting in the series for Tom Landry as Cowboys head coach.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
35–31
, Texas Stadium
, Rams
12–11
, First start in the series for Troy Aikman and first appearance for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach.
, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
24–21
, Anaheim Stadium
, Tied
12–12
, Final meeting at Anaheim Stadium. Final meeting in Los Angeles until 2018 and final meeting in the series for John Robinson as Rams head coach..
, -
,
, style=", Rams
27–23
, Texas Stadium
, Rams
13–12
, Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII. Final start in the series for Troy Aikman and final appearance for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach. Only appearance for Chuck Knox during his second stint as Rams head coach.
, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
13–10
, Edward Jones Dome
, Tied
13–13
, First meeting in St. Louis. Cowboys' first visit in St. Louis since 1987 (vs. the Cardinals).
, -
,
, style=", Rams
20–10
, Texas Stadium
, Rams
14–13
,
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
35–7
, Texas Stadium
, Tied
14–14
, Final meeting at Texas Stadium.
, -
,
, style=", Rams
34–14
, Edward Jones Dome
, Rams
15–14
,
, -

, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
34–7
, AT&T Stadium
, Tied
15–15
, First meeting at AT&T Stadium.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
31–7
, AT&T Stadium
, Cowboys
16–15
,
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
34–31
, Edward Jones Dome
, Cowboys
17–15
, Final meeting in St. Louis, final meeting before the Rams return to Los Angeles
, -
,
, style=", Rams
35–30
, AT&T Stadium
, Cowboys
17–16
,
, -
! 2018 playoffs
! style=", Rams
30–22
! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
! Tied
17–17
! NFC Divisional Round. First meeting in Los Angeles since the Rams returned to the city. Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Ninth postseason meeting, tying an NFL record (since broken). Rams lose Super Bowl LIII. First postseason meeting since 1985.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
44–21
, AT&T Stadium
, Cowboys
18–17
,
, -

, -
,
, style=", Rams
20–17
, SoFi Stadium
, Tied
18–18
, First meeting at SoFi Stadium.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
22–10
, SoFi Stadium
, Cowboys
19–18
, Rams break the 1999 Denver Broncos record for worst defending Super Bowl champion.
, -
,
, style=", Cowboys
43–20
, AT&T Stadium
, Cowboys
20–18
,
, -

, -
, Regular season
, style=",
,
,
, Cowboys won 2 of 3 games played in St. Louis.
, -
, Postseason
, style=",
, Rams 3–2
, Tie 2–2
, NFC Wild Card: 1980, 1983
NFC Divisional: 1973, 1976, 1979, 1985, 2018
NFC Conference Championship: 1975, 1978
, -
, Regular and postseason
, style=",
,
,
,
, -

See also

* National Football League rivalries
* California–Texas rivalry
* Angels–Rangers rivalry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowboys-Rams rivalry
NFL rivalries
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Rams
Dallas Cowboys rivalries
Los Angeles Rams rivalries