Football and turkey. They’re inseparable. If you grew up in a house with the TV on during the last Thursday of November, you know the star on the helmet is as much a part of the decor as the cranberry sauce. Honestly, it feels like the Dallas Cowboys have been playing on this holiday forever. But here is the thing: they haven't always won, and the Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day is a weird, winding road of absolute dominance mixed with some truly heartbreaking collapses.
Tex Schramm, the legendary Cowboys GM, was a marketing genius. Back in 1966, he saw an opportunity to boost the team's popularity by hosting a national game when everyone was home and bored. The NFL was worried nobody would show up. They were wrong. Over 80,000 people crammed into the Cotton Bowl, and a tradition was born.
By the Numbers: Breaking Down the Record
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the wins and losses. As of the 2024 season, the Cowboys have played 56 times on Thanksgiving. Their overall record stands at 33-22-1. That is a win percentage of roughly .600, which is pretty impressive when you consider the short turnaround time these players have to deal with. Usually, they play on a Sunday and have to be back on the field by Thursday. That's brutal on the body.
The lone tie in the Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day happened way back in 1969 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was a 24-24 deadlock. Imagine sitting through all that drama just to have it end in a draw while you're trying to digest your pumpkin pie.
For a long time, the Cowboys were nearly invincible at home on the holiday. From 1980 to 1985, they went on a six-game winning streak. Then, the 90s happened. The dynasty years under Jimmy Johnson and later Barry Switzer made Thanksgiving games feel like a foregone conclusion. Emmitt Smith used to treat the holiday like his personal highlight reel. Seriously, the man has the record for the most rushing touchdowns on Thanksgiving with 13. He just loved the big stage.
The Games Everyone Still Talks About
You can't talk about the Cowboys on Thanksgiving without mentioning the "Leon Lett Game" in 1993. It was snowing in Dallas. Real, slushy, Texas snow. The Cowboys were up 14-13 against the Miami Dolphins. Miami attempted a field goal to win, it was blocked, and the ball was spinning on the ice. All Leon Lett had to do was not touch it. If nobody touches a blocked kick beyond the line of scrimmage, the play is dead and the defending team gets the ball.
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But Leon slid in. He tried to recover it. He slipped, kicked the ball, and the Dolphins recovered it at the one-yard line. They kicked again and won. It remains one of the most infamous blunders in NFL history and a permanent scar on the Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day.
Then there was the 1974 "Mad Bomber" game. Roger Staubach got knocked out with a concussion. Enter Clint Longley, a rookie nobody knew. He threw a 50-yard bomb to Drew Pearson with seconds left to beat the Redskins 24-23. It was pure magic. That’s the kind of stuff that cemented the Cowboys as "America's Team." People tuned in expecting a blowout and got a miracle instead.
Why the Advantage Might Be Shrinking
There’s a lot of talk about the "home-field advantage" on Thanksgiving. It’s real. The Cowboys don’t have to travel. They sleep in their own beds. They have their usual routine. Meanwhile, the visiting team is stuck in a hotel eating a catered meal away from their families.
However, if you look at the last decade, the Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day hasn't been quite as shiny. Since 2014, they’ve had some rough patches. They lost to the Eagles in a blowout that year, got smoked by the Panthers in 2015, and struggled against the Chargers in 2017.
Some analysts, like those at Pro Football Reference, point out that the gap is closing because of how advanced sports science has become. Visiting teams are better at managing the short week. Recovery tech, better charter flights, and optimized nutrition mean the "tired legs" excuse doesn't hold as much weight as it did in the 70s.
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The Cultural Weight of the Game
It’s not just a game; it’s a ratings monster. The Cowboys Thanksgiving slot is consistently one of the most-watched television programs of the entire year. We are talking 30 to 40 million viewers. For a player, that’s a lot of pressure. If you mess up—like Leon Lett—people will remind you of it for thirty years. If you shine—like Dak Prescott did in 2022 against the Giants—you become a holiday hero.
