Cowboys back on top of NFC East in 2007

After nearly a decade removed from its last division title in 1998, the 2007 Cowboys set out to reclaim the NFC East crown.

They would turn to Wade Phillips – who became the franchise’s seventh head coach after Bill Parcells retired. The son of legendary coach Bum Phillips was up to the task.

Dallas started their run by acquiring three key free agents. Tackle Leonard Davis, quarterback Brad Johnson, and safety Ken Hamlin were brought in.

They added two key players in the draft, starting with first-round pick Anthony Spencer. Addressing the chaos that was the kicking game, the Cowboys drafted Nick Folk in the sixth round.

With Phillips being a defensive specialist, the Cowboys named former quarterback Jason Garrett as their offensive coordinator.

A total of 13 players would be named to the Pro Bowl that season, an NFL record. The 2019 Ravens would tie the record.

In Arlington, the structure that would become AT&T Stadium began taking shape. Texas Stadium’s last two years as the home of the Dallas Cowboys had begun.

5-0 Start

Tony Romo and Eli Manning engaged in a shootout at Texas Stadium to start the season. Both quarterbacks tossed four touchdown passes.

But Romo and Marion Barber III added touchdown runs to lead Dallas to a 45-35 victory. Romo tossed two more touchdowns and Barber scored twice in a 37-20 win at Miami the next week.

Dallas broke a 10-10 tie late in the third quarter to beat the Bears in Chicago 34-10. The Cowboys easily downed the Rams in Irving, 35-7, the following week.

The Bills made the Cowboys earn their fifth win. In a wild Monday night game, Romo threw a pair of pick-sixes. A Terrence McGee 103-yard kickoff return gave Buffalo a 24-13 lead after three quarters.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 8: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys passes the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium October 8, 2007 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

But Romo rallied the team back with a touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton. Folk’s fourth field goal – a 53-yarder as time expired – gave Dallas a 25-24 victory.

The Battle Of The Undefeated

The win set up a showdown between the 5-0 Patriots and the 5-0 Cowboys at Texas Stadium. New England jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

Romo’s second touchdown of the game – an eight-yard pass to Patrick Crayton – gave Dallas a 24-21 lead early in the third quarter.

Tom Brady would throw two of his five touchdowns in the final 16 minutes to lead the Patriots to a 48-27 victory. Despite the outcome, many that day felt the two teams would meet again in a few months.

Another Streak

The Cowboys rebounded from the loss by embarking on an impressive seven-game winning streak. Dallas scored 17 unanswered second-half points to beat the Vikings 24-14.

After a bye week, Dallas hit the road and beat the Eagles (38-17) and the Giants (31-20). Returning home, Romo hit Terrell Owens for four touchdowns to down the Redskins 28-23.

The Cowboys kept the home cooking going with a 34-3 trouncing of the Jets. A Romo versus Brett Favre matchup followed.

IRVING, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers talks with Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 29, 2007 in Irving, Texas (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Romo would throw four touchdowns in the game while Favre would get knocked out after tossing two interceptions. Aaron Rodgers would come in but the Cowboys would prevail 37-27.

Dallas hit the road and narrowly beat the Lions 28-27. Trailing by 13 going into the final quarter, Dallas got a Barber touchdown and a Romo pass to Jason Witten for the game-winner with 18 seconds left.

All Good Things Must End

At 12-1 Dallas looked nearly unbeatable. But Romo threw three interceptions and Dallas’ running game was held to 53 yards in a 10-6 loss at Philadelphia.

The Cowboys slipped past the Panthers 20-13, in Carolina to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. With nothing to play for the Cowboys dropped the season finale, 27-6, to the Redskins in D.C.

Another Postseason Disappointment

Dallas would draw the Giants for a third time in the Divisional round after New York dispatched Tampa Bay in the wild card round.

Having beaten the Giants twice before — and by over 10 points both times — the Cowboys were heavily favored to win the third meeting.

UNITED STATES – JANUARY 13: New York Giants’ linebacker Antonio Pierce grabs at scrambling Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Texas Stadium. The Giants went on to win, 21-17, to advance to the NFC Championship. (Photo by Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

The Cowboys looked to take a 14-7 lead into halftime after a Barber touchdown with 53 seconds left in the half. But a huge facemask penalty allowed Manning to drive the Giants 71 yards for the tying touchdown.

Dallas regained the lead on a Folk field goal in third. Brandon Jacobs put the Giants in the lead at 21-17 with a one yard run with 13:29 remaining.

The Cowboys would get three full possessions in the final 13 minutes. They would get no closer to the end zone than the Giants’ 23-yard line.

Dallas’ season was done. The Giants would go on to stun both the Packers and the Patriots and win the Super Bowl three weeks later.