Cowboys vs Raiders: The Complete Rivalry Guide
The Historical Rivalry Between Dallas and Las Vegas
The Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders represent two of the most iconic franchises in professional football history. Since their first meeting in 1960, these teams have faced each other 13 times in regular season play, with the Raiders holding a slight edge at 7-6. The rivalry intensified during the 1970s and 1980s when both franchises dominated their respective conferences and met in crucial playoff games that defined an era of football.
The Cowboys, established in 1960 as an NFL expansion team, quickly rose to prominence under head coach Tom Landry. The Raiders, founded the same year as part of the American Football League, built their reputation on a tough, physical style of play under Al Davis. When the AFL-NFL merger occurred in 1970, these two powerhouse teams were positioned in different conferences, limiting their regular season meetings but creating high-stakes playoff confrontations.
Both franchises share remarkable similarities in their championship pedigree. The Cowboys have won five Super Bowl titles (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995), while the Raiders have captured three (1976, 1980, 1983). According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, these teams have combined for 51 Hall of Fame inductees, making any matchup between them a clash of legendary football cultures. The Cowboys-Raiders rivalry extends beyond the field, representing contrasting philosophies: Dallas's polished "America's Team" image versus Oakland's rebellious "Commitment to Excellence" mentality.
The geographic separation between Dallas, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada (previously Oakland, California until 2020) means these teams only meet once every four years in regular season play under the current NFL scheduling format. This infrequency makes each game a special event for fans and adds historical weight to every encounter. Our FAQ section provides detailed answers about specific games and records, while the about page explores the cultural impact of this rivalry on professional football.
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 1960 | Dallas | Dallas | 28-19 | 18,500 |
| Oct 16, 1974 | Oakland | Oakland | 27-23 | 54,615 |
| Nov 28, 1983 | Irving, TX | Dallas | 40-38 | 63,855 |
| Sep 21, 1986 | Los Angeles | LA Raiders | 17-13 | 51,234 |
| Nov 12, 1995 | Oakland | Dallas | 34-21 | 54,026 |
| Nov 26, 1998 | Irving, TX | Dallas | 13-12 | 64,270 |
| Nov 25, 2009 | Oakland | Dallas | 24-7 | 63,242 |
| Dec 17, 2017 | Oakland | Dallas | 20-17 | 53,118 |
| Nov 25, 2021 | Arlington, TX | Las Vegas | 36-33 | 93,267 |
Legendary Playoff Battles and Super Bowl Era Dominance
While regular season meetings between these franchises have been limited, their playoff encounters have produced some of the most memorable games in NFL history. The teams have never met in a Super Bowl, but they faced each other in critical conference championship games during the 1970s and 1980s when both were at their competitive peaks.
The 1980 season saw both teams finish with identical 12-4 records, though they were in different conferences. The Cowboys went on to reach Super Bowl XV but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Meanwhile, the Raiders, led by quarterback Jim Plunkett and coached by Tom Flores, won Super Bowl XV against the Eagles 27-10, becoming the first wild card team to win a championship. This parallel success demonstrated how both franchises had built sustainable winning cultures.
Individual player performances in Cowboys-Raiders matchups have often been spectacular. In the 1983 Thanksgiving Day game, Dallas quarterback Danny White threw for 345 yards, while Raiders running back Marcus Allen rushed for 121 yards in a thrilling 40-38 Cowboys victory. The 2009 matchup saw Dallas running back Marion Barber rush for 93 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant 24-7 victory. According to ESPN's historical data, the average combined score in Cowboys-Raiders games is 51.8 points, significantly higher than the NFL average of approximately 43 points per game during the same periods.
The coaching matchups have been equally compelling. Tom Landry's innovative flex defense faced off against John Madden's power running game in the 1970s. Later, Jimmy Johnson's aggressive 1990s Cowboys teams matched up against Art Shell's Raiders squads. These strategic battles between coaching legends added intellectual depth to the physical competition on the field.
| Year | Cowboys Coach | Raiders Coach | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Tom Landry | Eddie Erdelatz | Cowboys Win |
| 1974 | Tom Landry | John Madden | Raiders Win |
| 1983 | Tom Landry | Tom Flores | Cowboys Win |
| 1986 | Tom Landry | Tom Flores | Raiders Win |
| 1995 | Barry Switzer | Mike White | Cowboys Win |
| 1998 | Chan Gailey | Jon Gruden | Cowboys Win |
| 2009 | Wade Phillips | Tom Cable | Cowboys Win |
| 2017 | Jason Garrett | Jack Del Rio | Cowboys Win |
| 2021 | Mike McCarthy | Rich Bisaccia | Raiders Win |
Star Players Who Defined the Rivalry
The Cowboys-Raiders rivalry has showcased some of the greatest players in NFL history. For Dallas, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin represented different eras of excellence. Staubach, who played from 1969 to 1979, faced the Raiders during their peak years and embodied the Cowboys' competitive spirit. His 1974 performance against Oakland, despite the 27-23 loss, demonstrated his ability to compete against elite defenses.
