# Cowboys–Rams rivalry

The Cowboys–Rams rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams.
As the Cowboys play in the NFC East and the Rams in the NFC West, both teams do not play every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium due to the NFL's rotating division schedules during which their respective divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if the two teams meet in the playoffs, or have a common position finish in their respective divisions. The rivalry between the two teams peaked during the 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s, during which they met eight times in the playoffs, with each team winning four.

## History

The rivalry between the Cowboys and Rams started once Dallas joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1960. They were one of the first two teams to conduct joint practices during the preseason. Initially, the rivalry became a friendly one owing to the friendship between Rams owner Dan Reeves and Cowboys executive Tex Schramm. However, the feud intensified after Schramm accused Rams head coach George Allen of sending a spy to a Cowboys practice, to which Allen countered by arguing that the Cowboys put a scout atop a tree to spy on the Rams.
The Cowboys and Rams faced each other in the playoffs for the first time in 1973. Dallas was coached by Tom Landry, and featured Roger Staubach as the quarterback and the Doomsday Defense led by Hall of Famer Bob Lilly. The Rams, coached by Chuck Knox, featured defensive stalwarts in Jack Youngblood and Merlin Olsen. In that first meeting, the Cowboys prevailed 27–16 at Texas Stadium in the NFC Divisional Round. Two seasons later, the two teams met in the NFC championship game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Despite entering the game as heavy favorites, the Rams lost in a blowout at home, 37–7, sending the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl appearance. However, the Rams returned the favor in the 1976 divisional round, winning a close 14–12 decision in Dallas. It was also the Rams' first road playoff victory.
As was the case in 1975, the 1978 NFC championship game resulted in a blowout victory for the Cowboys on the road, winning 28–0 and clinched the team's fifth Super Bowl appearance. The Cowboys lost both of those games to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But in a similar fashion to 1976, the Rams bounced back in a chippy low-scoring encounter, winning the 1979 divisional round 21–19 in Dallas. In that game, Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo threw three touchdown passes, the last of which gave the Rams the lead for good. This game was also notable as it marked the final game of Roger Staubach's career. The Rams eventually advance to their first Super Bowl, but lost to the Steelers. The two teams met in the playoffs for a third consecutive time, this time in the 1980 Wild Card round. In that game, the Cowboys routed the Rams at home, winning 34–13.
The 1980s saw a Cowboys team in transition, now featuring Danny White as its starting quarterback. Meanwhile, the Rams drafted running back Eric Dickerson in the 1983 NFL draft and quickly became the face of the franchise. The next two playoff meetings resulted in Rams victories. In the 1983 Wild Card round, the Rams stunned the heavily favored Cowboys 24–17 in Dallas, with White committing three interceptions. Then in the 1985 divisional round, Dickerson rushed for a playoff record 248 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams shut out the Cowboys 20–0 in Anaheim Stadium. The game marked Tom Landry's final playoff game as Cowboys head coach, as well as the final NFL playoff game in Anaheim (the Rams moved there in 1980).
The rivalry became dormant over the next two decades. While the Cowboys became a Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s and remained a relevant franchise in subsequent years, the Rams struggled with nine consecutive losing seasons, during which the team relocated to St. Louis in 1995. The Rams eventually won Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999 behind The Greatest Show on Turf trio of Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Isaac Bruce, but it also coincided with the decline of the Cowboys' Super Bowl-winning core featuring Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. In 2002, the Cowboys met the Rams for the first time since the latter's move to St. Louis; it was also their first meeting overall since 1992, a 27–23 Rams win on the road. In Dallas' first visit to Edward Jones Dome, the Cowboys prevailed 13–10. The Cowboys made two more visits to St. Louis in 2008 and 2014, splitting those meetings.
After the 2015 season, the Rams returned to Los Angeles, and gradually reemerged as a Super Bowl contender. In 2018, the Rams and Cowboys met in the playoffs for the first time since 1985. In the divisional round, the Rams prevailed 30–22 and went on to play in Super Bowl LIII in a losing cause to the New England Patriots. The game marked the Cowboys' final visit to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The 2020 season saw the Rams move to SoFi Stadium, and on September 13, the stadium hosted its first-ever game with the Cowboys as the visiting team. The Rams won 20–17.

