For the third time, and the first since 2014, the Eagles will spend the holiday in Dallas.
Dave Spadaro
There is some history here, to be discussed in just a moment. The big news off the top is this, as the 2026 Philadelphia Eagles schedule is released this week: The best rivalry in the NFL will have at least one game in an exclusive window when the Eagles play at the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, at 4:30 PM on FOX.
That game in Arlington, Texas marks the Eagles' eighth all-time game on Thanksgiving and the first at Dallas since 2014, when Philadelphia defeated the Cowboys 33-10.
The only other time the Eagles played at the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day was way back in 1989 when the Buddy Ryan-led Birds beat Dallas 27-0 in a game known as the "Bounty Bowl." If you are old enough to remember ...
- The Eagles' defense was dominating against Dallas, allowing just 10 first downs and 191 total net yards. Rookie quarterback Troy Aikman was sacked twice and managed only nine completions on 25 pass attempts, with three interceptions and 76 passing yards.
- Quarterback Randall Cunningham, at the height of his "Ultimate Weapon" productivity, completed 21 of 33 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, and he led the Eagles with 46 rushing yards on 9 attempts.
- Wide receiver Cris Carter had two touchdowns among his three receptions for 53 yards and running back/tight end/do-it-all-player Keith Byars caught eight passes for 90 yards.
- But the big story ... the Bounty Bowl aspect of things. Dallas Head Coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Ryan had taken out a bounty on two Cowboys players, placekicker Luis Zendejas and Aikman. Eagles linebacker Jessie Small blindsided Zendejas a former Eagle on the line of the Dallas kickoff to open the game. That caused Johnson to call out Ryan after the game.
"I have absolutely no respect for the way they played the game, I would have said something to Buddy, but he wouldn't stand on the field long enough," Johnson said. "He put his big, fat rear end into the dressing room."
Ryan denied the bounty accusation, saying that film of the game "show that Small had no intention of hurting Zendejas."Ryan also joked about Johnson's accusations.
"I resent that," Ryan said the day after the game. "I've been on a diet, I lost a couple of pounds, and I thought I was looking good."
Another chapter in the rivalry between the Eagles and Cowboys took flight ...
The Eagles are 6-1 all time in Thanksgiving games, but have not played in that nationally televised window since a loss at Detroit in the 2015 season. Here are the scores from the team's history on Thanksgiving:
November 23, 1939:Eagles 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 14
November 28, 1940:Pittsburgh Steelers 7, Eagles 0
November 28, 1968:Eagles 12, Detroit Lions 0
November 23, 1989:Eagles 27, Dallas Cowboys 0 (Bounty Bowl)
November 27, 2008:Eagles 48, Arizona Cardinals 20
November 27, 2014:Eagles 33, Dallas Cowboys 10
November 26, 2015:Detroit Lions 45, Eagles 14
The Eagles split their two games against the Cowboys in 2025, defeating Dallas 24-20 to open the NFL's regular season, and then losing at Dallas in Week 12. The Cowboys finished 7-9-1 last season and featured a prolific offense (second in the NFL in total yards), starring quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Under Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys have worked hard to overhaul their defense one that allowed an NFL-worst 30.1 points per game in 2025 for the 2026 season, adding veteran defensive end Rashan Gary and then using two first-round picks to select safety Caleb Downs (No. 11) and defensive end Malachi Lawrence (No. 23 after the trade with the Eagles) to work in new Defensive Coordinator and former Eagles Defensive Backs Coach Christian Parker's scheme.
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