There aren’t many more heated rivalries in the world of sport than that of the Dallas Cowboys and Washington. Sports Illustrated views it as the biggest grudge match in the NFL, and also “one of the greatest in sports.”
The rivalry between the teams stems back to a feud between Cowboys founder Clint Murchison Jr. and Washington owner George Preston. The two leaders of the franchises were at loggerheads over the TV monopoly in the region. However, that rivalry between the two of them was the birth of the on-field battles that the sides have had throughout their histories, with over 116 regular meetings between the sides taking on extra meaning.
The fixture is often one that gamblers will look to make a bet on, and these NJ online gambling sites would be the best place to do that. However, which games have stood out more than most in the history of these two sides?
1974 Thanksgiving Matchup
The one game that stands out more than most from a Cowboys perspective is the meeting between the sides in 1974. Dallas and Washington met in the Thanksgiving game, with the Redskins on the verge of securing a playoff position against their rivals in front of a national television audience.
It looked as though they would do just that when they found themselves in a 16-3 lead during the third quarter, but things quickly began to turn in the Cowboys favor. Injury to Roger Staubach changed the game, as Clint Longley was introduced, and his 50-yard pass to Drew Pearson with seconds remaining was etched into Cowboys’ folklore. Dallas ended up winning the game 24-23, and Redskin coach George Allen admitted after the game that it was the “toughest loss” that his side experienced.
1979 End Of Season Battle
The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Dallas and Washington heading into their final game of the season. The two sides met knowing that the winners would win the NFC East, while the losers would miss out on the post-season altogether. This match will go down as one of the best of all-time, and the performance of Staubach was one of the main reasons for that.
The Cowboys trailed 17-0 at one point but scored three touchdowns to turn the game on its head. Washington wasn’t about to give up and hand over the title and forced their way back into a 34-21 lead. However, there would be one final twist, as the Cowboys scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes to secure a famous 35-34 win.
1989 Lone Victory
The 1989 season for Dallas fans was one to forget, but they still managed to get the better of their rivals and ultimately cost the Redskins a place in the playoffs. There would have been confidence in the Washington camp heading into the game, as the Cowboys had lost all eight regular-season games. However, in an otherwise forgettable season, the Cowboys would claim an unlikely win against their playoff-chasing rivals. Dallas won 13-3, which would be their only win over the season, but the saving grace was that the Redskins missed out on the playoffs ultimately due to this defeat.