Cowboys vs Jets: History, Rivalry, Head-to-Head Record and Memorable Games

The Cowboys vs Jets matchup is one of the more unusual cross-conference stories in NFL history. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets are two of the league’s most recognizable franchises, yet they have not played each other nearly as often as many fans might expect. Their meetings have produced dominant performances, surprising upsets, close finishes and several games that remain memorable because of the eras, players and circumstances surrounding them. Through the 2025 season, Dallas owns a 9-5 advantage in the regular-season series, while the teams have met only 14 times.

That limited history is actually what makes Cowboys vs Jets history so interesting. Unlike divisional rivalries that are renewed every season, Dallas and New York have generally crossed paths only periodically because they play in different conferences. There is no long-running annual battle for a division title, and the teams have never met each other in the postseason. Instead, their history is a collection of individual chapters, with certain games standing out far more than others. From the Cowboys’ early dominance in the 1970s to the Jets’ ability to win several important recent meetings, the matchup has developed a character of its own.

Cowboys vs Jets Head-to-Head Record

The Cowboys vs Jets head-to-head record currently favors Dallas. According to Pro Football Reference, the Cowboys have won 9 of the 14 regular-season meetings, while the Jets have won 5. There have been no ties and no postseason meetings between the franchises.

The series began in 1971, when Dallas delivered a spectacular 52-10 victory over New York. The Cowboys also won the next three meetings, giving them an early 4-0 advantage in the series. New York finally broke through in 1990 with a 24-9 victory, and the Jets have continued to show that the matchup is not simply a one-sided affair. In fact, after the Tom Landry era, the series became considerably more balanced, with the teams trading victories across different generations of players and coaches.

Here is the complete regular-season series through 2025:

The official Jets matchup history also confirms the series results through the 2023 meeting, while the most recent 2025 meeting extended Dallas’ overall regular-season advantage.

Is Cowboys vs Jets a Real NFL Rivalry?

Calling Cowboys vs Jets a rivalry requires some qualification. The matchup certainly has history, recognizable teams and memorable games, but it does not have the same traditional rivalry status as Cowboys-Giants, Cowboys-Eagles or Jets-Patriots. One of the biggest reasons is simple: Dallas and New York are in different conferences, meaning they do not regularly play one another.

The teams have met just 14 times in the regular season through 2025, and they have never faced each other in a playoff game. That is a remarkably small number considering how long both franchises have existed. The lack of postseason meetings has prevented the matchup from developing the kind of sustained rivalry that comes from repeated high-stakes games. Still, the scarcity of the matchup can make each meeting feel more distinctive because fans do not get a Cowboys-Jets game every year.

There is also a fascinating contrast between the two franchises. The Cowboys have built much of their identity around their status as one of the NFL’s most successful and visible organizations, while the Jets have a very different historical identity shaped by their dramatic Super Bowl III triumph and the legendary career of Joe Namath. Pro Football Reference lists Dallas with five Super Bowl victories in eight appearances, while the Jets have one Super Bowl victory from one appearance.

That contrast gives the Cowboys vs Jets rivalry an interesting cultural dimension even when the teams are not directly competing for the same division.

The First Cowboys vs Jets Meeting in 1971

The history of Dallas Cowboys vs New York Jets began on December 4, 1971. Dallas announced itself immediately, winning 52-10 in a game that remains the largest margin of victory in the series. The Cowboys’ 42-point victory established the tone for the early years of the matchup and began a four-game winning streak against New York.

Dallas also won meetings in 1975, 1978 and 1987, giving the Cowboys a perfect 4-0 start against the Jets. The 1978 meeting was particularly notable for its timing, as the teams were moving in very different directions at the end of that season. Dallas defeated New York 30-7, continuing its early control of the series.

The early history therefore belongs clearly to the Cowboys, but the Jets eventually began changing the narrative.

The Jets Finally Break Through

New York’s first win against Dallas came in 1990. The Jets defeated the Cowboys 24-9, ending Dallas’ unbeaten start to the series. The victory was an important reminder that the Cowboys’ early dominance did not guarantee future success.

Three years later, Dallas responded with a 28-7 victory in 1993, but the Jets won another close game in 1999, edging the Cowboys 22-21. That contest is one of the best examples of how the series changed from one dominated by Dallas into a matchup capable of producing competitive games.

