Week 2
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
September 20, 2026
AT&T Stadium
NFC East Rivalry
Cowboys–Commanders
The NFL's storied border war
The Cowboys and Commanders have battled since the Cowboys' 1960 expansion season and have often been called the NFL's premier rivalry. Decades of division titles, championship-game meetings, and intense fan hatred define the matchup.
The Rivalry
The feud began the moment the expansion Cowboys entered the league in 1960 and intensified once both clubs were locked into the same division. The rivalry's golden age came in the 1970s and early 1980s: George Allen's "Over-the-Hill Gang" rebuilt Washington into a contender, and the two teams met in two NFC Championship Games, with Washington winning both. Dallas, under Tom Landry and quarterback Roger Staubach, produced unforgettable comebacks during the same era. The rivalry stayed white-hot through the 1980s and into the 1990s, when the Cowboys' "Triplets" — Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin — powered another dominant run. Its sustained prestige earned recognition as one of the NFL's, and all of sports', greatest rivalries.
What's at Stake
As NFC East rivals, the Cowboys and Commanders meet twice a year with division standings, tiebreakers, and playoff seeding regularly on the line. The matchup links the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with the Washington, D.C., region, two large and passionate markets. For fans, it is generational hatred and a season-defining measuring stick.
Famous Moments
- 1972 — Washington beat the Cowboys 26-3 in the NFC Championship Game on its way to Super Bowl VII.
- 1974 — On Thanksgiving, rookie Clint Longley relieved an injured Roger Staubach and threw a late touchdown to Drew Pearson for a 24-23 comeback win.
- 1982 — Washington defeated Dallas 31-17 in the NFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl title.
- 2005 — Washington posted its largest win in the series, 35-7, and swept Dallas that season.
- 2021 — The Cowboys recorded their largest margin in the rivalry, a 56-14 home blowout.
The Cowboys–Commanders Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium · Arlington
"America’s Team," the Cowboys have won five Super Bowls and are among the most valuable sports franchises in the world.
NFC East
Washington Commanders
Northwest Stadium · Landover
Founded in 1932, the franchise has won five NFL championships, including three Super Bowls.
Plan the Trip
This rivalry runs between two capital-of-football experiences: the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, and the Commanders' Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Attending a Cowboys-Commanders game means stepping into one of the NFL's oldest and most passionate feuds.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cowboys–Commanders
The two teams first met in 1960. The Cowboys and Commanders have battled since the Cowboys' 1960 expansion season and have often been called the NFL's premier rivalry. Decades of division titles, championship-game meetings, and intense fan hatred define the matchup.
As NFC East rivals, the Cowboys and Commanders meet twice a year with division standings, tiebreakers, and playoff seeding regularly on the line. The matchup links the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with the Washington, D.C., region, two large and passionate markets. For fans, it is generational hatred and a season-defining measuring stick.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Dallas Cowboys host at AT&T Stadium in Arlington; Washington Commanders play at Northwest Stadium in Landover.
