Dallas had an unlucky streak after Commanders’ victory in the Cowboys’ NFC title game drought.

Dallas Cowboys’ Unlucky Streak After Commanders’ Victory: The NFC Title Game Drought

The Dallas Cowboys, one of the NFL’s most iconic and storied franchises, have long been a symbol of both hope and frustration. Their legacy, filled with Super Bowl victories and generational talent, has also been marred by a seemingly endless drought in terms of postseason success. Although the Cowboys have remained a competitive force in the league for decades, one glaring absence has persisted: their inability to return to the NFC Championship Game.

While many fans remember the glory days of the 1990s, when the Cowboys were the dominant team in the NFL, the subsequent years have been a mix of near-misses, playoff disappointments, and a series of unlucky streaks that have kept the franchise from breaking through to the NFC title game. The turning point for many came in the 1999 season, which marked the beginning of a lengthy stretch of underachievement. This period of frustration for the Cowboys began after their victory over the Washington Commanders in the NFC East, where they fell short year after year in the postseason, including an infamous string of near-dramatic playoff exits.

Let’s dive into the history and context of the Cowboys’ NFC title game drought, focusing on how it all started with their struggles after the memorable victory over the Commanders in the 1999 season. From that point on, the Cowboys have faced numerous challenges, from quarterback changes to coaching instability, to bad luck, which has prevented them from making a deep playoff run.

The 1999 Season: A Glimmer of Hope

The 1999 season was supposed to be a new beginning for the Cowboys. After years of dominance in the early 90s, the franchise had suffered a steep decline. The loss of stars like Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith, combined with the retirements and injuries of other key figures, left the Cowboys in a rebuilding phase. However, after years of struggle, the team seemed poised to make a resurgence under head coach Chan Gailey.

That season, the Cowboys managed to make a respectable showing in the NFC East, largely due to the play of young quarterback Quincy Carter and the steady contributions from other key figures, including running back Emmitt Smith. The most memorable game of the season came in Week 15, when Dallas took on their division rivals, the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys defeated Washington 27-21, a pivotal win that helped them secure a playoff spot.

At the time, the victory over the Commanders was seen as a sign of the Cowboys’ resurgence. The win marked a sense of accomplishment, not just because it was a division rivalry, but because it gave Dallas a legitimate chance at an NFC East title and, with it, a shot at returning to the postseason with a fresh roster.

Unfortunately, Dallas’ hopes of a deep playoff run quickly vanished in the 1999 playoffs, when they lost in the wild card round to the Minnesota Vikings. Despite showing promise throughout the season, the Cowboys’ inconsistency ultimately caught up with them in the postseason, and they were eliminated early once again. It would be the beginning of a long and painful cycle of playoff failures that would plague the franchise for years to come.

The Start of the NFC Title Game Drought

While the 1999 season was a bright spot in a decade of mediocrity, it marked the end of an era. The Cowboys’ failure to progress past the wild card round signaled the beginning of a long drought of NFC Championship Game appearances. The team, which had once dominated the NFC in the 90s, found itself stuck in an endless cycle of near-misses.

Over the next decade, the Cowboys experienced a number of promising seasons, yet each time, they fell short of their ultimate goal: reaching the NFC Championship Game. The Cowboys’ inability to advance in the playoffs became a storyline that would define the franchise for years to come. Even as they rebuilt their roster, the team consistently stumbled in critical moments.

A major turning point came in the 2006 season. Under head coach Bill Parcells, the Cowboys made it to the divisional round of the playoffs, where they faced the Seattle Seahawks. The game was a back-and-forth affair, but the Cowboys ultimately lost 21-20, despite a solid performance from quarterback Tony Romo and a talented roster. It was a gut-wrenching defeat, one that left the Cowboys and their fans questioning whether the team would ever again break through to the NFC Championship Game.

In the years that followed, the Cowboys continued to experience success in the regular season, with playoff berths in 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2016. However, despite the talent on the roster, the team couldn’t get over the hump. In each of those seasons, Dallas found themselves eliminated in the wild card or divisional rounds, leaving their championship dreams unfulfilled.

The Romo Era: Unfulfilled Potential

The era of quarterback Tony Romo is perhaps the most frustrating chapter in the Cowboys’ NFC title game drought. Romo, a talented but often maligned quarterback, was never able to take the Cowboys to the promised land, despite posting impressive numbers and breaking numerous franchise records.

In 2007, Romo led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record, the best in the NFC, but the team faltered in the divisional round of the playoffs, losing to the New York Giants. That loss, which occurred in the infamous “bobble” game, served as a turning point for the Cowboys and Romo’s legacy. Romo was often criticized for his inability to perform in big moments, and the team’s consistent failures in the postseason only added fuel to the fire.

Despite continued regular-season success in subsequent years, Romo and the Cowboys were unable to reach the NFC Championship Game. In 2014, Romo had one of his finest seasons, leading the Cowboys to a 12-4 record. Dallas appeared to be on the verge of breaking their postseason curse. However, they were once again thwarted in the divisional round by the Green Bay Packers, in a heartbreaking 26-21 loss. The famous “catch” no-catch controversy, in which Dez Bryant’s potential touchdown was overturned, remains one of the most debated moments in Cowboys history, and further cemented the narrative of Dallas being unable to win when it matters most.

Though Romo’s tenure was marked by individual success, his inability to lead the Cowboys to the NFC Championship Game left many wondering whether the franchise would ever return to their former glory. The combination of bad luck, poor officiating, and missed opportunities continued to haunt the Cowboys, year after year.

The Jason Garrett Era: A Stagnant Franchise

Following Bill Parcells’ departure, the Cowboys turned to Jason Garrett, a former backup quarterback with the team, to guide them into the future. Garrett’s tenure as head coach was marked by high expectations, but also by inconsistency and underachievement. While the Cowboys posted competitive records under Garrett, they failed to make any significant playoff runs.

In 2014, Garrett’s team had the best chance of breaking through to the NFC Championship Game, but as previously mentioned, they were defeated by the Packers in one of the most controversial playoff games in franchise history. The team’s inability to close out games in critical moments became a recurring theme during Garrett’s reign, and the Cowboys never made it past the divisional round under his leadership.

Garrett’s lack of postseason success, coupled with his inability to maximize the potential of the team’s roster, eventually led to his firing after the 2019 season. Despite being well-liked by players and possessing a strong football mind, Garrett simply wasn’t able to get the Cowboys over the hump.

The Dak Prescott Era: New Hope, Same Results

When Dak Prescott took over as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in 2016, it felt like a new era for the franchise. Prescott, alongside running back Ezekiel Elliott, helped lead the Cowboys to a 13-3 regular-season record and a division title in his rookie year. The future looked bright, and fans hoped that the Cowboys had finally found the quarterback who could take them back to the promised land.

However, much like his predecessors, Prescott’s tenure has been defined by frustration in the postseason. The Cowboys have made the playoffs several times during Prescott’s career, but they’ve failed to make it past the divisional round. Whether it was an early loss to the Green Bay Packers in 2016 or a 2021 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys always seemed to fall just short.

The 2022 season marked another year of disappointment. Despite a solid regular-season performance, the Cowboys once again bowed out in the divisional round, losing to the 49ers in a game filled with missed opportunities. While Prescott is undoubtedly one of the better quarterbacks in the league, the lack of postseason success has led to questions about whether he is the quarterback who can finally lead the Cowboys to an NFC Championship Game—and ultimately, a Super Bowl victory.