:Cowboys–Rams rivalry

The rivalry between the Cowboys and Rams started once Dallas joined the NFL as an expansion team in {{nfly|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.{{cite web|author=Dijo Songco |url=https://clutchpoints.com/los-angeles-rams-top-5-rivals-of-all-time-ranked/ |title=Los Angeles Rams' top 5 rivals of all time, ranked |date=May 19, 2020 |publisher=Clutch Points |access-date=2021-09-03}}{{cite web|author=Gary Klein |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-cowboys-history-20170927-story.html |title=There's a lot of history between the Rams and Cowboys, and Sunday's matchup stirs memories |work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=2021-09-03}}

The Cowboys and Rams faced each other in the playoffs for the first time in {{nfly|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.{{cite news|author=go rams|title=The Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams: The Professor's playoff history course|url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/1/8/18168941/dallas-cowboys-los-angeles-rams-playoff-history-all-time|publisher=SB Nation|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2021}} 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 {{nfly|1995}}.{{Cite web |title=NFL's Rams announce move to St. Louis {{!}} January 17, 1995 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nfl-team-relocations-los-angeles-rams-st-louis |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=HISTORY |language=en}} The Rams eventually won Super Bowl XXXIV in {{nfly|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 {{nfly|1992}}, a 27–23 Rams win on the road. In Dallas' first visit to Edward Jones Dome, the Cowboys prevailed 13–10.{{cite news|author=Brandon Bate|title=A Brief Look Into History: St. Louis Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys course|url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/8/25/3263970/st-louis-rams-v-dallas-cowboys-nfl-preseason|publisher=SB Nation|date=August 25, 2012|access-date=September 3, 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-13 |title=California love: Rams head back to L.A. for '16 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14558668/st-louis-rams-relocate-los-angeles |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Schilling |first=Dave |date=2016-09-19 |title=After 22 years, the Rams are back in LA. Was it worth the wait? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/19/los-angeles-rams-nfl-22-years-return |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Wagoner |first=Nick |date=2016-01-14 |title=Move still to come, but team is officially the Los Angeles Rams |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/25994/move-still-to-come-but-team-is-officially-the-los-angeles-rams |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In {{nfly|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.{{cite news|author=David Howman|title=Know your history: The Cowboys-Rams matchup|url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2020/9/9/21427918/know-your-history-the-cowboys-rams-matchup-mike-mccarthy-sean-mcvay-jason-garrett-tom-landry|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021}} The {{nfly|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.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Rams open SoFi Stadium in style with 20-17 win over Cowboys|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20200913_DAL@LAR/|work=CBS Sports|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2021}}

{{Game log start|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle}} | title = Dallas Cowboys vs. St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams Season-by-Season Results}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}|title=1960s (Rams, 3–1) |Season| Results | Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|1960}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
38–13

| Cotton Bowl

| Rams
1–0

| Cowboys join the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion team. This loss was the Cowboys' seventh of ten straight losses to start the season.

|-

| {{nfly|1962}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
27–17

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| Tied
1–1

|

|-

| {{nfly|1967}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
35–13

| Cotton Bowl

| Rams
2–1

| As a result of expansion, the two eight-team divisions became two eight-team conferences split into two divisions, with the Cowboys placed in the NFL Capitol and the Rams placed in the NFL Coastal.
The first meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach.
Final meeting at Cotton Bowl.
Cowboys lose 1967 NFL Championship.

|-

| {{nfly|1969}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
24–23

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| Rams
3–1

| Final meeting in the series for George Allen as Rams head coach.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}|title=1970s (Cowboys, 6–4)| Season| Results| Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|1971}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
28–21

| Texas Stadium

| Rams
3–2

| As a result of the AFL–NFL merger from the previous season, the Cowboys were placed in the NFC East and the Rams were placed in the NFC West.
First meeting at Texas Stadium.
First start in the series for Roger Staubach.
Cowboys win Super Bowl VI.

|-

| {{nfly|1973}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
37–31

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| Rams
4–2

| First meeting in the series for Chuck Knox as Rams head coach.

|-

! 1973 playoffs

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
27–16

! Texas Stadium

! Rams
4–3

! NFC Divisional Round.
The first post-season meeting between the teams.

|-

| {{nfly|1975}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
18–7

| Texas Stadium

| Tied
4–4

|

|- style="background:#f0f0f0"

! 1975 playoffs

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
37–7

! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

! Cowboys
5–4

! NFC Championship Game.
Cowboys take the first lead in the series.
Cowboys lose Super Bowl X.

|- style="background:#f0f0f0"

! 1976 playoffs

! style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
14–12

! Texas Stadium

! Tied
5–5

! NFC Divisional Round.

|-

| {{nfly|1978}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
27–14

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| Rams
6–5

|

|-

! 1978 playoffs

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
28–0

! Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

! Tied
6–6

! NFC Championship Game.
Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until the 2018 season.
Cowboys lose Super Bowl XIII.