The 1990s also represent an important transition period for both franchises. Dallas was associated with the championship teams of the 1990s, while the Jets were searching for their own consistency after the glory associated with the Namath era. That contrast helped make their occasional meetings particularly interesting for NFL fans.

Cowboys vs Jets in the 2000s

The 2000s produced two very different Cowboys-Jets games. In 2003, Dallas defeated New York 17-6 in a relatively low-scoring contest. Four years later, the Cowboys produced one of the most decisive victories in the matchup’s history, crushing the Jets 34-3 on Thanksgiving Day in 2007.

The 2007 meeting is particularly memorable because Thanksgiving games have always carried extra significance for the Cowboys. Playing on Thanksgiving is part of the franchise’s unique NFL identity, and Dallas’ 31-point victory over New York gave Cowboys fans another memorable holiday performance.

The Jets then answered in 2011. In the season opener, New York defeated Dallas 27-24 in a dramatic game. The Jets’ victory was another example of the unpredictable nature of this matchup: despite Dallas entering the game with a strong reputation, New York found a way to win a close contest.

The 2015 Cowboys vs Jets Game

One of the most memorable modern Cowboys vs Jets games took place in 2015. The Jets traveled to Dallas and came away with a 19-16 victory. The game was closely contested, and New York’s three-point win continued the Jets’ ability to trouble Dallas during the modern era.

What makes the 2015 meeting especially interesting from a historical perspective is that it came during a period when the two teams were heading in different directions but still produced a competitive game. The Jets’ victory also meant that New York had won consecutive meetings against Dallas after the Cowboys had dominated much of the earlier series.

That shift demonstrates why looking only at the overall Cowboys vs Jets all-time record can be misleading. Dallas leads the series, but the individual eras tell a much more balanced story.

The 2019 Cowboys vs Jets Upset

The 2019 meeting is arguably one of the most memorable recent chapters in the rivalry. Dallas entered the game as the more highly regarded team, but the Jets defended their home field and defeated the Cowboys 24-22. New York built a significant advantage before Dallas mounted a late comeback attempt, but the Jets held on for the victory.

The result became another example of the Jets producing an unexpected result against the Cowboys. The game also showed how quickly the narrative surrounding an NFL matchup can change. Dallas had entered the season with major expectations, while New York was trying to establish momentum. Yet when the teams met, the Jets played well enough to secure a two-point victory.

For fans researching Cowboys vs Jets history, the 2019 game deserves attention because it fits a recurring theme in this series: Dallas may own the better overall record, but New York has repeatedly produced surprising wins.

The 2023 Cowboys vs Jets Game

Dallas returned to the winning side in 2023, defeating the Jets 30-10 at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys controlled the game and added another convincing victory to their side of the historical record.

The 2023 result was significant because it came after the Jets had won three consecutive meetings in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Dallas’ victory stopped that streak and restored the Cowboys’ advantage in the all-time series.

It also demonstrated an important feature of the matchup: because the teams play so infrequently, individual games can dramatically alter the recent narrative. A team can wait years for another opportunity to answer a previous defeat, making the next meeting more meaningful to fans who remember the earlier result.

The 2025 Cowboys vs Jets Meeting

The most recent meeting came in 2025, when the Cowboys defeated the Jets 37-22. That result gave Dallas consecutive victories over New York and moved the Cowboys to 9-5 in the regular-season series.

The 2025 game is now part of the broader historical context of Cowboys vs Jets. It also means that anyone researching the matchup should be careful with older articles that list the series at 8-5 or use statistics that predate the latest meeting. For an SEO article intended to remain useful over time, updating the head-to-head section after every future matchup will be important.

Why the Cowboys Have the Head-to-Head Advantage

There are several reasons Dallas owns the better Cowboys vs Jets head-to-head record. The most obvious is the Cowboys’ dominant beginning to the series. Dallas won the first four meetings and established a substantial advantage before the Jets recorded their first victory.

The Cowboys have also produced several blowout victories, including the 52-10 win in 1971 and the 34-3 win in 2007. These games increased Dallas’ overall scoring advantage and helped establish a statistical edge that remains visible today. Pro Football Reference currently lists Dallas with a 9-5 record against New York and a 389-226 scoring advantage across the 14 regular-season meetings.

However, the Jets have been competitive in several more recent games. New York won in 2011, 2015 and 2019, and each victory demonstrated that the Cowboys’ historical advantage does not automatically translate into dominance every time the teams meet.

