The Dallas Cowboys playing on Thanksgiving is an American tradition that is one of the most anticipated games of the NFL season. It is a football marriage made in heaven. Like peanut butter and jelly, America’s Team playing on Thanksgiving just works.
Everyone expects to see the Cowboys perform well in their Thanksgiving fixture, yet 2024’s matchup held a different feeling given Dallas’ struggles. Consequently, when was the last time the Cowboys won on Thanksgiving?
When Did the Dallas Cowboys Last Win on Thanksgiving?
The Cowboys’ last Thanksgiving victory came on Nov. 28, 2024, when they beat the New York Giants, 27-20.
Neither team was at full strength, especially under center. Dallas was without Dak Prescott, out for the season due to a hamstring injury, and was starting Cooper Rush at quarterback. New York had already cut Daniel Jones, while next-man-up Tommy DeVito’s forearm injury forced Drew Lock into the lineup for the Giants.
The Cowboys took their first lead of the game when linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tipped a Lock pass to himself and ran it back for a 23-yard pick-six. Dallas went up 13-7 on Overshown’s score and never looked back.
Brandin Cooks and Rico Dowdle each scored in the third quarter, giving Dallas a 27-10 lead entering the fourth quarter. New York staged a late comeback with 10 fourth-quarter points, but the Cowboys hung on for a seven-point win.
Rush limited his mistakes against the Giants, but Dowdle was the star of the offensive show. The veteran running back took 22 carries for 112 yards and the score, becoming the Cowboys’ first 100-yard rusher since Week 3 of the 2023 campaign.
Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Record
The Cowboys first played on Thanksgiving in 1966 and have played almost every year since. They only took a break in 1975 and 1977 when the NFL chose to play the St. Louis Cardinals instead.
The Cowboys won back the right to play on Thanksgiving after the Cardinals’ experiment failed and have hosted the game ever since.
Dallas started its Thanksgiving games undefeated in its first seven games before losing to the Miami Dolphins in 1972. They have an all-time winning record of 33-22-1 in Thanksgiving Day games.
In recent history, Dallas has struggled more on Thanksgiving. Before beating New York in 2022, Washington in 2023, and the Giants again in 2024, the Cowboys had suffered three straight defeats to the Raiders (2021), Washington (2020), and the Buffalo Bills (2019).
Before 2022, Dallas’ last Thanksgiving win had been against Washington in 2018, when the Cowboys won 31-23. In the last decade, Dallas has a record of 5-5 in Thanksgiving Day games.
What Is the Cowboys’ Record Now?
Dallas is 5-7 this season after going 12-5 in each of the previous three years. While the Cowboys are now on a two-game winning streak, they still don’t have much hope for a playoff berth.
The preseason was filled with contract extension drama surrounding Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Both signed extensions before the season kicked off in Cleveland, where Dallas recorded a convincing Week 1 win.
Prescott’s season-ending injury dampened the Cowboys’ prospects, but he wasn’t Dallas’ only key contributor to go down this season. Pro Bowl defensive players Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and DaRon Bland have each missed at least four games due to injuries.