## Season-by-season results

Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams season-by-season results :
1960s (Rams, 3–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1960
Rams 38–13
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Rams 1–0
Cowboys' inaugural season. This loss was the Cowboys' seventh of ten straight losses to start the season.
1962
Cowboys 27–17
Cotton Bowl
Tied 1–1
1967
Rams 35–13
Cotton Bowl
Rams 2–1
Final meeting at Cotton Bowl. Cowboys lose 1967 NFL Championship. The first meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach.
1969
Rams 24–23
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Rams 3–1
Final meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach. :
1970s (Cowboys, 6–4)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1971
Cowboys 28–21
Texas Stadium
Rams 3–2
First meeting at Texas Stadium. First start in the series for Roger Staubach. Cowboys win Super Bowl VI.
1973
Rams 37–31
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Rams 4–2
First meeting in the series for Chuck Knox as Rams head coach.
1973 playoffs
Cowboys 27–16
Texas Stadium
Rams 4–3
NFC Divisional Round. The first post-season meeting between the teams.
1975
Cowboys 18–7
Texas Stadium
Tied 4–4
1975 playoffs
Cowboys 37–7
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Cowboys 5–4
NFC Championship Game. The cowboys take the first lead in the series. Cowboys lose Super Bowl X.
1976 playoffs
Rams 14–12
Texas Stadium
Tied 5–5
NFC Divisional Round. It is the final meeting in the series for Rams defensive tackle Merlin Olsen. Final meeting for head coach Chuck Knox during his first stint as Rams head coach.
1978
Rams 27–14
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Rams 6–5
First meeting in the series for Ray Malavasi as Rams head coach.
1978 playoffs
Cowboys 28–0
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Tied 6–6
NFC Championship Game. Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2018. Cowboys lose Super Bowl XIII.
1979
Cowboys 30–6
Texas Stadium
Cowboys 7–6
1979 playoffs
Rams 21–19
Texas Stadium
Tied 7–7
NFC Divisional Round. Final start in the series for Roger Staubach. Rams lose Super Bowl XIV. :
1980s (Rams, 5–4)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1980
Rams 38–14
Anaheim Stadium
Rams 8–7
First meeting at Anaheim Stadium.
1980 playoffs
Cowboys 34–13
Texas Stadium
Tied 8–8
NFC Wild Card Round.
1981
Cowboys 29–17
Texas Stadium
Cowboys 9–8
Final meeting in the series for Ray Malavasi as Rams head coach.
1983 playoffs
Rams 24–17
Texas Stadium
Tied 9–9
NFC Wild Card Round. The first meeting in the series for John Robinson as Rams head coach and Rams running back Eric Dickerson.
1984
Cowboys 20–13
Anaheim Stadium
Cowboys 10–9
Final meeting in the series for Rams defensive end Jack Youngblood.
1985 playoffs
Rams 20–0
Anaheim Stadium
Tied 10–10
NFC Divisional Round. Final playoff game at Anaheim Stadium. The final playoff game for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry. Eighth postseason meeting in just a span of 13 years.
1986
Rams 29–10
Anaheim Stadium
Rams 11–10
Tom Landry was escorted off the field in the 3rd quarter following the Anaheim Police Department learning of a threat on Landry's life; with Landry later returning after being fitted for a bulletproof vest.
1987
Cowboys 29–21
Anaheim Stadium
Tied 11–11
Final meeting in the series for Tom Landry as Cowboys head coach.
1989
Rams 35–31
Texas Stadium
Rams 12–11
First start in the series for Troy Aikman and first appearance for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach. :
1990s (Tied, 1–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
1990
Cowboys 24–21
Anaheim Stadium
Tied 12–12
Final meeting at Anaheim Stadium. The final meeting in Los Angeles until 2018 and the final meeting in the series for John Robinson as Rams head coach.
1992
Rams 27–23
Texas Stadium
Rams 13–12
Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII. The final start in the series is for Troy Aikman, and the final appearance is for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach. Only appearance for Chuck Knox during his second stint as Rams head coach. :
2000s (Tied, 2–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2002
Cowboys 13–10
Edward Jones Dome
Tied 13–13
First meeting in St. Louis. Cowboys' first visit in St. Louis since 1987 (vs. the Cardinals).
2005
Rams 20–10
Texas Stadium
Rams 14–13
2007
Cowboys 35–7
Texas Stadium
Tied 14–14
Final meeting at Texas Stadium.
2008
Rams 34–14
Edward Jones Dome
Rams 15–14 :
2010s (Cowboys, 4–2)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2011
Cowboys 34–7
AT&T Stadium
Tied 15–15
First meeting at AT&T Stadium.
2013
Cowboys 31–7
AT&T Stadium
Cowboys 16–15
2014
Cowboys 34–31
Edward Jones Dome
Cowboys 17–15
Final meeting in St. Louis, final meeting before the Rams return to Los Angeles
2017
Rams 35–30
AT&T Stadium
Cowboys 17–16
2018 playoffs
Rams 30–22
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Tied 17–17
NFC Divisional Round. The first meeting in Los Angeles since the Rams returned to the city. Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The ninth postseason meeting, tying an NFL record (since broken). Rams lose Super Bowl LIII. First postseason meeting since 1985.
2019
Cowboys 44–21
AT&T Stadium
Cowboys 18–17 :
2020s (Cowboys, 2–1)
SeasonResultsLocationOverall seriesNotes
2020
Rams 20–17
SoFi Stadium
Tied 18–18
First meeting at SoFi Stadium.
2022
Cowboys 22–10
SoFi Stadium
Cowboys 19–18
Rams break the 1999 Denver Broncos record for worst defending Super Bowl champion.
2023
Cowboys 43–20
AT&T Stadium
Cowboys 20–18 :
Summary of results
SeasonSeason seriesat Dallas Cowboysat Los Angeles/St. Louis RamsNotes
Regular season
Cowboys 16–13
Cowboys 9–6
Tie 7–7
The Cowboys won 2 of 3 games played in St. Louis.
Postseason
Rams 5–4
Rams 3–2
Tie 2–2
NFC Wild Card: 1980, 1983 NFC Divisional: 1973, 1976, 1979, 1985, 2018 NFC Championship: 1975, 1978
Regular and postseason
Cowboys 20–18
Cowboys 11–9
Tie 9–9 :