Cowboys vs Jets: The Most Important Numbers

For readers looking for a quick summary of the Cowboys vs Jets all-time series, the key figures are straightforward. Dallas leads 9-5 in regular-season games through 2025. The teams have played 14 regular-season games, there have been no ties, and they have never met in the playoffs. Dallas also leads the scoring 389-226.

The Cowboys won the first four meetings, while the Jets’ most recent stretch of success came with victories in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Dallas then won the 2023 and 2025 meetings, giving the Cowboys back-to-back victories in the most recent two games.

These statistics explain why the matchup is historically interesting without overstating the rivalry. There is a genuine competitive history, but the limited number of meetings and absence of playoff games make it different from the NFL’s traditional rivalries.

Will Cowboys vs Jets Become a Bigger Rivalry?

The future of the Cowboys vs Jets rivalry depends largely on scheduling and whether the teams eventually meet in a meaningful postseason game. Because they play in different conferences, they are not guaranteed to face each other every season. That naturally limits the number of opportunities for a traditional rivalry to develop.

A playoff meeting would change the story immediately. The Cowboys and Jets have decades of history but have never played each other in the postseason. A high-stakes playoff game would create a completely new chapter and could become the defining moment of the series.

Until that happens, Cowboys vs Jets is best understood as a fascinating occasional NFL matchup rather than one of the league’s primary rivalries. Its appeal comes from the contrast between two famous franchises, the scarcity of their meetings and the fact that individual games have often produced unexpected results.

Conclusion: Cowboys vs Jets History Is About More Than the Record

The Cowboys vs Jets series may not have the frequency of a traditional NFL rivalry, but its history is still worth exploring. Dallas leads the regular-season series 9-5 through 2025, and the Cowboys have built that advantage through dominant performances, particularly during the early years of the matchup. At the same time, the Jets have produced several memorable victories, including wins in 1990, 1999, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

What makes this matchup compelling is the space between the games. Cowboys and Jets fans can wait years for another meeting, which gives each matchup a different feel from the annual battles found within NFL divisions. The history includes blowouts, close finishes, unexpected upsets and memorable performances, while the absence of a playoff meeting leaves one major chapter still unwritten.

For anyone searching for the Cowboys vs Jets history, head-to-head record, rivalry, memorable games or all-time series, the central takeaway is simple: Dallas has the statistical edge, but New York has repeatedly shown that it can disrupt the Cowboys when the two franchises finally meet. And because these games are relatively rare, the next Cowboys-Jets matchup will always have an opportunity to add another memorable chapter to the story.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cowboys vs Jets

What is the Cowboys vs Jets all-time record?

Through the 2025 regular season, the Dallas Cowboys lead the New York Jets 9-5 in their head-to-head series. The teams have played 14 regular-season games, with no ties.

Have the Cowboys and Jets ever played in the playoffs?

No. The Cowboys and Jets have never met in an NFL playoff game. Their 14 meetings through the 2025 season have all been regular-season games.

Who won the first Cowboys vs Jets game?

The Cowboys won the first meeting in 1971 by a score of 52-10. It remains Dallas’ largest victory over New York in the series.

When did the Jets first beat the Cowboys?

The Jets recorded their first victory over Dallas in 1990, winning 24-9. Dallas had won the first four meetings between the franchises.

Is Cowboys vs Jets considered a rivalry?

It can be described as an occasional rivalry or notable NFL matchup, but it is not generally considered one of the NFL’s major traditional rivalries. The teams play in different conferences, have met only 14 times through 2025 and have never played each other in the postseason.

When was the most recent Cowboys vs Jets game?

The most recent meeting was in the 2025 regular season, when Dallas defeated New York 37-22. The Cowboys also won the previous meeting, defeating the Jets 30-10 in 2023.

Who has scored more points in Cowboys vs Jets history?

Dallas has the scoring advantage. Across the 14 regular-season meetings through 2025, the Cowboys have scored 389 points compared with 226 for the Jets.

What was the biggest Cowboys vs Jets win?

The Cowboys’ biggest win came in the first meeting between the teams in 1971, when Dallas defeated New York 52-10, a 42-point margin.

What was the closest Cowboys vs Jets game?

The series has included several close games. Among the most notable are the Cowboys’ 22-21 loss to the Jets in 1999, the Jets’ 19-16 victory in 2015 and their 24-22 win over Dallas in 2019.