The2023 season was theDallas Cowboys' 64th season in theNational Football League (NFL), their 35th under the ownership ofJerry Jones, their 15th playing home games atAT&T Stadium, and their fourth underhead coachMike McCarthy. The Cowboys matched their 12–5 record from the previous two seasons and won theNFC East division for the first time since the2021 season and the second time in three seasons. They ended up in a three-way tie with theSan Francisco 49ers and theDetroit Lions for first place in the NFC at 12–5. However, they lost the conference tiebreaker to the 49ers but won the latter tiebreaker over the Lions, giving them the second seed in the playoffs.[1] Although the Cowboys lost to theBuffalo Bills in Week 15, they clinched their third straight playoff berth before taking the field when theGreen Bay Packers andAtlanta Falcons lost to theTampa Bay Buccaneers andCarolina Panthers,[2] respectively. This marked the Cowboys' first run of three consecutive postseason appearances since appearing in six straight from1991 to1996.
However, the Cowboys collapsed yet again in theplayoffs, and despite having one of the best-ranked offenses and defenses of the league, were defeated 48–32 by theirrival, seventh-seededGreen Bay Packers in the Wild Card round, at one point trailing 48–16 during the fourth quarter. With the loss, the Cowboys became the first team to lose a playoff game against a seventh-seeded playoff team since the playoff bracket expanded for the2020–21 NFL playoffs.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
This also marked the first time in NFL history where a team had still failed to reach a conference championship game, despite having won 12 or more games in three straight seasons.[9]
^The Cowboys traded a fifth-round selection (161st overall) and a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Houston Texans in exchange for WRBrandin Cooks.[12]
^The Cowboys traded a fifth-round selection (176th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for CBStephon Gilmore.[13]
^The Cowboys traded a2024 fifth-round selection to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round selection (178th overall).
^The Cowboys traded a sixth-round selection (204th overall) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round selection and DTJohnathan Hankins.[14]
The Cowboys started the season by traveling to MetLife Stadium to face one of their longtime NFC East rivals: the New York Giants.
In rain-soaked conditions, they demolished the Giants 40–0, on the back of a stellar defensive performance and two touchdowns from Tony Pollard. The Cowboys defense returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the first quarter, had two interceptions (returning one for a touchdown), and recorded a total of seven sacks during the game on the Giants quarterbackDaniel Jones as they posted their first shutout win since2017.[citation needed]
With the shutout win, the Cowboys started the season 1–0 for the first time since2019.
After a raging shutout win over the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys went back home to face New York's other NFL team, the New York Jets. The Cowboys benefitted from the Jets having to start Zach Wilson because of Aaron Rodgers injuring his Achilles' tendon the week before. Dallas scored the only points of the first quarter, with Dak Prescott hitting Jake Ferguson with a 4-yard touchdown pass to put the Cowboys up, 7–0.
In the second quarter, Brandon Aubrey extended the Cowboys' lead to 10–0 upon booting a 35-yard field goal. However, they allowed Zach Wilson to pass for his only touchdown of the game by hitting Garrett Wilson with a 68-yard touchdown pass to drop the Cowboys' lead to three points. But the Cowboys wouldn't go away, as Dak Prescott hit Luke Schoonmaker with a 1-yard touchdown pass with the two-point conversion to put Dallas up by 11. With 4 seconds until halftime, the Jets scored their final points, with Austin Seibert booting a 34-yard field goal to bring New York within eight.
The second half belonged to Brandon Aubrey, as he booted 4 field goals, with 2 coming in the 3rd quarter, and the other two coming in the 4th, to reach the final score of 30–10.
The Cowboys' defense thoroughly harassed Zach Wilson, intercepting him 3 times and sacking him 3 times for 19 yards.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 2–0, and won their first game against the Jets since2007.
Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra was played as the game concluded.
After two consecutive blowout wins over both New York teams, the Cowboys traveled to State Farm Stadium, hoping to give the Arizona Cardinals their 10th consecutive loss dating back to last season. Despite intercepting 5 passes in the previous two games, the Cowboys defense struggled throughout the game and could not intercept Cardinals' quarterback Joshua Dobbs at all. After falling into a 15–3 hole in the second quarter, Dallas failed to rebound, ultimately losing 28–16, and extending their losing streak against the Cardinals to three games. With the upset loss, the Cowboys fell to 2–1, and allowed their divisionrival Eagles to take sole possession of the division lead after their win the following night over theBuccaneers. Additionally, it was Dak Prescott's first game of the season throwing an interception.
