The Dallas Cowboys have long-been thought of as one the league’s premier franchises. For a long time, they led the NFL in Super Bowl appearances (8), were tied for most Super Bowl victories (5), and owned the streak for most consecutive playoff appearances with 9.
They have always been “America’s Team,” and still command top dollar at opponent’s stadiums. And despite their lack of success, the Cowboys continue to lead the league in jersey sales and TV ratings nearly every season.
But putting all the branding and off-the-field stuff aside, the last 20 years have put a serious damper on what the Cowboys franchise represents.
A franchise which once knew nothing but Tom Landry and excellence has suffered ridicule after Blake Bortles and the Jaguars reach a place Dallas hasn’t been in far too long: a conference championship game.
This Sunday, the New England Patriots look to break their tie with the Cowboys for Super Bowl victories at five. By getting their sixth — third in the last four years — the Patriots will tie the Steelers for most championships in NFL history. They have already passed the Cowboys in Super Bowl appearances, getting their 10th this season, and now look to leave them in their dust in terms of victories as well.
New England has also sustained their dynasty throughout a day and age where dynasties are not supposed to exist. The NFL has put an emphasis on parity in the NFL, and with their free agency and draft rules it should be more difficult for a team to sustain excellence like the Patriots have.
Of course, this has everything to do with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
For as good as Tony Romo was, he was certainly not Tom Brady. Even Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach cannot match Brady’s accomplishments. Plus, the Cowboys have come nowhere near excellence at their head coaching spot since Jimmy Johnson roamed their sidelines in the early 90s.
While New England was relatively irrelevant for a long time, this Brady/Belichick run is now creeping up near two decades long. It’s been quite a long time since the Patriots have had a losing record, or have been labeled as irrelevant around the league.
With all of this being said, I ask: If the Patriots win their sixth Super Bowl Sunday, do they become a more successful franchise than the Cowboys?
Historically, the Cowboys are still one of the top five franchises in football. But the recent success of the Patriots and mediocrity of the Cowboys has made this question legitimate.
I will always be partial to the Cowboys (mostly due to my fandom), but I wanted to see what other fans think. Comment below with your opinion, even if you’re calling me a young idiot.
The Pats have definitely surpassed the Cowboys on the all-time franchise list.
That’s what 22+ years of mediocrity will do to a once proud franchise. So we to cheer the fact that Dak is #1 in jersey sales? How the mighty have fallen.
And fans cheering our league-leading TV ratings just proves how far fan expectations have lowered during Jerry’s leadership as GM.
The Cowboys have won the 9th most games in the last 20 years. They are still number one in all time win pct the Patsies 9th. Now shut up.
OH yeah that makes that 20 year drought all that much better….. Quit being a typical cowboys fan and hanging onto the past like a life line and understand that this organization isn’t geared towards winning it’s geared towards making $$ and winning is just extra. This organization has clearly spit in the face of the fans but the sheeple continue handing over their money like lemmings off a cliff.
Don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out.
What have they done lately? Haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl in 22 years. Now YOU shut up!
D*ckhead it took the Patriots 41 years to get to the Super Bowl. The Boys will be back and if you don’t like it cheer for the Browns.
So happy we’re ninth on the list of all-time wins. Do they give a trophy for that? I didn’t think so . . .
Moron they are NUMBER ONE FOR ALL TIME WIN %%%% Now go FK yourself!
Show me the trophy for being #1 in all-time winning %, speaking of morons! If it makes you happy, knock yourself out. I’d rather be #1 in Super Bowl trophies, if you don’t mind.
Well they do have 5 second to Pittsburg. As the Rolling Stones sang…..”You Can’t Always Get What You Want” Of course lowlifes like you end up robbing banks and stores to get it.
I cant believe this is real question. Not only have the Patriots passed us but so have the Steelers and Packers. Cowboys fans and writers love bringing up Rings like any of them are recent. Mediocrity will do that to a franchise. Even teams that use to be laughing stocks like the Rams and Jaguars are playoff teams now. I got a question, What will happen first, A cowboys NFC Championship/Super Bowl or a Browns playoff berth/win??
Well coming from a NON typical cowboys fan this is what we see. They hand onto the past like their lives depend on it. Instead of thinking ahead they hang onto what’s behind them. I said it the day it happened..hiring the red headed love puppet as a HC was just round 2 of the love of the puppet. That’s what Al Davis Jr does because he’s in love with what comes out of his own mouth and has to be the center of attention at all times. Until he dies this team, this organization is going no where. As far as the red clapper being COY that was a HUGE joke to the fans that really understand the politics of the game. Not to mention “Jerrah” make the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is meaningless.
The Cowboys have been surpassed by Patriots because the organization settles for medocrity. No innovative thinking on both sides of the ball. Coaches don’t scheme match ups to take advantage of an opponents weakness. The front office is more concerned about talk shows, then winning Superbowls.
Yup the pats are better than us Sadly thanks Jerry……
The Worst Thing that happened to Us was Winning those 3 so early and not spread out over time.
Someone I know participated in a Cowboys argument and mentioned thats why we’re the most Valuable Team in Sports. I BS you not. I just shook my head
That is why sheeple continue handing over their money like lemmings going over a cliff. That kind of blind devotion is idiotic. You pay your hard earned money and it’s not cheap and in return you get mediocrity. Which is all you’re going to get because he’s making so much money he doesn’t have to change a thing. Fans do not realize just how much power they actually have. TV ratings and merchandise sales can cripple a team…but the cowboys sheeple that wear rose colored glasses and drink the Jerry Juice don’t realize that they may as well put their money in a pile in the middle of the floor and light it on fire……they’ll at least get some heat which is more then they’re going to get with this organization.
Who cares… you are either a Cowboys fan for life or not. If you drop the Cowboys or drop any team you made “your team” what kind of fan are you? I was 9 in 1966 when I became a Cowboy fan, will never change. Still have my framed letter from Tom Landry. Go Cowboys!