Fresh off of an early Week 7 bye, the Dallas Cowboys will return to the field this Sunday.
In their third home game of the season, the Cowboys will host the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas’ record sits at 4-2, while the visiting Rams come in with a 3-4 record, and aim to get to .500 by the time they leave Arlington.
The Cowboys versus Rams rivalry is a storied one that Dallas leads with a 19-18 all-time advantage.
Many younger fans don’t consider it a rivalry, but back in the 1970s and 1980s, the two teams met eight different times in the playoffs.
The teams split those eight games with four victories each, and the Cowboys winning both NFC Championship Game matchups to advance to Super Bowls in 1976 and 1979.
Dallas has played the Rams 12 times this century, and hold a slim 7-5 advantage in those head to head matchups.
As opposed to writing about the past three matchups, I’ve decided to just select three of my favorite games versus the Rams since the year 2000.
In chronological order, of course.
Romo Topples Rams
Date: 9/30/2007
Place: Texas Stadium, Irving, TX
Final Score: DAL 35, STL 7
The 2007 version of the Dallas Cowboys was a magical season, and the first full season as a starter for QB Tony Romo.
Dallas fielded a star-studded offense around Romo featuring players like Julius Jones, Marion Barber III, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, and Patrick Crayton.
The reason this is one of my favorite matchups versus the Rams is solely for one four yard run.
In the 2nd half near midfield, Cowboys C Andre Gurode sent a shotgun snap flying over Romo’s head.
As Romo chased the errant snap and tried to pick it up, he inadvertently kicked it even further back into Cowboys’ territory.
Finally, he was able to scoop it right around the 25 yard line, and elude two defenders before turning upfield.
With RB Marion Barber leading the way, Romo was able to scramble for perhaps the most remarkable four yard run in Cowboys’ history, and pick up the first down in the process.
Romo would throw for 339 yards and score four total touchdowns on the way to a 35-7 win over the Rams.
Dallas would end the season with an NFC best 13-3 record, but would fall to the rival Giants in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
St. Louis would stumble to a 3-13 record under then Head Coach Scott Linehan, who would eventually coach in Dallas less than a decade later.
Murray Explodes Onto the Scene
Date: 10/23/2011
Place: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Final Score: DAL 34, STL 7
The 2011 season marked the first full season with Jason Garrett as head coach.
Garrett had replaced Wade Phillips halfway through the previous season after the Cowboys started the year with a 1-7 record capped off by a gutless 45-7 loss at Lambeau Field.
In place of Phillips, Garrett led the Cowboys to a 5-3 record down the stretch, earning him the head coach job for 2011.
That season was also the debut of one of the most electric offensive players to ever wear a Cowboys uniform, and the reason this is one of my favorite games of the rivalry.
DeMarco Murray, a 3rd round rookie from the University of Oklahoma got the start at running back due to injuries, ran all over the Rams.
Murray burst onto the NFL scene with a 91 yard touchdown run where he wove through the Rams defense before sprinting to the endzone.
In his very first career start, Murray set the Cowboys franchise record for rushing yards in a single game, finishing with 253 yards on the ground.
The Rams had no answer, and fell 34-7 to the home team Cowboys.
Dallas would fail to make the playoffs that year, however, starting a streak of three straight 8-8 seasons to start Garrett’s tenure.
St. Louis would finish the year 2-14 under HC Steve Spagnuolo.
Defense Steps Up In Los Angeles
Date: 10/9/2022
Place: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Final Score: DAL 22, LAR 10
This isn’t necessarily one of my favorite games, but I did want to include it since it’s the most recent game the Cowboys have played versus the Rams.
It was an impressive win for Dallas because they were still without QB Dak Prescott, who injured a finger on his hand in Week 1 that would cause him to miss five games.
With Cooper Rush at the helm, Dallas strolled to a 22-10 victory aided by a stifling defense and an opportunistic run game.
Dallas got on the board first with a strip sack of Rams QB Matthew Stafford that DE DeMarcus Lawrence returned for a touchdown.
That sequence set the tone for the rest of the game, and catapulted the Cowboys’ defense to allow just 10 points and record five sacks and three turnovers.
Rush managed the game well, and his easiest play of the day was a handoff to RB Tony Pollard that ended in a 57 yard touchdown run.
Just two years removed from this game, it’s the best example of just what we can expect to see this Sunday.
Along with a returning Stafford and Cooper Kupp, add in electric rookie WR Puka Nacua to the equation.
The Rams’ offense may be even more explosive than last year, but if last year’s results are any indication, the Cowboys’ defense will be up to the task.