|-

| {{nfly|1979}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
30–6

| Texas Stadium

| Cowboys
7–6

|

|-

! 1979 playoffs

! style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
21–19

! Texas Stadium

! Tied
7–7

! NFC Divisional Round.
Final start in the series for Cowboys QB Roger Staubach.
Rams lose Super Bowl XIV.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}|title=1980s (Rams, 5–4)| Season| Results | Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|1980}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
38–14

| Anaheim Stadium

| Rams
8–7

| First meeting at Anaheim Stadium.

|-

! 1980 playoffs

! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
34–13

! Texas Stadium

! Tied
8–8

! NFC Wild Card Round.

|-

| {{nfly|1981}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
29–17

| Texas Stadium

| Cowboys
9–8

|

|-

! 1983 playoffs

! style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
24–17

! Texas Stadium

! Tied
9–9

! NFC Wild Card Round.

|-

| {{nfly|1984}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
20–13

| Anaheim Stadium

| Cowboys
10–9

|

|-

! 1985 playoffs

! style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
20–0

! Anaheim Stadium

! Tied
10–10

! NFC Divisional Round.
Final playoff game for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.

|-

| {{nfly|1986}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| 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.

|-

| {{nfly|1987}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
29–21

| Anaheim Stadium

| Tied
11–11

| Final meeting in the series for Tom Landry as Cowboys head coach.

|-

| {{nfly|1989}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
35–31

| Texas Stadium

| Rams
12–11

| First start in the series for Cowboys QB Troy Aikman and first appearance for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle}}|title=1990s (Tied, 1–1)| Season| Results | Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|1990}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
24–21

| Anaheim Stadium

| Tied
12–12

| Final meeting at Anaheim Stadium. The final meeting in Los Angeles until the 2018 season.

|-

| {{nfly|1992}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
27–23

| Texas Stadium

| Rams
13–12

| Final meeting until the 2017 season the Cowboys faced the Rams as a Los Angeles-based team, as the team relocated to St. Louis in the 1995 season.
The final start in the series is for Troy Aikman, and the final appearance is for Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach.
Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle}}|title=2000s (Tied, 2–2)| Season| Results| Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|2002}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
13–10

| Edward Jones Dome

| Tied
13–13

| First meeting in St. Louis.

|-

| {{nfly|2005}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams}}| Rams
20–10

| Texas Stadium

| Rams
14–13

|

|-

| {{nfly|2007}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
35–7

| Texas Stadium

| Tied
14–14

| Final meeting at Texas Stadium.

|-

| {{nfly|2008}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams}}| Rams
34–14

| Edward Jones Dome

| Rams
15–14

|

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}|title=2010s (Cowboys, 4–2)| Season| Results| Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|2011}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
34–7

| AT&T Stadium

| Tied
15–15

| First meeting at AT&T Stadium.

|-

| {{nfly|2013}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
31–7

| AT&T Stadium

| Cowboys
16–15

|

|-

| {{nfly|2014}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
34–31

| Edward Jones Dome

| Cowboys
17–15

| Final meeting in St. Louis, as the Rams relocated back to Los Angeles in the 2016 season.

|-

| {{nfly|2017}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
35–30

| AT&T Stadium

| Cowboys
17–16

|

|-

! 2018 playoffs

! style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| 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 and the first postseason meeting in the 21th century. Final meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Rams lose Super Bowl LIII.

|-

| {{nfly|2019}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
44–21

| AT&T Stadium

| Cowboys
18–17

|

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}} |title=2020s (Cowboys, 2–1)| Season| Results| Location| {{nowrap|Overall series}}| Notes}}

|-

| {{nfly|2020}}

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}| Rams
20–17

| SoFi Stadium

| Tied
18–18

| First meeting at SoFi Stadium.

|-

|{{nfly|2022}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
22–10

| SoFi Stadium

| Cowboys
19–18

|

|-

|{{nfly|2023}}

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}| Cowboys
43–20

| AT&T Stadium

| Cowboys
20–18

|

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style={{NFLPrimaryStyle}}|title=Summary of results| Season| Season series| at Dallas Cowboys| at Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams| Notes}}

|-

| Regular season

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}|{{nowrap|Cowboys 16–13}}

| {{nowrap|Cowboys 9–6}}

| {{nowrap|Tie 7–7}}

|

|-

| Postseason

| style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Los Angeles Rams}}|{{nowrap|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

| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Dallas Cowboys}}|{{nowrap|Cowboys 20–18}}

| {{nowrap|Cowboys 11–9}}

| {{nowrap|Tie 9–9}}

| Cowboys have a 2-1 record in St. Louis. Rams currently have a 8–7 record in Los Angeles.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log end}}

• National Football League rivalries
• California–Texas rivalry
• Angels–Rangers rivalry

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{{Dallas Cowboys}}

{{Los Angeles Rams}}

{{NFL rivalries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowboys-Rams rivalry}}

Category:NFL rivalries

Category:Dallas Cowboys rivalries

Category:Los Angeles Rams rivalries