It’s been 28 years since the Dallas Cowboys beat Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, 38-27, in the 1995 NFC Championship Game, before beating Bill Cowher’s Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17, in Super Bowl XXX.
That’s the last time Dallas has made it as far as a conference championship game. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more disappointing playoff stretch for any franchise than the Cowboys’ over this time.
They’ve endured 12 playoff exits since then, the most recent a 19-12 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers last postseason. Here’s a number and fact for each one, to sum up the postseason agony for America’s Team.
1. Teams worth $9 billion in sports (2023 Cowboys)
There’s ONE team worth $9 billion in sports. It’s just the 2023 Cowboys, according to Forbes. They’ve been the most valuable NFL franchise for 15 straight years. They say money can’t buy you happiness. Well, it can’t buy you a championship either.
2. Cowboys’ times with No. 1 seed since 1996
Dallas has had the No. 1 seed TWO times since 1996. In 2007, it went one-and-done against the Giants and Terrell Owens got emotional defending Tony Romo during an infamous postgame interview, saying “That’s my quarterback.” In 2016, the Cowboys lost after Aaron Rodgers’ iconic sideline throw to Jared Cook set up the game-winning field goal.
3. Dez Bryant’s controversial no-catch vs. Packers
Dez Bryant had THREE catches in the Cowboys’ 26-21 divisional round loss at Lambeau Field in 2014. It would have been four if replay review didn’t overturn his controversial no-catch. Had the catch stood up, Dallas could have taken the lead in the final minutes of the game. Safe to say Dallas wants to put its last two playoff games vs. the Packers (2014 and 2016) in the rearview mirror.
4. Mike McCarthy losses vs. 49ers in postseason
Mike McCarthy is 0-4 in his playoff career vs. the 49ers (two losses with the Packers and two with the Cowboys),…
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