Hey Jess, They were rivals before 61. They were rivals before the cowboys ever became a team. The owner of the Redxxxxs was the only one to vote against Dallas coming into the league. Clint Murchison had to buy the rights to the Washington team's theme song to force the Washington owner to change his vote in order to get the rights to the song back. That was just the first spur in the rivalry. My father bought season tickets to the Cowboy from 1960 to 1986. I missed going to 1 game in 26 years. Have never missed a game on TV. Even during the blackout years, we drove up to Sherman, Tx. and watch the game on a 12-volt tv in the car.