People often ask why the Cowboys (and the Lions) get to play every year. It’s basically grandfathered in. The NFL tried to rotate the games in the 70s—the St. Louis Cardinals actually hosted in '75 and '77—but the ratings were terrible compared to Dallas. The league realized that fans wanted the tradition. They wanted the blue and white jerseys.
Modern Era Struggles and Successes
Dak Prescott has been a fairly solid "Turkey Day" quarterback. He understands the rhythm. But the defense has often been the deciding factor lately. In 2021, the Cowboys lost a heartbreaker to the Raiders in overtime, 36-33. It was a flag-fest. Both teams combined for 28 penalties. It was hard to watch, honestly. It felt like the refs wanted to be the stars of the show instead of the players.
But then look at 2023. The Cowboys absolutely dismantled the Washington Commanders 45-10. DaRon Bland set the NFL record for interception returns for touchdowns in that game. Watching him weave through the Washington offense for his fifth "pick-six" of the season while fans were still finishing their second helpings of turkey was surreal. That’s the peak Cowboys Thanksgiving experience.
Strategy and the Short Week
Coaches hate the short week. Mike McCarthy has talked about how it’s basically a "mental week" rather than a physical one. You can’t do full-contact practices on Monday or Tuesday. You’re basically doing walk-throughs and staring at tablets.
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The Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day is often a reflection of how well the coaching staff can simplify the playbook. You can't install a complex new scheme in three days. You have to rely on what you do best. For Dallas, that usually means leaning on a strong offensive line and hoping the home crowd noise rattles the opposing quarterback's snap count.
The NFC East Rivalry Factor
A huge chunk of these holiday games involve the NFC East. Whether it’s the Giants, the Eagles, or the Commanders, the stakes are usually higher because playoff spots are on the line. These aren't just exhibition games. By late November, the divisional race is usually heating up.
The Cowboys' record against the Commanders on Thanksgiving is particularly dominant. They’ve met ten times on the holiday, and Dallas has won nine of those matchups. Washington just can't seem to figure out the Jerry World voodoo on a Thursday afternoon.
Key Takeaways for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking at the Cowboys record on Thanksgiving Day for future reference, here are some things to keep in mind:
- The Over/Under: Historically, Thanksgiving games in Dallas tend to be high-scoring. Maybe it’s the fast turf at AT&T Stadium or just the holiday adrenaline, but the "over" is often a popular play.
- The Momentum Shift: Pay attention to the Sunday game immediately preceding Thanksgiving. Teams that have to travel after a physical Sunday night game are at a massive disadvantage.
- Injury Reports: Because the turnaround is so fast, a "minor" ankle sprain on Sunday almost always means a player is out for Thursday. There just isn't enough time to clear swelling.
- The "Jerry World" Factor: Since moving to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the atmosphere has become even more of a factor. The giant screen alone can be distracting for visiting kickers and punt returners.
The Cowboys on Thanksgiving isn't just a sports event; it’s a piece of American culture. Even when the team is having a "down" year, the world tunes in. Whether they are winning or losing—and they’ve done plenty of both—the game remains the centerpiece of the holiday.
To really understand the current trajectory of the team, keep a close eye on their defensive depth charts heading into the holiday. The short week usually favors the offense, but as we saw with DaRon Bland, a ball-hawking secondary can flip the script in seconds. If you want to dive deeper into specific player stats from these games, checking the official NFL game books from the last five years provides a clear picture of how much the game plan shifts for this specific Thursday window.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the current season schedule: Identify the Sunday opponent prior to Thanksgiving to gauge the physical toll on the roster before the short week.
- Monitor the injury report: Look specifically for "DNP" (Did Not Practice) tags on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week; these are the most reliable indicators of who will actually suit up.
- Review historical ATS (Against the Spread) data: The Cowboys are often favorites on Thanksgiving due to public betting volume, which sometimes creates value for the underdog in tight divisional matchups.