rpaolinelliMaybe it’s a good thing that the Cowboys have this week off after all.
Dallas is just 30-30 with three byes and one game lost to the 1982 strike in Week 7 games all-time. All three byes have come in the last eight seasons.
When the Cowboys play a home game in the seventh week, they are 20-5.
Dallas was 1-3 at the Cotton Bowl, 14-1 at Texas Stadium, and 5-1 at AT&T Stadium in Week 7 home games.
But the Cowboys do not fare well away from home on Week 7. Dallas is just 10-25 on the road, playing 10 more times in Week 7 away from Dallas.
The Cowboys have won their last two Week 7 home games while losing their last two Week 7 road games.
Setting An Early Tone
Dallas played seven road games in Week 7 during the 1960s. They went 2-5 in those games.
They lost all three of their Week 7 home games in that decade.
The Cowboys first home win in a Week 7 game came in 1970 against the Eagles, their only win at the Cotton Bowl in Week 7.
Dallas built a 21-7 lead in the game then held on for dear life.
The Eagles scored 10 unanswered points but ran out of time in the 21-17 Cowboys’ win.
The Cowboys reversed the trend in the 1970s. Dallas went 7-3 in Week 7 games in the decade.
Against The NFC East
Dallas has faced their NFC East rivals 24 times in 60 Week 7 contests and are just 10-14 against them.
Their 6-5 record against the Eagles is their only winning record.
Dallas is 3-4 against the Giants. They are 1-5 against the Commanders with the lone win, 38-20, coming at home in 1999.
Dallas is 17-11 against the rest of the NFC. The Cowboys are just 3-5 against the AFC in Week 7 games.
They’ve only faced five AFC teams in Week 5 and three of them are from the AFC North. They are 1-4 against those three teams.
They are 2-1 against the other two AFC teams –both from the West.
Again, maybe it was a good thing to have a bye this week.
Notable Streaks
Between 1984-1990, the Cowboys played seven straight Week 7 games on the road. Three of those came in consecutive years (1985-1987) at Philadelphia.
The Cowboys only win during this stretch came in 1986 against the Eagles.
Between 1970 and 2001, the Cowboys played 14 of their 32 Week 7 games at home. They won all 14 of them.
Good Bye-Brations
Although the sample size is small – and the Week 7 byes have all fallen within the last eight seasons – there is one positive trend.
The previous two Week 7 byes were in 2016 and 2021. The Cowboys made the playoffs in both of those years.
Unfortunately, they lost both playoff games at home in those years.
But they have won both of their games following a Week 7 bye so they are looking good for next week’s game against the Rams.
ALL-TIME RECORDS
(Sorted by total games played)
Eagles (6-5)
Giants (3-4)
Cardinals (4-2)
Commanders (1-5)
Rams (3-2)
Lions (4-0)
Bears (1-3)
49ers (2-0)
Chiefs (1-1)
Browns (0-2)
Packers (0-2)
Steelers (0-2)
Bengals (1-0)
Chargers (1-0)
Falcons (1-0)
Panthers (1-0)
Vikings (1-0)
Buccaneers (0-1)
Seahawks (0-1)