After a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Cowboys went back home to face the New England Patriots. This was Ezekiel Elliott's return to AT&T Stadium for the first time since being released from the Cowboys. He played 7 seasons with the Cowboys from 2016 to 2022. He will, however, return to the Cowboys in 2024. The Cowboys dominated from start to finish againstBill Belichick and the Patriots.Leighton Vander Esch scored the first defensive touchdown of his career on an 11-yard fumble recovery.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 3–1, and gave Belichick his worst loss as a head coach.
In one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season, the Cowboys traveled to San Francisco to face the undefeated 49ers in a rematch of the previous season's Divisional Round meeting, which San Francisco won, 19–12. The Cowboys were dominated on both sides of the ball from start to finish in a devastating 42–10 loss, their third straight to the 49ers. Dak Prescott tied a career worst by throwing three interceptions, and the defense allowed 421 total yards. Dallas dropped to 3–2 on the season with the blowout loss.
The Cowboys traveled to SoFi Stadium to take on Justin Herbert and the Kellen Moore-led Chargers. Moore had been the Cowboys' offensive coordinator between 2019 and 2022. The Cowboys and the Chargers exchanged points throughout the game, including a point when Jalen Tolbert muffed a catch that led to a Chargers touchdown. The Cowboys responded by kicking a field goal to make the game 20–17, which proved to be the final score. Strangely, the score drew a coincidence to the 2021 season when the Cowboys and Chargers played each other, which was also a 20–17 Cowboys win over the Chargers. The Cowboys defense stood tall in the final minutes of the game, with Micah Parsons sacking Justin Herbert, with Stephon Gilmore intercepting Herbert to seal the Cowboys win. The win improved the Cowboys to 4–2 on the season.
The Cowboys traveled to Philadelphia to face the league-leadingEagles in a crucial NFC East showdown. After a back-and-forth first half, Dallas took a 17–14 lead into the locker room. However, the Eagles answered with touchdowns on their first two second-half drives to take a 28–17 lead into the fourth quarter. The Cowboys drove to the Eagles' 1-yard line, whereDak Prescott threw a fourth down pass to tight endLuke Schoonmaker; initially ruled a touchdown, replay reviews confirmed that Schoonmaker was downed prior to breaking the plane, turning the ball over on downs. Dallas got a second chance after forcing a three-and-out, and this time cashed in with aJalen Tolbert touchdown reception. However, Prescott stepped out of bounds on the two-point conversion, making it a 28–23 game. After failing to score on their next drive, the Cowboys got one final chance to take the lead with 46 seconds remaining. Prescott and the Cowboys drove to the 6-yard line in under 20 seconds, thanks to numerous penalties committed by Philadelphia's defense, but two pre-snap penalties by the offense and a costly sack byJosh Sweat moved them back to the 27. On the game's final play, CeeDee Lamb was stopped short of the goal line as time expired and fumbled, sealing the Cowboys' fate. Dallas dropped to 5–3 on the season with the 28–23 loss, and suffered their fourth loss in their past five visits to Philadelphia.
In a historical moment, DaRon Bland became the first NFL player to make his fifthpick six, which was the most in a single season.[16] With the win, the Cowboys continued their win streak at home. The game averaged 41.438 million viewers, the third most viewed regular season NFL game ever.[17]
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 10–3, and overtook the Eagles for first place in the NFC East. The Cowboys had now won 15 consecutive home games, and became the first team in NFL history to score 30 or more points in their first 7 home games in a season.[citation needed] In addition,Brandon Aubrey became the first NFL kicker to make two field goals from 59+ yards in the same game.[18]
Following the win, the Cowboys went undefeated at home for the 2023 season and had their 16th consecutive home victory. This was the first time the Cowboys finished 8–0 at home since1980 and1981.[19][20] This game was highly controversial because of an illegal touching penalty called on Taylor Decker. Brad Allen and his officiating crew were fired from the postseason because of the call.[21]
After a rocky start, the Cowboys responded with 31 unanswered points, allowing them to rout the Commanders, clinch the NFC East for the second time in three years, and deny the Eagles a chance to repeat as NFC East champions for the first time since 2004.
^abcSan Francisco finished ahead of Dallas and Detroit based on conference record, claiming the No. 1 seed.
^abDallas claimed the No. 2 seed over Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
^abTampa Bay finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South based on common record. (Tampa Bay is 8–4 against Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis, while New Orleans is 6–6 against the same teams.)
^abcGreen Bay and Seattle finished ahead of New Orleans based on conference record.
^abGreen Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on strength of victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^abMinnesota finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Chicago (see below).
^abMinnesota finished ahead of Chicago based on common record. (Minnesota is 5–7 against Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Kansas City, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver, Las Vegas, and Detroit, while Chicago is 4–8 against the same teams.)
^abChicago finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory.
^abWashington finished ahead of Arizona based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
This marks the sixth time in their past ten, that Dallas went one-and-done in the playoffs as well as their first home game loss sinceWeek 1 of the previous season.