The Raiders countered with their own legends. Ken Stabler, the "Snake," quarterbacked Oakland during the 1970s with a gunslinger mentality that perfectly matched the team's renegade image. Marcus Allen, who played for the Raiders from 1982 to 1992, rushed for over 12,000 yards in his career and was a constant threat in games against Dallas. Tim Brown, a Hall of Fame wide receiver, caught passes against multiple generations of Cowboys defenders from 1988 to 2003.
According to the National Football League's official statistics, players from these two franchises have combined for 48 Pro Bowl selections in years when they faced each other. The 1995 matchup featured future Hall of Famers on both sides: Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Deion Sanders for Dallas; Tim Brown and James Lofton for Oakland. This concentration of elite talent made every play potentially game-changing.
Modern stars continue the tradition. In the 2021 Thanksgiving Day game, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons recorded two sacks against Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, while Raiders tight end Darren Waller caught eight passes for 88 yards in the 36-33 overtime victory. This game, played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, drew the highest attendance for a Cowboys-Raiders matchup at 93,267 fans, according to official NFL attendance records.
| Player | Team | Position | Years Played vs Opponent | HOF Induction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Staubach | Cowboys | QB | 1974 | 1985 |
| Tony Dorsett | Cowboys | RB | 1983, 1986 | 1994 |
| Troy Aikman | Cowboys | QB | 1995, 1998 | 2006 |
| Emmitt Smith | Cowboys | RB | 1995, 1998 | 2010 |
| Michael Irvin | Cowboys | WR | 1995, 1998 | 2007 |
| Ken Stabler | Raiders | QB | 1974 | 2016 |
| Marcus Allen | Raiders | RB | 1983, 1986 | 2003 |
| Tim Brown | Raiders | WR | 1995, 1998 | 2015 |
| Howie Long | Raiders | DE | 1983, 1986 | 2000 |
Recent Matchups and Future Outlook
The 2017 meeting in Oakland saw the Cowboys escape with a narrow 20-17 victory, with quarterback Dak Prescott throwing for 227 yards and running back Ezekiel Elliott rushing for 97 yards. This game marked one of the final regular season contests at the Oakland Coliseum before the Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas in 2020. The atmosphere was electric, with 53,118 fans creating the kind of hostile environment that made Oakland one of the most intimidating venues in professional sports.
The 2021 Thanksgiving Day matchup represented a new chapter, as it was the first meeting between Dallas and the newly relocated Las Vegas Raiders. The game went to overtime, with Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson hitting a 29-yard field goal to secure a 36-33 victory. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 375 yards and two touchdowns, while Raiders quarterback Derek Carr countered with 373 yards and one touchdown. The offensive explosion totaled 900 combined yards, making it one of the highest-yardage games in the series history.
Based on the NFL's current scheduling rotation, the Cowboys and Raiders are set to meet again in 2025, when Dallas will travel to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The $2 billion venue, which opened in 2020, will provide a dramatically different setting from the historic Oakland Coliseum. According to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas sports economics research, Allegiant Stadium has already hosted multiple high-profile events and represents a significant upgrade in facilities for the Raiders franchise.
Both teams enter the next phase of their rivalry with young rosters built for sustained success. The Cowboys have invested heavily in defensive talent through the draft, selecting players like Micah Parsels (2021) and Trevon Diggs (2020). The Raiders have focused on offensive weapons, adding Davante Adams in 2022 to pair with tight end Darren Waller. These roster constructions suggest future matchups will continue the high-scoring tradition established in previous games.
| Category | Dallas Cowboys | Las Vegas Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| All-Time Wins | 556 | 500 |
| Super Bowl Titles | 5 | 3 |
| Conference Championships | 10 | 5 |
| Division Titles | 24 | 16 |
| Playoff Appearances | 35 | 23 |
| Hall of Fame Players | 29 | 22 |
| Retired Jersey Numbers | 8 | 11 |
| Current Stadium Capacity | 80,000 | 65,000 |